Uvariodendron molundense (Diels) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 61 (1930)

Dagallier, Leo-Paul M. J., Mbago, Frank M., Couderc, Marie, Gaudeul, Myriam, Grall, Aurelie, Loup, Caroline, Wieringa, Jan J., Sonke, Bonaventure & Couvreur, Thomas L. P., 2023, Phylogenomic inference of the African tribe Monodoreae (Annonaceae) and taxonomic revision of Dennettia, Uvariodendron and Uvariopsis, PhytoKeys 233, pp. 1-200 : 1

Uvariodendron molundense (Diels) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 61 (1930)

Figs 33 , 34 , 35

≡ Uvaria molundensis Diels, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53(3-5): 435 (1915). Type. Cameroon - East Region • G.W.J. Mildbraed 4373 (holotype: B! (B 10 0153118)), Südkameruner Waldgebiet: Bezirk Molundu, 'Bange Busch’, unbewohnter Urwald zwischen Lokomo, Bumba und Bange; 2°50'N, 15°15'E; 29 Jan. 1911.

= Uvaria letestui Pellegr., Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. xxvi. 658 (1920); Uvariodendron letestui (Pellegr.) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 60 (1930). Type. Gabon - Nyanga • G.M.P.C. Le Testu 1234 (holotype: P! (P00315833), sheet designated by Couvreur et al (2022); isotypes: BM! (BM000554071, BM000554072), P! (P00315835, P00315837)), Tchibanga; 2°50'S, 11°00'E; Nov. 1907.

= Uvaria mayumbensis Exell, J. Bot. 64(Suppl. 1): 3 (1926); Uvariodendron mayumbense (Exell) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 57 (1930). Type. Angola - Cabinda • J. Gossweiler 6159 (holotype: BM! (BM000554073)), Mayombe Pango Mariga [Maringa?]; 4°55'S, 12°25'E; 17 Jan. 1916.

= Uvaria mannii Hutch. & Dalziel, Fl. W. Trop. Afr. I. 50 (1927); Kew Bull 150 (1927). Type. Equatorial Guinea - Bioko Norte • G. Mann 257 (holotype: K! (K000198802); isotype: P! (P00315831)); 3°40'N, 8°47'E; 1860.

Description.

Tree to shrub 1.2-10 m tall, D.B.H. 1.5-20 cm; young branches sparsely pubescent to glabrous, old branches glabrous. Petiole 4-17 mm long, 1.5-5 mm wide, sparsely pubescent to glabrous. Leaf lamina (180) 200-460 mm long, 51-160 mm wide, length:width ratio 2.2-4.8, elliptic to oblong to obovate, coriaceous, base acute to rounded (sometimes minutely decurrent at the very base), apex attenuate to acuminate, acumen 2-38 mm long; surface above glabrous, surface below sparsely pubescent to glabrous when young, glabrous when old; midrib impressed above, raised below, glabrous above, sparsely pubescent to glabrous below; secondary veins 12-22 pairs, brochidodromous to weakly brochidodromous, impressed above, raised below; tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescences borne on trunk and branches or axillary, composed of 1 flower. Flower pedicel 2-14 mm long, 1-4 mm in diameter, pubescent. Flowers bisexual, buds globose, sessile, 3.5-9 mm high, 4-14 mm in diameter, velutinous. Bracts 1 to 6, upper bract 3-8 mm long, 3-10 mm wide, broadly ovate, clasping the pedicel, velutinous outside, glabrous inside. Sepals 3, 5-9 (14) mm long, 5-10 mm wide, imbricate (sometime fused at base), velutinous outside, glabrous inside, green to brown. Outer petals 3, 12-30 mm long, 9-22.5 mm wide, length:width ratio 1.1-2.5, elliptic, pubescent outside, pubescent at apex to glabrous inside, light yellow to cream outside, purple with cream margins inside. Inner petals 3, 11-27 mm long, 8-20 mm wide, length:width ratio 1.2-2.4, obovate, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, light yellow to cream outside, purple with cream margins inside. Stamens 1000 to 1200, 0.8-2.5 mm long, 0.1-1 mm wide, anthers linear, connective prolongation truncate. Carpels 8 to 40, 1-5 mm long, 0.5-2 mm wide, pubescent, free; stigma 0-2 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, coiled, densely pubescent, covered with an exudate at anthesis. Fruiting pedicel 3-15 mm long, 2.5-6 mm in diameter, pubescent to glabrous. Monocarps 2 to 10, 21-60 mm long, 9-30 mm wide, length:width ratio 1.3-3.4, cylindrical, generally straight, truncate or rounded at apex, pubescent to glabrate, greyish green to orange; sessile to shortly stipitate, stipe 0-4 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, pubescent to glabrate. Seeds 3-10 per monocarp, biseriate, 12 to 14 mm long, 7-10 mm wide, semicircular, pale brown to pinkish brown.

