Uvariopsis bakeriana (Hutch. & Dalziel) Robyns & Ghesq., Ann. Soc. Sci. Bruxelles, Ser. B 53: 320, 1933

Figs 127, 128; Map 15H

≡ Tetrastemma bakerianum Hutch. & Dalziel, Kew Bull.: 153, 1927.

Type.

Nigeria. Cross River State; Oban, Talbot P. 1517, 1912: holotype: K[K000199043]; isotype: BM[BM000554076] .

Description.

Tree, 2-7 m tall, d.b.h. 3-7 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches pubescent. Leaves: petiole 3-5 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, glabrous to pubescent, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 25-34 cm long, 4.5-9 cm wide, narrowly oblong to narrowly obovate, apex acuminate, acumen 1-3 cm long, base rounded to subcordate, coriaceous, below sparsely pubescent when young, glabrous when old, above glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below pubescent when young, glabrous when old; secondary veins 11 to 20 pairs per side, glabrous above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals unisexual, monoecious, inflorescences cauliflorous. Flowers with 6 perianth parts in 2 whorls, long conical in bud, 1 to 2 per inflorescence, male and female inflorescences similar, but with a tendency of female flowers being located towards the base of the trunk; pedicel 3-8 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, pubescent; in fruit 4-11 mm long, 2 mm in diameter, pubescent; bracts 2 to 3, all basal or towards the lower half of pedicel, 1-2 mm long, 1-2 mm wide; sepals 2, valvate, free, 3-4 mm long, 2 mm wide, triangular, apex attenuate, base truncate, brown, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, 4, 25-45 mm long, 4-8 mm wide, linear, apex attenuate, base truncate, wine-brown to dark red, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous and highly verrucose inside; male flowers: stamens 400 to 600, in 15 to 20 rows, ca. 1 mm long, broad; connective reduced or absent, glabrous, cream; staminodes absent; female flowers: carpels free, 24 to 40, ovary 2-3 mm long, 1-1.5 wide, stigma coiled, densely pubescent. Monocarps stipitate, stipes 3-6 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diameter; monocarps 4 to 6, 25-50 mm long, 10-20 mm in diameter, cylindrical, apex rounded, puberulent to glabrous, verrucose, wrinkled, bright red when ripe; seeds 6 to 16 per monocarp, 17-22 mm long, 10-12 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

From eastern Nigeria to northern Cameroon; in Cameroon known from South and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A common species when present; in lowland primary or old secondary rain forests. Altitude 50-800 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Least Concern (LC) (Cosiaux et al. 2019a w).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Vegetatively, Uvariopsis bakeriana is close to U. citrata, U. korupensis and U. submontana, having generally large leaves (largest leaves> 31 cm) with a rounded to (sub)cordate base. When in flower, U. bakeriana is easily distinguished from other species by its linear to very narrowly elliptic petals (forming a long conical flower bud) which are free at base and deep red in color (when fresh).

Specimens examined.

South-West Region: Kumba Div S Bakundu FR ca 1 mile west of Bopo village, 4.48°N, 9.372°E, 12 March 1948, Brenan J.P.M. 9305 (K); Banga (S Bakundu), 4.5°N, 9.57°E, 13 March 1948, Brenan J.P.M. 9409 (P); Ekundu Kundu, 5.18°N, 8.859°E, 25 April 1996, Cable S. 2150 (K,YA); Ekundu Kundu, 5.12°N, 8.895°E, 27 April 1996, Cable S. 2256 (K,YA); Korup National Park nature trail near suspension bridge, 4.98°N, 8.85°E, 01 February 1995, Cheek M. 7234 (K,YA); Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary after Mbu river, 5.35°N, 9.502°E, 25 March 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 1000 (WAG,YA); Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary after Mbu river, 5.35°N, 9.501°E, 26 March 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 1015 (WAG,YA); Mount Cameroon National Park on the Bomona trail behind Bomona village 10 km NW from Idenau, 4.29°N, 9.098°E, 03 April 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 1045 (WAG,YA); Ntali, 5.25°N, 9.576°E, 30 November 2000, Etuge M. 4860 (K); South Bakundu forest reserve, 4.5°N, 9.57°E, 14 May 1970, Farron C. 6613 (YA); South Bakundu forest reserve, 4.54°N, 9.42°E, 01 May 1970, Farron C. 7297 (P); 3-25 km S of Six cup Garri Creek, 5.03°N, 8.883°E, 06 March 1993, Gereau R.E. 5195 (MO,WAG,YA); Entre Etinkem et Nfaitok 16 10 km N Nguti, 5.41°N, 9.39°E, 15 June 1975, Letouzey R. 13841 (P,YA); Akpasang river camp (Mouanko Region) , 4.98°N, 8.71°E, 07 February 1976, McKey D.B. 70 (P,YA); Etome, 4.1°N, 9.05°E, 13 February 1997, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 1663 (K,YA); Korup National Park, 4.98°N, 8.85°E, 01 March 1979, Thomas D.W. 1086 (K); Korup National Park, 5.26°N, 9.183°E, 24 March 1984, Thomas D.W. 3336 (YA); Korup National park Forest along footpath from Ndian River at PAMOL Field 69 and transect P, 5.01°N, 8.833°E, 24 January 1985, Thomas D.W. 4300 (P,YA); Korup National Park, 5.18°N, 8.85°E, 16 February 1986, Thomas D.W. 5606 (MO); Korup National Park, 5.33°N, 8.9°E, 22 May 1988, Thomas D.W. 7835 (MO) .