Clerodendrum inaequipetiolatum Good (1930: 141)

Meerts, Pierre, 2023, The genus Clerodendrum (Lamiaceae) in the flora of Central Africa (D. R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi), Phytotaxa 594 (1), pp. 1-42 : 19-20

13. Clerodendrum inaequipetiolatum Good (1930: 141) ; Thomas (1936: 75); Huber (1963: 444); Moldenke (1986d: 270); Lebrun & Stork (1997: 511).

Type:— ANGOLA. Cuanza Norte, Quisseque Ngage, 13 January 1918, Gossweiler 7384 (holotype: BM000583247 ; iso-: COI00068436 ) .

Liana or sarmentose shrub, up to 3 m high. Stem terete, densely hispid, with pale fulvous hairs 0.5–2 mm; internodes 1.5–6 cm; persistent petiole bases occasionally present, 5–10 mm. Leaf: petioles unequal in length at the same node, one generally spreading, short (ca. 1.5 cm), the other generally upright, longer (4.5–5.5 cm), pubescent like the stem; lamina broadly ovate, ovate-elliptic to obovate, 7–15(–18) × 4.5–10.5(–12) cm, base cordate, apex rounded-obtuse, abruptly contracted into a short acumen, upper surface pubescent (hairs ca. 1 mm), roughish, lower surface hispid on veins, reticulum prominent on lower surface, margin entire. Inflorescence at shoot apex, corymbose to hemispheric, 3–4 × 3.5–8 cm, peduncle 4–12 cm, fulvous hispid; bracts filiform to linear, 5–15 mm. Flower: pedicel 0–1(–3) mm, pubescent; calyx 4–6 mm long, tube obconical 2–3 mm long, limb funnel-shaped, ca. 3 mm long, hispid; lobes ovate-triangular ca. 2 mm long, acute, with long fulvous hairs; corolla: tube 9–10 mm, glabrous; lobes ca. 3–7 mm long, with long spreading hairs on the outer surface; stamens exserted 5–10 mm, anther ca. 0.8 mm long. Fruit not seen.

Distribution in Central Africa:—D.R. Congo.

Distribution elsewhere:— Angola, Benin, Cameroon.

Habitat:—Riparian forest; 1000–1250 m.

Specimens examined:—D.R. CONGO. Bas-Katanga. Sapeza, February 1951, Desenfans 1819 (BRLU!). Haut-Katanga: Kayo, chute de la Kalule Nord, 29 January 1986, Bamps & Malaisse 8385 (BR!).

Notes:—1. This species is new to D.R. Congo. The new localities are situated ca. 1000 km east of the previously known distribution range.

2. See Note under C. johnstonii .