Artabotrys insignis var. batesii Le Thomas Adansonia, ser. 2, 5: 448, 1965

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 : 67-69

Artabotrys insignis var. batesii Le Thomas Adansonia, ser. 2, 5: 448, 1965

Fig. 14 ; Map 2F

Type.

Cameroon. East Region; Bitya, near Dja river , Bates G.L. 1792, Sep 1922: holotype: P[00363370] .

Description.

Differs from the type variety by its densely brown tomentose and shortly hirsute branches and petioles, pubescent lower side of leaf blades and tomentose petals.

Distribution.

A west and central African species, from Sierra Leone to Benin and from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; in Cameroon known from Central, East, South and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A fairly common species in Cameroon, in secondary rain forests a long fringes of forests, in swampy regions too. Altitude 100-800 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None recorded.

Notes.

Differences between var. Artabotrys insignis insignis and var. Artabotrys insignis batesii are quite small, and are mainly related to the pubescence of the branches, lower side of the leaves and petals ( Le Thomas 1965a). There is one more recognized variety within Artabotrys insignis : var. Artabotrys insignis concolor (Pellegr.) Le Thomas which differs by having shiny leaves on both sides and longer sepals. We have not seen this variety in Cameroon, but it is present in Gabon ( Le Thomas 1965a, 1969b).

Specimens examined.

East Region: Village Djang 40 km west of Bertoua, 4.58°N, 13.35°E, 15 May 1962, Breteler F.J. 2956 (P,WAG). South Region: Bitye near R Ja, 3.02°N, 12.37°E, 01 September 1922, Bates G.L. 1792 (P); Rive du Ntem à Ebianemeyong 60 km east de Campo, 2.42°N, 10.33°E, 12 April 1970, Letouzey R. 10370 (P,WAG,YA) .

Figures

Map 2. A Artabotrys aurantiacus B Artabotrys aurantiacus var. multiflorus C Artabotrys congolensis D Artabotrys dielsianus E Artabotrys insignis F Artabotrys insignis var. batesii G Artabotrys jacques-felicis H Artabotrys rufus I Artabotrys thomsonii. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 14. Artabotrys dielsiana A branch B base of leaf blade; upper side C base of leaf blade; lower side D detail of hooked shaped inflorescence (sterile). Artabotrys insignis var. batesii E branch F base of leaf blade; lower side, note tomentose branches G base of leaf blade; upper side, note tomentose branches H flower, side view I flower, top view J flower, bottom view A-D Couvreur 453, Lele, Cameroon E-J Couvreur 1044, Mt Cameroon, Cameroon. Photos Thomas L. P. Couvreur.