Distribution.

Element of the Lower Guinean Domain and Congolia Domain of the Guineo-Congolian Region: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko Island), Republic of the Congo.

Habitat and ecology.

Lowland and premontane mature and old secondary rain forests. Altitude: 0-1000 m a.s.l.

Phenology.

Flowers and fruits collected all year.

Notes.

This species presents a great morphological variability in terms of leaf size and shape. Vegetatively it resembles Ud. connivens and Ud. fuscum (especially var. Uvariodendron fuscum fuscum ), although it generally has smaller leaves than these two species. In flower, it differs in having a short pedicel 2-14 mm long (vs. a long pedicel 10-40 mm long in Ud. connivens ), imbricate sepals (vs. fused at base in Ud. fuscum ), smaller petals (11-30 mm long vs. 20-70 in Ud. fuscum ), and fewer carpels (eight to 40 vs. 20 to 160 in Ud. fuscum ).

Conservation status.

This species has been assessed as Least Concern LC (Botanic Gardens Conservation International and IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group 2019a).

Additional specimens examined.

Cameroon - Central Region • D. Dang 643 (P, YA), colline 'ZOABISSIM' dans l'apellation locale, 4 km envirion N du village EKEKAM; 3°55'N, 11°22'E; alt. 1085 m; 09 Mar. 1978 • F. Tadjouteu 566 (K, YA), Ndanan 1, Mefou National park , 18 km from MFOU; 3°33'N, 11°36'02.47'E; alt. 700 m; 22 Mar. 2004 • M.R. Cheek 11839 (YA), Ndanan 1, Eastern part of the park, West of Ndangan 1; 3°37'19'N, 11°36'03'E; alt. 710 m; 18 Mar. 2004 - East Region • J.F. Villiers 625 (P, YA), Camp CFA Bango I, bord de la riv. Bango 36 km SE Bateka Malen, village situé à 21 km N de Molundou ( Feuille IGN Molundou 1/200.000); 2°17'49.56'N, 15°09'41.81'E; 08 Nov. 1971 • R.G. Letouzey 3117 (P, YA), Bertoua, Kap ; 4°35'N, 13°40'50'E; 23 Feb. 1960 • R.G. Letouzey 5142 (P, YA), a 30 km au NE de Bangé (km75 route Yokadouma - Molundu) feuille IGN 1/200 000. Yokadouma ; 3°00'25.8'N, 15°08'13.99'E; 25 May. 1963 • T.L.P. Couvreur 1195 (MPU, WAG, YA), 60 km south of Yokadouma, 30 km after Ngato, 15 km after river. ALPICAM 'base de vie', then on forestry road starting 4 km before Masea village ; 3°09'19'N, 14°44'16.87'E; alt. 613 m; 04 Mar. 2019 - Littoral • T.L.P. Couvreur 1172 (MPU, P, WAG, YA), Mapubi, 30 km before Edea on Yaoundé-Edea road. On forestry road, 5 km direction to Sanaga river ; 3°50'39.26'N, 10°23'22.88'E; alt. 164 m; 28 Feb. 2018 • T.L.P. Couvreur 613 (MPU, YA), Ebo Wildlife Reserve , Djuma permanent camp. On Djashaka trail; 4°21'06.18'N, 10°14'12.1'E; alt. 378 m; 13 Feb. 2014 • T.L.P. Couvreur 652 (WAG, YA), Mambe Massif, above Boga village , 100 km along road from Yaoundé to Edea; 3°54'36.26'N, 10°46'31.86'E; alt. 637 m; 19 Jun. 2014 • T.L.P. Couvreur 655 (MPU, WAG, YA), Mambe Massif, above Boga village , 100 km along road from Yaoundé to Edea; 3°54'29.55'N, 10°46'20.29'E; alt. 657 m; 19 Jun. 2014 • T.L.P. Couvreur 656 (WAG, YA), Mambe Massif, above Boga village , 100 km along road from Yaoundé to Edea; 3°54'24.79'N, 10°46'17.82'E; alt. 653 m; 20 Jun. 2014 • W.J.J.O. de Wilde 1420 (K, MO, P, WAG), 40 km NW. of Eséka, W. of Yaoundé; 3°51'N, 10°32'E; 12 Dec. 1963 - South Region • B.