Clerodendrum dewittei Moldenke (1953b: 288

Meerts, Pierre, 2023, The genus Clerodendrum (Lamiaceae) in the flora of Central Africa (D. R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi), Phytotaxa 594 (1), pp. 1-42 : 11

7. Clerodendrum dewittei Moldenke (1953b: 288 ; 1980: 218); Lebrun & Stork (1997: 511).— Fig. 3 .

Type:— D.R. CONGO. Katanga , Lukulu, 30 April–5 May 1931, de Witte 291 (holotype: BR0000008970596!; iso-: BR0000008970602!, K000192862 (fragm.); NY 00137337 ) .

Suffrutex or small liana up to 140 cm long (or more?), from a thick woody rhizome. Twigs glabrous to thinly papillate, or puberulous, pale grey, striate, lenticellate; persistent petiole bases 2–5(–10) mm. Leaf: petiole 0.3–2.5 cm, canaliculate, pubescent on upper side; lamina ovate-elliptic to obovate, 3.8–14.0 × 1.8–8.0 cm, cuneate to almost round at base, apex acuminate, midvein somewhat canaliculate, 5–7 veins on either side, slightly impressed, upper side shiny, dark green, reticulum prominent, lower surface paler, sparsely pubescent on veins, margin entire. Inflorescence either on top of leafy twigs or lateral on old twigs, or near shoot base, a capitate cyme, ca. 2.5 × 3 cm, rachis 5–10 mm with 2 nodes, branches 2–4(–10) mm, puberulent to glabrous, flattened, bracts linear 10 × 1 mm, bracteoles 2–3 mm long, puberulent; peduncle 15–120 mm, papillate to puberulent. Flower: pedicel 2–5 mm, glabrous; calyx funnel-shaped 6–7 mm long, 5 mm broad at throat (when flattened in herbarium), lobes ovate-triangular, ca. 2 × 2 mm, occasionally slightly acuminate, 3-veined; corolla white, tube 15–22 mm, widening near throat, glabrous, lobes 5–8 mm long; stamens protruding 10–15 mm, anther ca. 1 mm long. Fruit not seen.

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

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

Habitat:—Forest, riparian forest, dry woodland; 500–700 m.

Selection of representative specimens:—D.R. CONGO. Bas-Katanga: Kiala, February 1954, Thiébaud 339 (BR!); Lukulu , 30 April–5 May 1931, de Witte 291 (BR!, K (fragm.), NY); Parc national de l’Upemba, près de Mabwe, 24 January 1949, de Witte 05280 (BR!); Parc national de l’Upemba, rivière Kanongo, 12 February 1949, de Witte 05431 (BR!).

Note:—This species is a narrow endemic of Bas-Katanga, known from only four gatherings, three of which from the Upemba National Park.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Clerodendrum dewittei. (Thiébaud 339 (BR)). https://www.botanicalcollections.be/specimen/BR0000015681454