Uvaria heterotricha Pellegr., Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 96: 173, 1949

Couvreur, Thomas L. P., Dagallier, Leo-Paul M. J., Crozier, Francoise, Ghogue, Jean-Paul, Hoekstra, Paul H., Kamdem, Narcisse G., Johnson, David M., Murray, Nancy A. & Sonke, Bonaventure, 2022, Flora of Cameroon - Annonaceae Vol 45, PhytoKeys 207, pp. 1-532 : 351-355

Uvaria heterotricha Pellegr., Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 96: 173, 1949

Fig. 108 ; Map 13I

Type.

Gabon. Woleu-Ntem; Oyem, Le Testu G.M.P.C. 9481, 2 Fev 1934: lectotype, sheet here designated: P[P00363327]; isotypes: BM[BM000554061]; BR[BR0000008823953, BR0000008823960]; LISC[LISC000396]; P[P00363326, P00363328] .

Description.

Liana, 3-10 m tall, d.b.h. up to 20 cm. Indumentum of simple to stellate and fasciculate hairs; old leafless branches sparsely pubescent to glabrous, young foliate branches densely pubescent, with small stellate hairs intermixed with longer simple hairs. Leaves: petiole 2-3 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, tomentose, grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 7-16 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, oblong to elliptic, apex acuminate to acute, acumen 1.5-2 cm long, base rounded to subcordate, subcoriaceous, below pubescent with short stellate hairs intermixed with long simple hairs when young, sparsely pubescent with short stellate hairs intermixed with long simple hairs when old, above glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above densely pubescent when young and old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 10 to 13 pairs, pubescent above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on young foliate branches, extra axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 per inflorescence; pedicel 10-12 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, pubescent; in fruit 40-60 mm long, 3-4 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent; bracts 2, one basal and one towards the lower half of pedicel, similar in size, 5-6 mm long, 3-4 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, completely fused, tearing at anthesis, 5-10 mm long, 7-11 mm wide, triangular to ovate, apex acute, base truncate, yellow, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, inner slightly longer than outer to sub equal; outer petals 3, 15-25 mm long, 12-20 mm wide, ovate to suborbicular, apex rounded, base truncate, yellow, with dark red-brown base, margins flat or revolute, tomentose outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, imbricate, 20-35 mm long, 10-22 mm wide, ovate to suborbicular, apex rounded, base unguiculate, claw 4-5 mm long, yellow with dark red-brown base, margins flat or revolute, tomentose outside, glabrous inside; stamens 300 to 320, in 8 to 10 rows, 2-3 mm long, narrowly oblong; connective discoid, pubescent; staminodes absent; carpels free, 40 to 50, ovary ca. 3 mm long, stigma coiled, densely pubescent. Monocarps stipitate, stipes 30-45 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, laterally inserted; monocarps 42 to 46, 9-12 mm long, 7-8 mm in diameter, ellipsoid, apex apiculate or mucronate, tomentose, smooth, not ribbed or very faintly ribbed, green to orange when ripe; seeds 1 to 2 per monocarp, 7-8 mm long, 4-5 mm in diameter, flattened ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

A central African species, known from Cameroon and Gabon; in Cameroon known from the South West region.

Habitat.

A common species when present; in submontane or montane secondary or primary rain forests. Altitude 700-1400 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Uvaria heterotricha is easily distinguished by having small stellate hairs intermixed with longer simple hairs on the young foliate branches and lower side of the leaves (use hand lens). Its monocarps are also densely tomentose.

This species was only known from Gabon ( Le Thomas 1969b), but has since been collected several times ( Cheek et al. 2004) in the South West province (e.g. Cheek 7457, 8863; Gosline 83; Letouzey 14586). It is interesting that in Cameroon this species appears restricted to submontane or montane regions (above 700 m) near Mont Kupe or Rumpi Mountains ( Cheek et al. 2004), whereas in Gabon it is found at lower altitudes (below 600 m).

Specimens examined.

South-West Region: Kupe village , 4.76°N, 9.694°E, 21 May 1996, Cable S. 2500 (K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Kupe village , 4.78°N, 9.700°E, 28 May 1996, Cable S. 2674 (K,YA); Mbule , 4.80°N, 9.673°E, 26 June 1996, Cable S. 3344 (K,MO,WAG,YA); Nyasoso , 4.86°N, 9.7°E, 01 July 1996, Cable S. 3459 (B,K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Second trail to summit along road to Mbulle from Nyasoso , 4.81°N, 9.681°E, 03 July 1996, Cable S. 3558 (K,YA); Kupe village , 4.78°N, 9.716°E, 15 July 1996, Cable S. 3809 (K,WAG,YA); Nyasoso , 4.83°N, 9.691°E, 23 October 1995, Cheek M. 7457 (K,YA); Bakossi Mt Kodmin 05 km on road to Muawhojun , 4.98°N, 9.683°E, 17 January 1998, Cheek M. 8863 (K,WAG,YA); Nyasoso , 4.83°N, 9.683°E, 26 March 1996, Etuge M. 1819 (K,WAG); Nyasoso , 4.81°N, 9.683°E, 03 June 1996, Etuge M. 2092 (K,WAG,YA); Kupe village , 4.77°N, 9.708°E, 08 July 1996, Etuge M. 2659 (K,WAG,YA); Pool at summit of waterfall, 4.96°N, 9.716°E, 05 February 1998, Gosline W.G. 83 (K,WAG,YA); Kupe village , 4.78°N, 9.716°E, 11 July 1996, Keay R.W.J. 297 (K,YA); km 2 Essosong Estate-Kola N side of Mount Koupe , 4.85°N, 9.733°E, 20 January 1972, Leeuwenberg A.J.M. 9249 (B,BR,K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Monts Rumpi entre Dikome Balue (1200 m) et Ifanga Nalende (650 m), 4.9°N, 9.233°E, 25 March 1976, Letouzey R. 14586 (WAG,YA) .

Figures

Map 13. A Uvaria angolensis B Uvaria anisotricha C Uvaria anonoides D Uvaria baumannii E Uvaria bipindensis F Uvaria buchholzii G Uvaria chamae H Uvaria comperei I Uvaria heterotricha. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 108. Uvaria clavata (not in Cameroon) A flowering branch B flower C stamen, side and front view D fruit E seed. Uvaria heterotricha F flowering branch G detail of pubescence of lower side of leaf blade, note mix between stellate and simple hairs H flower, bottom view I stamen A-E from Halle & Villiers 5594 F Le Testu 8610 G-I from Le Testu 9481. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; modified from Le Thomas (1969 b, pl. 6, p. 51).