Sphaerocoryne gracilipes (Benth.) X.Guo & R.M.K.Saunders, Taxon 66(1): 15, 2017

Couvreur, Thomas L. P., Dagallier, Leo-Paul M. J., Crozier, Francoise, Ghogue, Jean-Paul, Hoekstra, Paul H., Kamdem, Narcisse G., Johnson, David M., Murray, Nancy A. & Sonke, Bonaventure, 2022, Flora of Cameroon - Annonaceae Vol 45, PhytoKeys 207, pp. 1-532 : 321-324

Sphaerocoryne gracilipes (Benth.) X.Guo & R.M.K.Saunders, Taxon 66(1): 15, 2017

Figs 99 , 100 ; Map 12G

≡ Oxymitra gracilipes Benth., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 23: 471-472, 1862; Cleistopholis gracilipes (Benth.) Engl. & Diels, Engler in Monogr. Afrik. PflanzenFam. 6: 34, 1901; Richella gracilipes (Benth.) R.E.Fr., Engler & Prantl in Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2, 17 a(2): 139, 1959; Friesodielsia gracilipes (Benth.) Steenis, Blumea 12: 359, 1964.

= Unona albida Engl., Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 297, 1899; Cleistopholis albida (Engl.) Engl. & Diels, Monogr. Afrik. Pflanzen-Fam. 6: 34, 1901; Oxymitra albida (Engl.) Sprague & Hutch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1916: 153-154. 1916; Richella albida (Engl.) R.E.Fr. in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2, 17 a(2): 139. 1959; Friesodielsia albida (Engl.) Steenis, Blumea 12: 358. 1964. Type. Cameroon. South Region, Bipinde, Zenker G.A. 1715, 1898: Lectotype, designated by Guo et al. 2017, p. 15: B[B 10 0153057]; isolectotypes: B[B 10 0153058]; BM[BM000547065, BM000843987]; BR[BR000008800121]; E[E00181435]; G[G00308362]; HBG[HBG-502539]; K[K000198947]; L[L 0187107]; M[M-0107909]; NY[NY0026308]; P[P00363331, P00363333]; S; U[U 0269929 (wood sample)]; US; WAG[WAG0061084]; WU[WU025877].

= Cleistopholis albida var. longipedicellata Baker f., in Rendle & al., Cat. Pl. Oban: 3-4, 1913; Oxymitra longipedicellata (Baker f.) Sprague & Hutch., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1916: 154, 1916; Richella longipedicellata (Baker f.) R.E.Fr., in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2, 17 a(2): 139, 1959; Friesodielsia longipedicellata (Baker f.) Steenis, Blumea 12: 360, 1964. Type. Nigeria, Oban, Talbot P.A.1677, 1912: Lectotype, designated by Guo et al. (2017b), p. 15: BM n.v.; isolectotype: BM n.v.

Type.

Equatorial Guinea. Bioko, Fernando Po, Mann G. 251, 1860: holotype: K[K000198951] .

Description.

Liana, 2-15 m tall, d.b.h. 1-3 cm. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, drying black, young foliate branches sparsely pubescent to glabrous. Leaves: petiole up to 5 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, glabrous, slightly grooved, blade inserted on the side of the petiole; blade 4.5-17 cm long, 2-6 cm wide, elliptic to ovate, apex acuminate to acute, acumen ca. 1 cm long, base acute (rarely cordate), papyraceous, below glabrous when young and old, above glabrous when young and old, discolorous, whitish below; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below glabrous when young and old; secondary veins 9 to 12 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on young foliate branches, axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 2 to 7 per inflorescence; pedicel 25-50 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, glabrous; in fruit 25-40 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, glabrous; bracts 2, one basal and one towards the upper half of pedicel, bracts ca. 1 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, ca. 2 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide, semiorbicular, apex rounded, base truncate, green, glabrous outside, inside pubescent towards margins but otherwise glabrous, margins flat; petals free, valvate, outer petals larger than inner; outer petals 3, 5-15 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, elliptic to ovate, apex acute, base truncate, cream to white, margins flat, glabrous outside, inside pubescent towards margins but otherwise glabrous; inner petals 3, valvate, 5-7 mm long, 2.5-3 mm wide, ovate to oblong, apex acute, base truncate, cream to bright white, margins flat, glabrous outside, glabrous inside; stamens 60 to 80, in 8 to 9 rows, ca. 2 mm long, linear; connective discoid, glabrous, white; staminodes absent; carpels free, 10 to 12, ovary 2-3 mm long, stigma filiform, glabrous. Monocarps stipitate, stipes 8-10 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter; monocarps 10 to 14, 25-30 mm long, 8-13 mm in diameter, oblong, apex rounded, glabrous, smooth, sometimes with a prominent rib when dried, red when ripe; seeds 1 to 4 per monocarp, 20-25 mm long, 7-10 mm in diameter, oblong; aril absent.

Distribution.

A central African species, from Nigeria to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea; in Cameroon known from the Littoral, South and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A fairly common species, in lowland or submontane primary or old secondary rain forests. Altitude 0-800 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not assessed yet.