-A. Nkongmeneck 800 (YA); Océan, environs de Mvini, à 34 km E de Campo. Feuille IGN 1/200 000 Kribi-Nyabessa ; 2°22'18.12'N, 10°06'15.48'E; 24 Oct. 1984 • G.A. Zenker 3511 (BM, K, L, P), Kamerun, Bipinde; 3°05'N, 10°25'E; 1908 • G.P. Tchouto Mbatchou T8X70 (WAG), Campo Ma'an area, Bibabimvoto, Dipikar island , in the Campo area along transect T8; 2°16'16'N, 10°03'35'E; alt. 60 m; 26 Aug. 2000 • G.W.J. Mildbraed 5936 (B, K), S. Cameroon: Kribi; 2°48'N, 10°24'E; 1911 • J.J. Bos 3259 (P, WAG, YA), About 13 km from Kribi, Ebolowa road; 2°51'N, 10°00'E; 13 Nov. 1968 • J.J. Bos 5474 (BR, MO, P, WAG, YA), S. bank of Lobé river, SE. of Gr. Batanga ferry; 2°52'N, 9°54'E; 11 Oct. 1969 • J.J. Bos 6521 (WAG), 6 km N. of km 46 Kribi - Lolodorf ; 3°05'N, 10°15'E; 12 Mar. 1970 • J.J. Bos 7075 (P, WAG), 5 km N. of km 7 Kribi - Ebolowa road, behind Pygmee village ; 2°56'N, 9°57'E; 10 Jul. 1970 • M.E. Elad 1270 (KRIBI, WAG), Campo-Ma'an area, Bibabimvoto, along transect T4; 2°15'03'N, 10°21'51'E; alt. 40 m; 01 Feb. 2000 • T.R. van Andel 4228 (KRIBI, U, WAG, YA), Campo Ma'an area, Boussebeliga. Trail to Bimvoa chute; 2°43'N, 9°52'E; alt. 40 m; 26 Oct. 2001 - South-West Region • B. Sonké 1226 (K, SCA); Ndian, Dikome ; 4°27'N, 9°01'E; 05 May. 1994 • B.N. Khayota 537 (K, SCA, YA), Upper Boando , footpath to south of village; 4°05'N, 9°10'E; alt. 650 m; 14 Mar. 1995 • D. Kenfack 1509 (MO), Mokoko , at the center base forest; 4°27'N, 9°04'00.12'E; 25 Apr. 2001 • G.P. Tchouto Mbatchou 136 (K, SCA, YA), Mapanja ; 4°05'N, 9°09'E; alt. 1040 m; 20 Apr. 1992 • G.P. Tchouto Mbatchou 611 (K, SCA, YA), Mokoko, forest above Bonja village ; 4°28'N, 9°06'E; alt. 240 m; 23 Mar. 1993 • M. Akogo 234 (K, SCA, YA), Ekumbe Mofako, Mokoko Forest Reserve , Ekumbe-Mofako ; 4°28'N, 9°03'E; alt. 140 m; 21 Apr. 1994 . Central African Republic - Sangha-Mbaéré • D.J. Harris 5112 (E, MO), Kongana research camp, 25 km SE of Bayanga; 2°47'N, 16°25'E; 08 Jun. 1994 • D.J. Harris 5504 (E, MO), Kongana camp, 22 km SE of Bayanga; 2°47'N, 16°26'E; 11 Feb. 1996 . Democratic Republic of the Congo - Bas-Congo • P. Compère 1112 (K), vallée de la Quinongo. Territ: Songololo. Province: Léopoldville; 5°09'57.14'S, 14°19'37.82'E; 21 Dec. 1959 - Orientale • P. Gérard 5604 (K, WAG); Ango, Digba , Foret de Akare entre rivière Bili et Ase ; 4°23'N, 25°48'E; 05 Nov. 1963 . Equatorial Guinea - Bioko Sur • W.R.Q. Luke 11889 (EA), Moaba. Pt 140; 3°14'06'N, 8°37'22'E; alt. 8 m; 15 Mar. 2007 . Gabon - Haut-Ogooué • G.M.P.C. Le Testu 9649 (P); 1°38'S, 13°35'E; 30 Oct. 1930 - Moyen-Ogooué • T.L.P. Couvreur 928 (LBV, WAG, YA), 27 km after Lambaréné, on road to Bifoum (N1), then around 20 km on road to Lake Azingo ; 0°27'52.7'N, 10°02'18.45'E; alt. 95 m; 24 Nov. 2015 • T.L.P. Couvreur 932 (LBV, WAG, YA), 33 km south of Lambaréné, then 18 km on dirt road just after Mimongo village , in Morel petrol consession; 1°02'10.10'S, 10°23'39.95'E; alt. 185 m; 25 Nov. 2015 - Ngounié • G.M.P.C. Le Testu 5762 (BM, P), Mbigou, Mboumi riverside; 1°55'S, 11°55'E; 18 Nov. 1925 • G.V. Dauby 574 (LBV, MO), Est du Parc National de Waka , à ± 5 km au Sud de la rivière Mayi; 1°13'36.11'S, 11°17'09.31'E; alt. 604 m; 17 Feb. 2008 • J.C. Arends 450 (LBV, WAG), Waka River ; 1°13'S, 10°52'E; alt. 330 m; 25 Nov. 1984 • O.L.S. Lachenaud 1444 (BRLU, LBV, MO), Mabounié, piste du nord-est; 0°43'02'N, 10°36'05'E; 17 Nov. 2013 • P.J.M. Maas 10207 (LBV, WAG), side roads of road Pény-Mouila, in CBG concession; 2°00'45.10'S, 10°28'52.7'E; alt. 115 m; 10 Nov. 2011 - Nyanga • E. Bidault 4269 (BR, BRLU, LBV, MO, P, WAG), Entre Ndendé et le Congo, au Sud de Nzinga , bords de la rivière Douvono; 3°04'56.11'S, 11°39'34.31'E; alt. 154 m; 04 Apr. 2018 • G.M.P.C. Le Testu 1211 (BM), Tchibanga area, Nganda ; 2°50'S, 11°00'E; 31 Oct. 1907 - Ogooué-Ivindo • A. Moungazi 1631 (LBV, MO, P, WAG), Ivindo National Park, route Langoué, rivière Niadou ; 0°15'N, 12°25'E; 05 May. 2004 • A. Moungazi 223 (P), Makokou, 10 km S de Makoukou; 0°30'30.82'N, 12°47'45.59'E; alt. 500 m • E. Bidault 2222 (BRLU, LBV, MO), concession forestière Rougier-Ivindo ; 0°05'34'N, 12°21'15'E; alt. 283 m; 27 Oct. 2015 • E. Bidault 2248 (BR, BRLU, LBV, MO, MO, P, WAG), concession forestière Rougier-Ivindo; 0°04'05'N, 12°21'15'E; alt. 460 m; 28 Oct. 2015 • J. Florence 930 (P), Station d'Ipassa, 10 Km S de Makokou; 0°30'N, 12°47'E; alt. 500 m; 14 Apr. 1978 • N. Hallé 3264 (L, P, U), Bélinga; 1°05'N, 13°08'E; 19 Nov. 1964 • N. Hallé 3332 (P), Bélinga; 1°05'N, 13°08'E; 25 Nov. 1964 • N. Hallé 431 (MO, P, WAG), Bélinga, mines de fer, le long de la rivière Folley ; 1°07'N, 13°11'E; 12 Aug. 1966 • N. Hallé 451 (MO, P), Bélinga, mines de fer, route du Belvédère; 1°05'N, 13°12'E; alt. 900 m; 12 Aug. 1966 • T.L.P. Couvreur 564 (YA), along main trail departing from behind the herbarium at the Research station of Ipassa, in Ivindo National Park ; 0°30'13.77'N, 12°47'36.4'E; alt. 519 m; 11 Nov. 2013 - Ogooué-Lolo • A.M. Louis 648 (WAG), ± 70 km N.W. of Lastoursville, along rd. to Achouka, old forest along Lolo R. near Wagny settlement; 0°36'N, 12°19'E; alt. 250 m; 13 Nov. 1983 • F.J. Breteler 13331 (WAG), near Bambidie , E of Lastoursville; 0°44'N, 12°58'E; alt. 300 m; 16 Oct. 1994 • G.M.P.C. Le Testu 49 (P), region de Lastoursville, Lastoursville; 0°50'N, 12°42'E; 1934 • G.M.P.C. Le Testu 8437 (BM, P), region de Lastoursville , Nzocou ; 1°28'S, 12°28'E; 12 Oct. 1930 • J.J. Wieringa 6223 (LBV, MO, WAG), c. 55 km N of Lastoursville, CEB forestry concession ‘Milolé' (UFA2-UFG2-lot2), foothills of Ngota Mountain ; 0°20'24'N, 12°46'48'E; alt. 330 m; 28 Jan. 2008 • J.J. Wieringa 6263 (LBV, MO, WAG), c. 30 km ENE of Lastoursville , 15 km on forestry road from Bambidie to Akieni; 0°39'11.4'N, 12°56'36.6'E; alt. 320 m; 29 Jan. 2008 • T.L.P. Couvreur 1110 (LBV, WAG), Lastoursville, in Precious Woods conssesion (CEB). 