Synsepalum muelleri (Kupicha) T.D.Penn., Pennington in Gen. Sapotac.: 249 (1991)

Rokni, Saba, Wursten, Bart & Darbyshire, Iain, 2019, Synsepalum chimanimani (Sapotaceae), a new species from the Chimanimani Mountains of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with notes on the botanical importance of this area, PhytoKeys 133, pp. 115-132 : 121-123

Synsepalum muelleri (Kupicha) T.D.Penn., Pennington in Gen. Sapotac.: 249 (1991)

Vincentella muelleri Kupicha in Candollea 33 (1): 37, fig. 4 (1978); Kupicha in Sapotaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1): 228 (1983).

Type.

MALAWI. Southern Region: Mulanje District, Ruo Gorge, alt. 900 m, fl. and fr. 1 September 1970, T. Müller 1463 (K!, holotype, K000049396; SRGH, isotype).

Specimens examined.

MALAWI. Southern Region: Mulanje Mountains, Ruo Gorge at the Savani stream crossing, alt. 1250 m, fr. 30 September 1986, Chapman & Chapman 8104 (K!, K000049398; E!, E00330780; MO); Mulanje Mountains, Litchenya Plateau, along the perimeter fire trace near the crater lip, alt. 1920 m, fr. 12 November 1986, Chapman & Chapman 8209 (K!, K000049399; E!, E00330776; MO); Mulanje Mountains, Chisongeli Forest, Muluzi catchment, alt. 1650 m, fl. 30 September 1988, Chapman & Chapman 9339 (K!, K000049397; E!, E00330775; MO); Mulanje, Ruo Gorge, fl. and fr. 26 August 1983, Dowsett-Lemaire 942 (K!, K000049400; BR!, BR0000019420677); Mulanje District, Ruo Gorge, alt. 900 m, fl. and fr. 1 September 1970, Müller 1463 (K!, holotype, K000049396; SRGH, isotype; P); Mulanje Plateau, st. 24 September 1929, Burtt Davy 22131 (BR!, BR0000019420684; FHO). MOZAMBIQUE. Nampula Province: Ribáuè, Serra de Mepáluè, alt. c. 1600 m, fr. 9 December 1967, Torre & Correia 16403 (LISC!, paratype, LISC002849; COI; WAG!, paratype, WAG.1530185); Ribáuè, serra de Ribáuè ( Mepáluè), alt. c. 1500 m, fr. 28 January 1964, Torre & Paiva 10301 (K!, K001236782; LISC!, paratype, LISC002850; LMU). Zambézia Province: Encosta da serra do Gúruè, via fábrica Junqueiro a Oeste dos Picos Namuli, confluência dos rios Malema e Cocossi, alt. c. 1650 m, fl. and fr. (immature) 6 November 1967, Torre & Correia 15921 (LISC!, paratype, LISC002848); Mt Namuli, Uivelo area, Manho forest, E Namuli, 15°24.683'S, 37°2.267'E, alt. 1590 m, st. 23 November 2007, Timberlake et al. 5283 (K!, K000614012); Mount Chiperone, 16°30.283'S, 35°43.333'E, alt. 1155 m, fr. 29 November 2006, Harris et al. 69 (K!, K000545061); Mount Chiperone, 28 November 2006, Patel HP7152 (K!, K000545123); Mount Mabu, 16°17.017'S, 36°23.567'E, alt. 1252 m, fl. and fr. 16 October 2008, Mphamba et al. 50 (K!, K000614270); Mt Mabu, Mabu forest on SE side, 16°17.067'S, 36°23.483'E, alt. 1260 m, st. 15 October 2008, Timberlake et al. 5402 (K!, K000614394); Mt Mabu, 16°17.167'S, 36°24.083'E, alt. 960 m, st. 26 October 2008, Timberlake et al. 5461 (K!, K000614442) [cf. muelleri]; Mt Mabu, veg plot 012, 16°17.500'S, 36°23.550'E, alt. 1389 m, st. 20 October 2008, Timberlake s.n. (K!, K000614472); Mt Mabu, veg plot 022, 16°17.033'S, 36°23.100'E, alt. 1320 m, st. 22 October 2008, Timberlake s.n. (K!, K000614490).

Habitat and ecology.

In the understorey of Newtonia buchananii -dominated moist forest, Garcinia kingaensis Engl. dominated moist forest and dense humid riverine forest at elevations of 900-1920 m.

Phenology.

Flowering August to November. Fruiting August to January. There is a distinct rainy season in Mabu, Namuli, Ribáuè, Chiperone and Mulanje with the main rainfall months being November to April with a dry season from May to October. Flowering occurs at the end of the dry season and beginning of the rainy season with fruiting following.