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

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 : 406-409

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) .

Figures

Map 15. A Uvariastrum zenkeri B Uvariodendron angustifolium C Uvariodendron calophyllum D Uvariodendron conniven s E Uvariodendron fuscum F Uvariodendron fuscum var. giganteum G Uvariodendron molundense H Uvariopsis bakeriana I Uvariopsis citrata. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 127. Uvariopsis bakeriana A leaf, top view B detail of male flower, 2 petals removed C petal, inner view D carpel, side view, front view and detail of ovules E monocarp. Uvariopsis dioica F leaf, top view G male flowering pedicels and flowers H detail of male flower, 2 petals removed I stamen J female flowering pedicel K detail of female flower, all 4 petals removed L carpel, front view and detail of ovules M fruits A-E from Brenan 9409 F-L from Keay 28066 M from Letouzey 4230. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Figure 128. Uvariopsis bakeriana A trunk with flowers B leaf base, upper side C leaf base, lower side D trunk with female flowers E detail of male flower, one petal removed F flower bud G female flower, top view H male flower, side view, showing sepals A, D, G Couvreur 1045, Mt Cameroon Cameroon B, C, E, F, H Couvreur 1000, Bayang Mbo, Cameroon. Photos Thomas L. P. Couvreur.