Clerodendrum johnstonii Oliv. var. johnstonii

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

14a. Clerodendrum johnstonii Oliv. var. johnstonii

= Clerodendrum johnstonii subsp. johnstonii ( Verdcourt 1992: 118) ; Bloesch et al. (2009: 626).

=? Clerodendrum johnstonii var. rubrum Thomas (1936: 75) . Type:— TANZANIA. Morogoro, 12 July 1933, Schlieben 4130 (holotype: B, not seen; iso-: LISC011436 ), nom inval.

Subshrub, sarmentose shrub, 1.5–6 m, or, more rarely, liana up to 12 m high and 10 cm diam. Stem quadrangular, stiff and robust up to inflorescence (5 mm thick), pale fulvous to rusty tomentose, persistent petiole bases 2–4(–20) mm; old shoots brownish with numerous pale lenticels. Leaf: petiole (0.5–)1.0–9.0 cm, often unequal in length at a node; lamina broadly ovate to ovate-elliptic, (5–)6–19 ×(4–) 5–15 cm, base rounded to cordate, more rarely obtuse, apex acute to obtuse, contracted into a short point, or acuminate, 4–6(–7) veins on either side, upper surface dark green, shortly pubescent (reddish hairs ca. 0.5 mm), roughish, lower surface markedly discolorous, uniformly beige- or greyish-tomentose, Inflorescence at shoot apex, corymbose to hemispherical, 4–14 × 4–19 cm, comprising compact axillary cymes in the 3–4(–5) uppermost nodes, rarely more widely spaced in the axils of vegetative nodes, lowermost branches 3–8 cm, subtended by leaves; branches fulvous, rusty or beige tomentose, bracts linear to very narrowly obovate-elliptic, 2–10 mm long. Flower: pedicel 0.5–7 mm; calyx campanulate (2.5–)3–6(–7) mm long, lobes 1–2 mm long, triangular, shortly greyish, rusty, to beige-tomentose; corolla white, occasionally rose-tinged, scented, tube (5–) 7–11 mm, glabrous, or with sessile glands, lobes 2–3 mm long, tomentose and with golden glands on outer surface; stamens exserted 3–8 mm, anther ca. 1 mm long. Fruit 8–11 × 5–9 mm, subtended by the accrescent cupuliform calyx up to 9 mm wide.

Distribution in Central Africa:—D.R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi.

Distribution elsewhere:— Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia.

Habitat:—Montane rainforest, sclerophyllous montane forest, montane fallow field (Lobeliion giberroae), Hyparrhenia savannah, bamboo forest, secondary forest with Neoboutonia macrocalyx ; 1400– 2710 m.

Selection of representative specimens:—D.R. CONGO. Lac Albert: Territ. Mahagi, Djalasindi, 23 July 1945, Germain 4062 (BR!); Nioka, 8 August 1952, Liben 355 (BR!); Mahagi, August 1931, Lebrun 3746 (BR!). Lacs Edouard et Kivu: Ruwenzori, Butagu, 13 April 1914, Bequaert 3620 (BR!, US); Parc national Albert [Virunga], Mt. Runyoni, 29 January 1955, de Witte 11593 (BR!), Parc National Albert [Virunga], Mikeno, 20 February 1945, Germain 3540 (BR!).— RWANDA. Lacs Edouard et Kivu: Rwaza (SE de Ruhengeri), 23 February 1972, Auquier 2682 (BR!); Kigeme (Gikongoro), 8 January 1980, Bridson 144 (BR!, WAG); Mulungu, km 25, road Bukavu-Goma, 1959, Pierlot 2799 (BR!).— BURUNDI. Lacs Edouard et Kivu: Territ. Mwisare. Gakara, mine de la Karonge, 3 March 1967, Lewalle 1637 (BR!, MO). Rwanda-Burundi: Ntega (Kirundo), 10 June 1986, Bouharmont 18106 (BR!); Mugongomanga, 19 November 1972, Reekmans 2099 (BR!); Entre Bukeye et Muremera, 25 May 1926, Robyns 2327 (BR!, WAG).