Uvaria bipindensis Engl., Notizbl. Konigl . Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 292, 1899

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 : 343-345

Uvaria bipindensis Engl., Notizbl. Konigl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 292, 1899

Figs 105 , 106 ; Map 13E

≡ Uva bipindensis (Engl.) Kuntze, Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 21: 173, 1903.

= Uvaria cardiophylla Engl. & Diels, Monogr. Afrik. Pflanzen.-Fam. 6: 13, 1901. Type. Cameroon. South Region, Grand Batanga, Dinklage M.J. 834, 22 Oct 1890: holotype: B[B 10 0153071]; isotype: HBG[HBG502501].

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; Bipindi, Zenker G.A. 1116, 1 Jul 1896: holotype: B[B 10 0153072]; isotypes: E[E00147945]; K[K000198775]; P[P00046767]; WU[WU0025884] .

Description.

Liana, 5-20 m tall, d.b.h. unknown. Indumentum of fasciculate hairs; old leafless branches hirsute becoming glabrous, young foliate branches hirsute. Leaves: petiole (2)4-5 mm long, 2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 9-27 cm long, 4-11 cm wide, obovate to elliptic, apex acuminate, acumen 1.5-2 cm long, base cordate to acute or subcordate to rounded, papyraceous, below sparsely hirsute with fasciculate hairs when young and old, above glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above densely pubescent with simple hairs when young, pubescent to glabrous when old, below densely pubescent when young, pubescent when old; secondary veins 13 to 20 pairs, pubescent above; tertiary venation percurrent (but some venation network like). Individuals bisexual; inflorescences cauliflorous or occasionally on young foliate branches, axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 5 per inflorescence; pedicel 10-20 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent to tomentose; in fruit unknown; bracts 2, one basal and one towards the upper half of pedicel, basal bract not seen (soon falling?); upper bract 2-3 mm long, 3-5 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, 7-8 mm long, 10-11 mm wide, suborbicular, apex obtuse, base truncate, brown tomentose outside, densely pubescent inside, margins flat, green-brown; petals free, sub equal; outer petals 3, 16-20 mm long, 15-16 mm wide, ovate to suborbicular, apex obtuse, base truncate, cream white to cream yellow, margins flat, tomentose outside, densely pubescent towards margins, glabrous towards center inside; inner petals 3, imbricate, 10-12 mm long, 10-18 mm wide, elliptic to oblong, apex obtuse, base narrowed, cream white to cream yellow, margins flat, tomentose outside, glabrous inside; stamens 150 to 200, in 5 to 7 rows, ca. 4 mm long, linear; connective discoid, glabrous, white; staminodes absent; carpels free, 15 to 25, ovary ca. 4 mm long, stigma coiled, glabrous. Monocarps stipitate, stipes 15-20 mm long, 3-4 mm in diameter, laterally inserted; monocarps 8 to 13, 20-70 mm long, 20-40 mm in diameter, cylindrical to oblong, apex rounded, brown tomentose, 4 to 5 ribbed, otherwise smooth, orange-brown when ripe; seeds 5 to 12 per monocarp, ca. 20 mm long, ca. 14 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

A central African species, from Cameroon to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea (recently collected in those latter two countries); in Cameroon known from the Littoral, South and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A locally common species when present; occurring in primary rain forest on drained or swampy regions of sand soils, often in sandy areas. Altitude 0-400 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Uvaria bipindensis can be distinguished by its hirsute indumentum on the young foliate branches, petioles, sepals and petals and its large leaves (15-22 cm) with a clearly cordate or subcordate base. The flowers are cauliflorous, the only species in Cameroon with this character reported to date. The fruits were described for the first time by Lachenaud (2018), and here taken from two specimens (Reits J.M. 1865 (WAG); Carvalho M. 6047 (MA)) collected in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea respectively. The monocarps are very characteristic for Cameroonian Uvaria being stipitate oblong to cylindrical in shape having 4 to 5 marked ribs arising from the base. These fruits resemble those of U. chamae , U. angolensis or U. versicolor (not in Cameroon) in the length of the stipes (medium), but in the latter three the monocarps are smaller and narrower and lack ribs.

This species was thought to be endemic to Cameroon, but has now been collected in Gabon several times (e.g. Bidault 1686, 1739; Couvreur 1092, 521; Lachenaud 1979; Reitsma 1865) and Equatorial Guinea (Carvalho 6047).

Specimens examined.

Littoral Region: Mapubi 30 km before Edea on Yaounde-Edea road On forestry road 5 km direction to Sanaga river , 3.84°N, 10.38°E, 28 February 2018, Couvreur T.L.P. 1179 (K,MPU,WAG,YA); Mambe Massif above Boga village 100 km along road from Yaoundé to Ed 3.90°N, 10.77°E, 20 June 2014, Couvreur T.L.P. 662 (WAG,YA); Au SE du Lac Tisongo (35 km SW Edéa), 3.53°N, 9.909°E, 09 January 1974, Letouzey R. 12660 (P,YA). South Region : 20 km from Kribi N of Lolodorf road (SFIA logging road), 3°N, 10.05°E, 10 June 1969, Bos J.J. 4794 (WAG); Campo Ma'an National Park 11 km on trail from Ebinanemeyong village on road 7 km from Nyabessan to Campo town, 2.48°N, 10.33°E, 11 February 2015, Couvreur T.L.P. 673 (WAG,YA); Campo-Ma’an area Onoyong, 2.52°N, 10.69°E, 18 March 2001, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. ONOX_53 (WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 1896, Zenker G.A. 1116 (K,P). South-West Region: Jocteh Andie-Muen, 5.10°N, 9.716°E, 09 November 2001, Etuge M. 4504 (K) .

Figures

Map 13. A Uvaria angolensis B Uvaria anisotricha C Uvaria anonoides D Uvaria baumannii E Uvaria bipindensis F Uvaria buchholzii G Uvaria chamae H Uvaria comperei I Uvaria heterotricha. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 105. Uvaria bipindensis A leaf, upper view B detail of pubescence lower side of leaf blade C flower, note cauliflorous nature D flower, bottom view. Uvaria mollis E leaf, lower side F detail of pubescence, lower side of leaf blade G flower H inner petal, note ungulate base I stamen, side and front views. Uvaria anonoides J flower bud K detail of calyx, bottom view L outer petal, inner view M inner petal, inner view N stamen, front and side views O carpel, detail of ovules P longitudinal section of monocarp A-D from Brenan 9445 E-I from Zenker & Staudt 3 J-O Jaeger 9876 P from Jaeger 8800. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Figure 106. Uvaria bipindensis A stem showing flowers B young branch with basal part of upper leaf blade C detail of lower side of leaf blade, note some percurrent veins, but also some network like D detail of cauliflorous flower, side view E flower, top view, petals opened for photo F flower at anthesis, side view G flower, bottom view A-G Lachenaud 1979, Gabon; Photos A-F Dietrich I. Lafferty G Olivier Lachenaud; both from Tropicos. org, Missouri Botanical Garden.