30 km east of Bambidie village , 55 km from Lastoursville ; 0°39'46.04'N, 12°45'55.58'E; 07 Jun. 2016 - Ogooué-Maritime • M.S.M. Sosef 2270 (LBV, WAG), Doudou Mountains National Parc, c. 5 km S of Camp Peny (CBG); 2°03'30'S, 10°28'12'E; alt. 100 m; 14 Nov. 2005 • T.L.P. Couvreur 539 (MPU, YA), 5 km on loggers road from Peny (CGB) village; 2°01'55.10'S, 10°29'59.48'E; alt. 188 m; 07 Nov. 2013 • T.L.P. Couvreur 542 (MPU, YA), 5 km on loggers road from Peny (CGB) village; 2°01'53.10'S, 10°29'45.29'E; alt. 200 m; 07 Nov. 2013 - Woleu-Ntem • G.M.P.C. Le Testu 9064 (P), region de Minvoul, Minvoul ; 2°10'N, 12°10'E; Mar. 1933 • L. Ngok Banak 1570 (LBV, LBV, MO, P, WAG), Minkebe National Park , southern inselberg area; 1°23'10.2'N, 12°33'17.4'E; alt. 620 m; 02 May. 2003 • M.S.M. Sosef 1894 (WAG), forestry concession Bordamur, c. 40 km NE of Mitzic ; 1°00'06'N, 11°51'12'E; alt. 500 m; 06 Feb. 2003 • MINKébé Series AM60 (WAG), Minkebe area , at 2000 m from the camp; 1°30'N, 12°48'E; 25 Mar. 1990 • MINKébé Series V150 (WAG), Minkebe area , 10 x 10 m inventory plot V, placed 3.5-13.5 m north at 200-210 m on transect A; 1°30'N, 12°48'E; 04 Mar. 1990 • MINKébé Series W15 (WAG), Minkebe area , near base camp number 1; 1°29'N, 12°49'E; 08 Feb. 1990 • MINKébé Series W403 (WAG), Minkebe area , 800 m on transect B (to the south); 1°30'N, 12°48'E; 20 May. 1990 • T.L.P. Couvreur 853 (LBV, WAG, YA), Oyem, on road to Mbolonzok (off main road to Mongono and Equatorial Guinea); 1°32'39.18'N, 11°30'43.04'E; alt. 660 m; 13 Nov. 2015 • T.L.P. Couvreur 876 (LBV, WAG, YA), on road from Mitzic to Lalara (N2), just after the bridge over the Lara, c. 500 m in forest; 0°36'12.83'N, 11°29'11.53'E; alt. 580 m; 15 Nov. 2015 . Republic of the Congo - Kouilou • C. Farron 4882 (P), Pointe Noire , route du chantier de Boungolo ( Pointe-Noire ); 4°07'S, 11°57'E; 31 Jan. 1966 - Mianga N'Bissy 183 (P), Moyen Congo, Mayombe central, vers km 57 chemin de fer Pointe Noire - Brazzaville ; 4°29'27'S, 12°12'15'E; Sep. 1947 • P. Sita 3759 (P), route du nouveau campement Maamar sur 18 km après l'ancien; 3°45'S, 11°15'E; 09 May. 1974 • T.L.P. Couvreur 789 (IEC, WAG), 30 km on Dolisie-Mvouti road, just behind the telephone antenna; 4°12'49.12'S, 12°31'44.71'E; alt. 710 m; 21 Sep. 2015 - Niari • P. Cabalion 153 (P), 3 km O Banga Route Vounda-Banda; 3°33'18.97'S, 11°59'56.48"E; 06 Feb. 1976 • P. Sita 3995 (P), Niari-ouest, region Banda, Valle de la Ngouanga ; 3°24'S, 12°09'E; 05 Nov. 1975 .

