Clerodendrum pynaertii De Wildeman (1909: 135

Meerts, Pierre, 2023, The genus Clerodendrum (Lamiaceae) in the flora of Central Africa (D. R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi), Phytotaxa 594 (1), pp. 1-42 : 24

18. Clerodendrum pynaertii De Wildeman (1909: 135 & pl. XXIII; 1910b: 255; 1912b: 91; 1922: 266); Thomas (1936: 60); Lebrun & Stork (1997: 512).— Fig. 5 .

Type:— D.R. CONGO. Bas-Congo , 20 June 1906, Pynaert 156 (holotype: BR0000008978547!; BR0000008978561!; iso-: MO, NY 00137379 (fragm.)) .

Small slender liana, occasionally creeping, length unknown. Stem quadrangular, slender, papillate to puberulent, persistent petiole bases ca. 4 mm. Leaf: petiole 1.2–4.2 cm, often unequal in length at a node, papillate to puberulent; lamina membranaceous, thin, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 4–10.5 × 1.5–7 cm, cordate and somewhat asymmetric at base, apex acuminate, puberulent to thinly pubescent on both surfaces, especially on veins, margin entire to irregularly sinuate-crenate, 3–4 veins on either side, reticulum inconspicuous. Inflorescence: a lax thyrse 9–32 × 3–7 cm (corolla excluded), comprising 3–9 nodes spaced 3–9 cm, rachis flattened at nodes, cymules lax, 3- to 5(10)-flowered (1- to 3-flowered in upper nodes), peduncles 0.6–3 cm, in the axil of foliaceous bracts of decreasing size upwards; bracts filiform, 2 mm. Flower: pedicel 10–20 mm; calyx campanulate, ca. 8 mm long (tube 2 mm, lobes 6 mm) before anthesis, markedly accrescent during anthesis up to 20 mm (tube ca. 10 mm, lobes ca. 10 mm), gibbose at base, lobes triangular acute, ca. 6–10 × 5–8 mm, glabrous to puberulous, whitish with a purplish tinge; corolla: tube 10–25 mm, with sessile or shortly stipitate glands, lobes 3–7 mm long, pale yellow, glandular like the tube; stamens exserted ca. 15 mm, anther ca. 2 mm long. Fruit ca. 9 mm long, subtended by the persistent reticulate, chartaceous calyx.

Distribution in Central Africa:—D.R. Congo.

Distribution elsewhere:—Not known elsewhere; endemic of D.R. Congo.

Habitat:—Old growth forest with Millettia laurentii , secondary forest, riparian forests; 300–400 m.

Selection of representative specimens:—D.R. CONGO. Bas-Congo: Léopoldville [Kinshasa], Kimuenza, dans la forêt de pente, August 1956, Carlier 91 (BR!); Mputu. Versant Ouest du bassin de la Nsele-Lukunga, 9 June 1960, Compère 2132 (BR!, MO); Léopoldville [Kinshasa], 18 May 1915, Bequaert 7657 (BR!, MO); Kimwenza, March 1901, Gillet 2093 (BR!, MO); Léopoldville [Kinshasa], 7 July 1946, E. Jans s. n. (BR!); Kimuenza, 3 June 1968, Pauwels 5115 (BR!, MO, WAG); Stanley-Pool, June 1899, Schlechter 12504 (BR!, K, L, WAG).

Note:—This species is known from 14 gatherings, probably representing less than 10 localities; its area of occurrence is restricted to the region of Kinshasa, which has been subjected to extensive urbanization.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Clerodendrum pynaertii. (Carlier 91 (BR)). https://www.botanicalcollections.be/specimen/BR0000013699550