Stachyanthus occidentalis (Keay & É.Miège) Boutique

Fig. 34.10–34.18

Material examined

Specimen used for endocarp and fruit description

BENIN • “ Dahomey ”; 28 May 1910; A. Chevalier 23794; P [MNHN-P-P04495077] .

Other material

IVORY COAST • 1955; Aké Assi? 3104; P [MNHN-P-P04495080].

Description

FRUIT. Acuminate and asymmetrical at the apex. Epicarp puberulent, with yellow simple hairs with granular ornamentation. Mesocarp 201–216 µm thick when dry. Length 9.0– 12.4 mm, width 6.0– 8.5 mm, thickness 3.0– 5.4 mm.

ENDOCARP. Cream, length ca 11.3 mm, width ca 8.1 mm, thickness ca 5.1 mm. Pits circular in the center, more elongate laterally, 0.1–0.3 mm (av. 0.2 mm) in diameter, randomly arranged with 12–14 pits longitudinally and 11 pits transversally (ca 184 pits per face). Pits associated with bullate tubercles protruding into the locule; tubercles ca 244–248 µm in length and 377–382 µm in diameter at the base. Tubercle cells sclerotic, digitate and periclinal. Ridges rounded and thin, faintly apparent, with one median ridge running from the apex to the base. Reticulum forming a diffuse pattern of ridges running from the median ridge. Endocarp wall 145–165 µm thick (excluding ridges). Endocarp wall with two cell layers: outermost layer with 9–10 rows of periclinally oriented (or occasionally isodiametric) cells, cells 6.3–24.7 µm in width; innermost layer with one row of periclinally oriented cells, cells 6.0– 11.5 µm in width, lining the locule surface.