Figures

Figure 33. Uvariodendron molundense (Diels) R. E. Fr. A leaves, lower side (left) and upper side (right), note the morphological variation B leaf bases, upper side, note the morphological variation C young branch with leaves D stamen, front view E detail of flower showing pedicel bracts and sepals, bottom view, not the imbrication of sepals F flower, top view G detail of flower showing stamens and stigmas, note the gleaming exudate on the stigmas H flower buds, side view I young fruit with unripe monocarps, top view J ripe monocarp, side view K monocarp, transversally open L branches with borne flowers. A (left) E-H Bidault 2222 A (right) Couvreur 655 B (top) Couvreur 542 B (bottom) C Bidault 4269 D Couvreur 1195 I Bidault 2248 J, K Couvreur 932 L Couvreur 1172. Photos A (left) B (bottom) C, E-H, I Ehoarn Bidault A (right) B (top) J-L Thomas Couvreur D Leo-Paul Dagallier.

Figure 34. Uvariodendron molundense (Diels) R. E. Fr. A leaf B flower on branch, side view C flower, bottom view D flower, petals open, top view E longitudinal section of receptacle F stamen, front view G carpel, side view and detail of ovules H floral diagram I fruit, longitudinal sections of monocarps A-C, E-G from Le Testu 9649 D from Le Testu 8437 H, I from Halle 3264. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, from Le Thomas (1969; pl. 51, p. 281) Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Figure 35. Distribution map of Uvariodendron molundense. Shades of grey represent elevation, from white (sea level) to darker grey (higher elevation). The inset shows the extent of the map over Africa.