Polyceratocarpus oligocarpus (Verdc.) Dagallier, 2021

Dagallier, Leo-Paul M. J., Mbago, Frank M., Luke, W. R. Quentin & Couvreur, Thomas L. P., 2021, Three new species of Uvariodendron (Annonaceae) from coastal East Africa in Kenya and Tanzania, PhytoKeys 174, pp. 107-126 : 107

Polyceratocarpus oligocarpus (Verdc.) Dagallier comb. nov.

Uvariodendron oligocarpum Verdcourt, Kew Bulletin 41(2): 289, 1986.

Type.

Tanzania - Tanga • J. Lovett 259 (holotype: K ( K000198888 )); Lushoto District, Ambangulu , West Usambara ; alt. 1300 m; 2 Mar. 1984 .

We examined 11 specimens (including the type specimen) of Uvariodendron oligocarpum Verdc. and found they have percurrent tertiary venation and pitted seeds. These characteristics are typical of the genus Polyceratocarpus Engl. & Diels ( Couvreur et al. 2009, 2012). Moreover, the fertile specimens observed have the combination of the following characters: outer petals ca. 35 mm long, 3 to 6 carpels, and 2 to 4 cylindrical and straight to slightly curved monocarps. This combination precludes these specimens from being identified as one of the two other species known from East Africa to date: Polyceratocarpus scheffleri Engl. & Diels that has "at least 20 [and] strongly curved" monocarps ( Verdcourt 1971), and Polyceratocarpus askhambryan-iringae A. R. Marshall & D. M. Johnson that has outer petals 10-16 mm long ( Marshall et al. 2016). Based on the above characters, they also cannot be included in any other accepted species from Central or West Africa that all have petals shorter than 25 mm long: Polyceratocarpus angustifolius Paiva and P. germanii Boutique, P. gossweileri (Excell) Paiva, P. laurifolius Paiva, P. microtrichus (Engl. & Diels) Ghesq. ex Pellegr., P. parviflorus Ghesq., and P. pellegrinii Le Thomas ( Pellegrin 1949, Boutique 1951, Le Thomas 1965, Paiva 1966). Thus, this species initially described as Uvariodendron oligocarpum Verdc. is here combined as Polyceratocarpus oligocarpus (Verdc.) Dagallier.

Other specimen examined.

Tanzania - Tanga • A . Borhidi 86249 ( K); Muheza District, East Usambaras Mts., Kwamkoro F. R. SE of Kwamkoro Tea Estate ; alt. 1030 m; 28 Oct. 1986 . • A. Borhidi 87241 ( K); Muheza District, East Usambaras Mts., Kwamkoro F. R. bordering Kwamsambia F. R; alt. 990 m; 05 May. 1987 . • L.- P. M. J. Dagallier 63 ( DSM, K, MPU ( MPU1379122 ), P, WAG); Korogwe District, East Usambaras , Ambangulu , top of the mountain above the tea plantations; 5°04'13.00"S, 38°24'31.00"E; alt. 1320 m; 20 Nov. 2019 . • A. R. Marshall 1457 ( K, MO); Lushoto District, Ambangulu - PSP19 , Ambangulu Tea Estate Forest, West Usambara Mountains ; 5°4'20.69"S, 38°24'24.21"E; alt. 1294 m; 22 Mar. 2008 . • A. R. Marshall 1695 ( K); Lushoto District, Ambangulu - PSP19 , Ambangulu Tea Estate Forest, West Usambara Mountains ; 5°4'20.69"S, 38°24'24.21"E; alt. 1294 m; 24 Mar. 2008 . • F. M. Mbago 3586 ( DSM); Lushoto District, Balangai forest near Tea estate; 4°56'41.24"S, 38°26'42.10"E; alt. 1505 m; 28 Jul. 2012 . • F. M. Mbago 3760 ( DSM), Korogwe Kunga Forest Mavimo Kwemtonto; 3°20'37.15"S, 37°19'46.06"E; alt. 898 m; 23 Nov. 2016 . • C. K. Ruffo 1730 ( K); Muheza District, Kwamkoro F. R; alt. 950 m; 28 Oct. 1986 . • C. K. Ruffo 1747 ( K); Muheza District, Kwamkoro F. R; alt. 1000 m; 31 Jan. 1987 . • C. K. Ruffo 1835 ( K); Muheza District, Kwamkoro F. R; alt. 1050 m; 18 Sep. 1986 .