Vitex fischeri var. fischeri

Meerts, Pierre, 2018, Synopsis of the genus Vitex (Lamiaceae) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Plant Ecology and Evolution 151 (3), pp. 380-392 : 386

10a. Vitex fischeri var. fischeri

Vitex bequaertii De Wild. ( De Wildeman 1914a: 142; 1914c: 402; 1921: 164; 1929b: 101); Delevoy (1929: 478); Pieper (1928: 60).

– Type: D.R. Congo, Haut-Katanga, Elisabethville [ Lubumbashi ], 4 Apr. 1912, Bequaert 314 [“319” in error in the protologue] (lecto-: BR barcode BR 0000005570843, designated here ; isolecto-: BR barcode BR 0000005571178) .

Vitex giorgii De Wild. ( De Wildeman 1929b: 103); Moldenke (1956: 375).

– Type: D.R. Congo, Haut-Katanga, Etoile du Congo, Jan. 1923, De Giorgi 391 (holo-: BR barcode BR 0000008905826) .

Vitex venulosa Moldenke ( Moldenke 1952: 64; 1958b: 210); Lebrun & Stork (1997: 526).

– Type: D.R. Congo, Maniema, Lumuna , Aug. 1932, Lebrun 5878 (holo-: BR barcode BR 0000008905550 ; iso-: BR barcode BR 0000008905574, P barcode P 00442322) .

A tree. Twigs greyish beige tomentellose. Leaves 5 foliolate; petiolules 11–30 mm; lamina elliptic, acuminate, upper surface glabrous, lower surface discolorous, greyish tomentose, 15–25 secondary veins, tertiary veins forming a ladder pattern. Inflorescence of dichasia, shorter than leaves, branches greyish beige tomentellose; calyx zygomorphic, teeth <0.5 mm, with short greyish-beige tomentellum of crispate hairs. Fruit 10–15 mm long.

Distribution – Mostly E Africa, from Kenya southwards to Zambia and extending westwards to Angola.

Note – Lectotypification of Vitex bequaertii De Wild. The protologue cited Homblé 202 and Bequaert 314 [“319”]. Both match the description in the protologue. Bequaert 314 (barcode BR0000005570843) is selected because it bears annotations in De Wildeman’s handwriting.