Meiocarpidium oliverianum (Baillon) D.M.Johnson & N.A.Murray, PhytoKeys 97: 221, 2018

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 : 160-162

Meiocarpidium oliverianum (Baillon) D.M.Johnson & N.A.Murray, PhytoKeys 97: 221, 2018

Figs 44 , 45 ; Map 6B

≡ Unona oliveriana Baillon, Adansonia 8: 307, 1868; Unona lepidota Oliv. Fl. Trop. Afr. 1: 36, 1868; Meiocarpidium lepidotum (Oliv.) Engl. & Diels, Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 3: 55, 1900.

= Uvaria zenkeri Engl., Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 293, 1899. Type. Cameroon. South Region, Bipindi, Zenker G.A. 1864, 1896: lectotype, here designated: K[K000198806]; isolectotypes: K[K000198807]; HBG[HBG502509, HBG502510]; WU[WU0025880, WU0025879].

Type.

Equatorial Guinea. Rio Muni; Muni River , Mann G. 1774, Aug 1862: lectotype, sheet here designated: K[K000795931]; isotypes: K[K000795932]; P[P00362615] .

Description.

Tree, 8-20 m tall, d.b.h. 20 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of peltate scale-like hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches pubescent. Leaves: petiole 9-11 mm long, 2 mm in diameter, pubescent, grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 15-20 cm long, 5-7 cm wide, oblong to obovate, apex acuminate to acute, acumen 1-2 cm long, base decurrent to acute, coriaceous, below densely pubescent when young giving a silvery color, pubescent when old, above glabrous when young and old, discolorous, whitish below; midrib impressed above, above glabrous when young and old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 13 to 17 pairs, glabrous below; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on old or young foliate branches, leaf opposed. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 per inflorescence; pedicel 20-30 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent; in fruit 20-30 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, pubescent; bracts 2, one basal and one upper towards the upper half of pedicel, basal bract 8-9 mm long, 1 mm wide; upper bract 2-3 mm long, 1 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, 2-3 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, triangular, apex acute, base truncate, green, pubescent outside, densely pubescent inside, margins flat; petals free, sub equal; outer petals 3, valvate, 15-25 mm long, 10-15 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base truncate, cream, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, pubescent inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 15-25 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base narrowed into a claw 3-5 mm long, cream, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; stamens 90 to 100, in 5 to 6 rows, 3-4 mm long, broad; connective discoid, glabrous, cream; staminodes absent; carpels free, 3 to 5, ovary 7-8 mm long, stigma capitate, pubescent. Monocarps sessile, 3 to 4, 40-60 mm long, 20-30 mm in diameter, cylindrical, apex rounded to apiculate, pubescent, smooth, silver-green when ripe; seeds 14 to 16 per monocarp, 10-20 mm long, 5-10 mm in diameter, flattened ellipsoid to oblong; aril absent.

Distribution.

Known from Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea Gabon and Republic of Congo, one collection for the Democratic Republic of Congo; in Cameroon known from East, South, Littoral and Central regions.

Habitat.

A frequent species when present; growing on swampy, periodically inundated or well-drained soils, in primary or secondary forests, sometimes near rivers and swampy areas. Altitude 50-500 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

mambéléngé, mandongé (dial. Baka bibaya).

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated (probably LC).

Uses in Cameroon.

medicine: bark used to allay fever; construction: wood used to make spoons.

Notes.

Meiocarpidium oliverianum is easily identifiable by the presence of peltate scale-like hairs on the lower side of the leaf blade, calyx and fruits, giving these parts a silvery aspect and color.

The species was previsously known under the name Meiocarpidium lepidotum (Oliv.) Engl. & Diels, but the name Meiocarpidium oliverianum of Baillon (1868) was published earlier and has priority ( Johnson and Murray 2018).

Selected specimens examined.