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Sphaerocoryne gracilipes is distinguished by its glaucous (light green) lower side of leaf blades, glabrous branches (or sparsely pubescent when very young), leaves and petioles, branches drying black, long pedicellate flowers (25-50 mm long) with bright white petals, and moniliform fruits. This species (and the genus) is easily confused when sterile with Monanthotaxis , both being lianas with a glaucous lower leaf surface and moniliform monocarps. However, Monanthotaxis has percurrent tertiary venation versus reticulate in Sphaerocoryne ( Guo et al. 2017b). For the same reason as above, Sphaerocoryne is also very close morphologically to Afroguatteria discostigma both being lianas with glaucous lower leaf surface and reticulate tertiary venation, but Sphaerocoryne has axillary inflorescences while Afroguatteria has terminal ones ( Guo et al. 2017b). The four liana genera Afroguatteria , Monanthotaxis , Sphaerocoryne and Toussaintia are phylogenetically close ( Guo et al. 2017b) but remain separate on morphological grounds.

In the check list to the plants of Mt Kupe and Bakossi ( Cheek et al. 2004), the fruiting collection Cable 3526 (K) is cited as " Monanthotaxis sp. nov. " but is identified here as Sphaerocoryne gracilipes . The only major difference with the rest of the material is that this specimen has cordate leaf bases, when all other specimens we have seen have acute leaf bases.

Specimens examined.

Littoral Region: Ebo Wildlife Reserve Djuma permanent camp On Djashaka trail, 4.35°N, 10.24°E, 13 February 2014, Couvreur T.L.P. 617 (WAG,YA); Ebo Wildlife Reserve Djuma permanent camp On transect 5, 4.33°N, 10.23°E, 16 February 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 633 (WAG,YA) . South Region: N bank of Lobé river above Gr Batanga ferry ca. 9 km S of Kribi, 2.87°N, 9.893°E, 14 October 1968, Bos J.J. 3077 (P,WAG,YA); ca 9 km S of Kribi Lobe R bank E of Gr Batanga ferry, 2.86°N, 9.9°E, 11 January 1969, Bos J.J. 3602 (P,WAG,YA); Lobé R mouth 7 km S of Kribi, 2.88°N, 9.9°E, 20 March 1969, Bos J.J. 4180 (BR,K,LD,LM,MO,P,WAG,YA); 10 km From Kribi Lolodorf road, 2.96°N, 9.966°E, 27 May 1969, Bos J.J. 4655 (BR,P,WAG); Ndoumalé 11 km S of Kribi, 2.86°N, 9.9°E, 29 August 1969, Bos J.J. 5264 (WAG); Campo-Ma’an area Bibabimvoto, 2.28°N, 9.950°E, 16 August 2002, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 3400 (KRIBI,WAG); Campo-Ma’an area 2.28°N, 9.866°E, 02 October 2001, van Andel T.R. 4095 (KRIBI,U,WAG,YA); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 1898, Zenker G.A. 1715 (E,L,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 May 1913, Zenker G.A. 360 (U,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 April 1914, Zenker G.A. 516 (U,WAG) . South-West Region: Nyasoso, 4.84°N, 9.689°E, 02 July 1996, Cable S. 3526 (K,WAG,YA); Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary after Mbu river, 5.35°N, 9.501°E, 25 March 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 1001 (WAG,YA); Mount Cameroon National Park on the Bomona trail behind Bomona village 10 km NW from Idenau, 4.29°N, 9.090°E, 03 April 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 1043 (WAG,YA); Buea area at Bolifamba, 4.13°N, 9.303°E, 01 March 1929, Maitland T.D. 536 (K,K,YA); Sousi Forest , 6.36°N, 10.61°E, 16 February 2006, Onana J.M. 3612 (K); Disturbed forest Bomana and Koto II, 4.3°N, 9.05°E, 26 April 1996, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 1372 (K,YA); Korup National Park , 5.01°N, 8.85°E, 10 March 1986, Thomas D.W. 5727 (MO); Korup National Park , 5.33°N, 8.95°E, 25 May 1988, Thomas D.W. 7858 (P,YA) .

Figures

Map 12. A Piptostigma pilosum B Piptostigma submontanum C Polyceratocarpus microtrichus D Polyceratocarpus parviflorus E Polyceratocarpus pellegrinii F Sirdavidia solannona G Sphaerocoryne gracilipes H Toussaintia hallei I Uvaria afzelii. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 99. Sphaerocoryne gracilipes A flowering branch B outer petal, inner view C iner petal, inner view D detail of receptacle, all petals removed E stamen, view and front views F carpel, side view and detail of ovules G fruit H longitudinal section of seed I transversal section of seed A-F from Zenker 516 G-I from Annet 465. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; modified from Le Thomas (1969 b, pl. 42, p. 237).

Figure 100. Sphaerocoryne gracilipes A habit B leaf base, upper side C leaf base, lower side, note light green color D flowering branch E flowering branch, lower view F detail of flower, 4 petals removed A-F Couvreur 1043, Mt Cameroon, Cameroon. Photos Thomas L. P. Couvreur.