Uvariodendron calophyllum R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 63, 1930

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 : 387-389

Uvariodendron calophyllum R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 63, 1930

Fig. 121 ; Map 15C

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; Bipindi, Zenker G.A. 2344, 1901: holotype: B[B 10 0153116]; isotypes: BM[BM000636669]; G[G00412241]; GOET[GOET005732]; HBG[HBG502513]; K[K000198797, K000198796]; M[M0107940]; P[P00362661, P00362658, P00362659]; S[S07-13396, S07-13393]; WAG[WAG.1418666] .

Description.

Tree, 2-20 m tall, d.b.h. 20-35 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches sparsely pubescent, young foliate branches densely pubescent to brown tomentose. Leaves: petiole 4-25 mm long, 2-9 mm in diameter, densely pubescent to brown tomentose, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 25.8-76.5 cm long, 6.1-24.8 cm wide, oblong to obovate, apex acuminate to emarginate, acumen 0.6-3.2 cm long, base rounded, coriaceous, below glabrous to pubescent at base when young and old, above glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below densely pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 19 to 40 pairs per side, glabrous above, slightly pubescent to pubescent below; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences cauliflorous or ramiflorous on old or young foliate branches, axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 3 per inflorescence; pedicel 0-9 mm long, 4-7 mm in diameter, tomentose; in fruit 1-9 mm long, ca. 4-7 mm in diameter, tomentose; bracts 2-6, several basal and one upper towards the middle of pedicel, basal bracts 2-3 mm long, 1-3 mm wide; upper bract 10-23 mm long, 10-40 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate or imbricate, basally fused, 10-27 mm long, 10-26 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, brown, densely pubescent to brown tomentose outside, pubescent except towards center inside, margins flat; petals free, sub equal; outer petals 3, 15-37 mm long, 10-28 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, greyish yellow, margins flat, densely pubescent to brown tomentose outside, glabrous but pubescent towards margins inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 14-34 mm long, 11-20 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, light yellow to cream, margins flat, densely pubescent to brown tomentose outside, pubescent towards margins inside; stamens 3680 to 5256, in 25 to 35 rows, 3.5-4.5 mm long, linear; connective discoid, glabrous, cream; staminodes absent; carpels free, 23 to ca. 150, ovary 4-5 mm long, stigma bilobed, slightly capitate, densely pubescent. Monocarps sessile to stipitate, stipes 0-5 mm long, 2.5-3 mm in diameter; 3 to 35 monocarps, 27-55 mm long, 9-25 mm in diameter, ellipsoid, apex rounded, tomentose, bumpy, otherwise smooth, brown when ripe; seeds 7 to 13 per monocarp, ca. 13 mm long, 8-10 mm in diameter, ellipsoid to oblong; aril absent.

Distribution.

A widespread species with a disjunct distribution in West and Central Africa, from Côte d’Ivoire to Ghana, and from Nigeria to Cameroon. In Cameroon known from the South, Central, Littoral, South-West and North-West regions.

Habitat.

A fairly common species; in lowland primary or old secondary rain forests, near streams. Altitude 50-30 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

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

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Uvariodendron calophyllum is distinguished by a dense brown tomentose pubescence on the young foliate branches, petioles, flowering pedicels, and outer side of the sepals and petals. Uvariodendron fuscum var. giganteum also has a dense pubescence on the young foliate branches, but the hairs are long and white, and soon disappearing with age. Stamen count was taken from Meinke (2008).

Specimens examined.