Central Region: Bank Nyong River near the new bridge ca 65 km SSW of Eséka, 3.65°N, 10.78°E, 17 June 1964, de Wilde W.J.J.O 2735 (B,BR,K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Bafia region , 4.75°N, 11.23°E, 18 December 1957, de Wit H.C.D 7948 (WAG). East Region : Berbérati, 4.58°N, 13.68°E, 01 March 1963, BPFV 2664 (P); 47 km NW of Bertoua near road from Mbang to Abaka, 4.58°N, 13.68°E, 22 May 1961, Breteler F.J. 1398 (A,BR,K,M,P,UC,WAG,YA); Bertoua 9 km along road to Deng Deng, 4.58°N, 13.68°E, 31 August 1961, Breteler F.J. 1817 (A,BR,K,M,P,WAG,YA); 70 km south of Yokadouma 30 km after Ngato 15 km after river ALPICAM 'base de vie’ then 40 km on forestry road starting 4 km before Masea village , 3.15°N, 14.73°E, 04 March 2019, Couvreur T.L.P. 1193 (MPU,WAG,YA); Yokadouma 3.52°N, 15.05°E, 11 September 1939, Jacques-Félix H. 4904 (P); Deng Deng, 5.20°N, 13.13°E, 27 July 2014, Kamdem N. 169 (YA); sur la route de Esseleké, 4.58°N, 13.68°E, 18 August 1955, Nana P. 213 (P,YA); km 38 de la route de Deng-Deng, 4.58°N, 13.68°E, 17 September 1955, Nana P. 257 (P,YA); Environ de Landjwe 25 km SW Yokadouma 3.47°N, 14.93°E, 16 June 1984, Satabié B. 767 (P,YA). Littoral Region : Mapubi 30 km before Edea on Yaounde-Edea road On forestry road 5 km direction to Sanaga river , 3.84°N, 10.38°E, 28 February 2018, Couvreur T.L.P. 1182 (MPU,WAG,YA). South Region : 6 km N of km Kribi-Lolodorf, 3.08°N, 10.25°E, 12 March 1970, Bos J.J. 6523 (WAG); Near village Oveng 27 km from Sangmélima along road to Yaoundé, 3.09°N, 11.90°E, 20 March 1962, Breteler F.J. 2646 (BR,K,L,P,U,WAG,YA); Campo Ma an National Park 26 km after Ntem river , 3.07°N, 14.64°E, 08 March 2019, Couvreur T.L.P. 376 (WAG,YA); on road from Lolodorf to Mekalat just after 1sty village Along the Malange river , 3.19°N, 10.71°E, 20 February 2012, Couvreur T.L.P. 407 (WAG,YA); Campo Ma'an National Park 11 km on trail from Ebinanemeyong village on road 7 km from Nyabessan to Campo town, 2.46°N, 10.35°E, 14 February 2015, Couvreur T.L.P. 709 (WAG,YA); Station de cacaoyer de N’koemvone 14 km On the road from Ebolowa to Ambam, 2.81°N, 11.13°E, 27 September 1974, de Wilde J.J.F.E 7576 (BR,K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Ebolowa SW of Mbalmayo, 2.96°N, 11.28°E, 27 February 1964, de Wilde W.J.J.O 1942 (BR,K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Près Akak 10 km W Sangmeli 2.96°N, 11.88°E, 11 March 1970, Letouzey R. 10153 (P,YA); Ebom, 3.05°N, 10.71°E, 29 August 1996, Ndoum D. 88 (KRIBI,WAG); Campo-Ma’an area 2.39°N, 10.07°E, 12 June 2001, van Andel T.R. 3619 (KRIBI,WAG,YA); Campo-Ma’an area Akom II, 2.8°N, 10.53°E, 18 August 2001, van Andel T.R. 3931 (U,WAG,YA); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 1898, Zenker G.A. 1864 (P); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1902, Zenker G.A. 2505 (P); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1903, Zenker G.A. 2521 (L,P,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1904, Zenker G.A. 2947 (L,P,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1904, Zenker G.A. 3221 (L,P,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1911, Zenker G.A. 4209 (P,U); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1918, Zenker G.A. 60 (P) .

Figures

Map 6. A Letestudoxa lanuginosa B Meiocarpidium oliverianum C Mischogyne gabonensis D Monanthotaxis bicornis E Monanthotaxis bokoli F Monanthotaxis capea G Monanthotaxis cauliflora H Monanthotaxis congoensis I Monanthotaxis couvreurii. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 44. Meiocarpidium oliverianum A flowering branch B detail of lower leaf surface showing lepidote (scale like) hairs C outer petal, outer side D inner petal, outer side E detail of receptacle, side view, 3 petals removed F detail of receptacle, semi top view, all petals removed G stamens, side and front views H carpel, side view, and detail of ovules I fruit J longitudinal section of a monocarp A-H from Zenker 3027 I-J from Letouzey 5473. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; modified from Le Thomas (1969 b, pl. 48, p. 267).

Figure 45. Meiocarpidium oliverianum A detail of lower side of leaf showing lepidote (scale-like) hairs; white bow zoomed in) B flowering branch C fruiting branch. Mischogyne gabonensis D base of trunk E base of leaf blade, upper side F base of leaf bade, lower side G flower bud, note sepals tearing H detail of flower, top view I detail of flower, all petals and sepals fallen, note elongated carpels J longitudinal section of monocarp, note hairy seeds A-C Sosef 2317 D-I Couvreur 1033, Mt Cameroon, Cameroon J Kenfack 1545; Mt Cameroon, Cameroon. Photos A-H Thomas L. P. Couvreur I David Kenfack, Tropicos. org, Missouri Botanical Garden.