Pavetta trichardtensis Bremekamp (1929: 202)

Hahn, Norbert, 2022, Pavetta trichardtensis (Rubiaceae) and its varieties, Phytotaxa 533 (4), pp. 216-222 : 217

Pavetta trichardtensis Bremekamp (1929: 202) .

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Limpopo: Louis Trichardt, February 1919, H. G. Breijer TRV 19528 (lectotype PRE! [barcode PRE0149529 -0] designated by Bremekamp (1934: 163)) .

Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, up to 2.5 m tall. Bark smooth, grey. Leaves opposite; petioles (0.2–)0.4–1(–1.5) cm long; blades elliptic or oblong, (1.8–)3.9–7.6(–8.9) × (0.9)1.8–3.4(5.3) cm, apex obtuse to acute, occasionally shortly apiculate, base acute to cuneate; secondary veins 4–8 on each side of midrib; bacterial nodules randomly scattered on the leaf lamina; domatia hairy, situated in the axils of secondary veins. Inflorescence of terminal cymes born on slender lateral branches; pedicel up to 6 mm long. Flowers 4-merous. Hypanthium 1.2–2.4 mm long. Calyx lobes ensiform, (2.2) 2.9–5.4 (8.4) mm long. Corolla white; tube (6.3–)9.4–13.5(–15.4) mm long; lobes (4.0–)5.2–7.4(–8.7) mm long, apex obtuse to acute. Stamens exerted; anthers 3.5–7.0 mm long. Style up to 35 mm long. Berry spherical, up to 9 mm in diam., fleshy, black; crowned by the persistent calyx lobes.

Phenology:—Flowering from November to January. Fruit ripen from February to May.

Habitat:—This variety has been observed growing in mountain vegetation, on forest margins, woodland, rocky outcrops and grassland. Pavetta trichardtensis grows in sandy or loamy soil, at elevations of 780–1700 m.

Etymology:—Named after the town of Louis Trichardt situated on the southern foot of the Soutpansberg, South Africa.

Key to varieties

1. Leaf blades pubescent, matte and light green above, with flat bacterial nodules flat; calyx pubescent ................. var. trichardtensis

- Leaf blades glabrous, shiny and dark green above, with sunken bacterial nodules; calyx glabrous.............................. var. jabulanii