Central Region: Sonossi 26 km W of Ndikinimeki, 4.77°N, 10.83°E, 29 March 1982, Asonganyi J.N. 421 (P,YA); Colline entre Tcherikoy et Sokelle II (30 km NW Eséka), 3.80°N, 10.56°E, 14 December 1973, Letouzey R. 12352 (P,YA). Littoral Region: 8 km W of Masok, 4.13°N, 10.4°E, 31 March 1965, Leeuwenberg A.J.M. 5282 (BR,K,MO,P,WAG,YA). North-West Region: Baji-Tumbo (Wum), 6.38°N, 10.07°E, 12 July 1975, Letouzey R. 14020 (K,P,WAG,YA); Bamenda Prov Wum Distr Nkom-Wum FR, 6.26°N, 10.13°E, 03 July 1951, Ujor E.U. 29281 (K). South Region: on road Lolodorf-Bipindi ca half way near Mbiguiligui village (Mbikiliki), 3.16°N, 10.53°E, 26 February 2018, Couvreur T.L.P. 1157 (K,MPU,P,WAG,YA); 31 km east from Lélé village, 2.27°N, 13.29°E, 09 September 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 486 (WAG,YA); ca 7 km NE of Ebom, 3.11°N, 10.75°E, 01 August 1996, Parren M.P.E. 223 (KRIBI,WAG); ca 7 km NE of Ebom, 3.11°N, 10.75°E, 01 August 1996, Parren M.P.E. 68 (KRIBI,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 1898, Zenker G.A. 1738 (B,M,P,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1901, Zenker G.A. 2344 (B,L,M,P,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 April 1903, Zenker G.A. s.n. (P). South-West Region: Along the path from Pete to Bopo at the right hand side of the road in S Bakundu FR, 4.46°N, 9.392°E, 23 February 1956, Binuyo A. 35564 (K,WAG); Mungo river forest reserve ca 1 km East of bridge Chained road to S, 4.73°N, 9.55°E, 24 October 1998, Cheek M. 9337 (K,YA); Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary after Mbu river, 5.35°N, 9.500°E, 26 March 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 1013 (WAG,YA); on top of hill near Small Ekombe village 3 km after Kumba on road to Ekondo Titi town, 4.62°N, 9.376°E, 13 January 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 980 (WAG,YA); Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary after Mbu river, 5.35°N, 9.500°E, 25 March 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 999 (WAG,YA); South Bakundu, 4.49°N, 9.374°E, 19 February 1946, Dundas J. 13989 (K); Entre Babong et Okurikang 35 km WSW Mamfé, 5.58°N, 9.05°E, 29 May 1975, Letouzey R. 13673 (P,YA); Bolo forest 5 km west of Kumba-Mamfe road near Konye, 4.64°N, 9.45°E, 25 March 1986, Nemba J. 64 (K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Kumba Distr Mumbo-Southern Bakossi, 4.83°N, 9.333°E, 09 May 1951, Olorunfemi J. 30561 (K); S Bakundu FR between Bombe Rest House and Mbalange, 4.46°N, 9.452°E, 19 March 1953, Onochie C.F.A. 30860 (K); Korup National Park, 5.26°N, 9.183°E, 24 March 1984, Thomas D.W. 3322 (K,P,YA); Takamanda Forest Reserve, 6.23°N, 9.316°E, 21 March 1985, Thomas D.W. 4549 (YA); 31 km West of Kumba on Mbonge road, 4.51°N, 9.366°E, 26 March 1986, Thomas D.W. 5965 (K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Lake Barombi Kumba, 4.65°N, 9.4°E, 01 April 1986, Thomas D.W. 6090 (P,YA); Korup National Park, 5.27°N, 9.1°E, 01 April 1988, Thomas D.W. 7499 (P).

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 121. Uvariodendron calophyllum A leaf, hand for size B base of leaf blades, lower side C base of leaf blades, upper side, note tomentose pubescence D leaf blade apex E cauliflorous flowers, buds and one at anthesis F detail of flower, stamens and carpels G flower, bottom view, note tomentose pubescence H flower bud, side view. Uvariodendron connivens I flower, at anthesis, note long pedicel J flower, top view, note wine red purple petals K fruit, with a single monocarp A, D, G, H Couvreur 1157, Nogovayang, Cameroon B, C Couvreur 999, Bayang Mbo, Cameroon E, F Couvreur 1013, Bayang Mbo, Cameroon I, J Couvreur 1016, Bayang Mbo, Cameroon K Couvreur 620, Ebo, Cameroon. Photos Thomas L. P. Couvreur.