Coccinia microphylla Gilg, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 34: 357. 1904.

Holstein, Norbert, 2015, Monograph of Coccinia (Cucurbitaceae), PhytoKeys 54, pp. 1-166 : 93-95

13. Coccinia microphylla Gilg, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 34: 357. 1904.

Coccinia microphylla Type: Tanzania. [Kilimanjaro]: at base of Pare Mountains, between Kiswani [Kisiwani] and Maji ya Juu [Madji-ja-juu], mix of thornbush and wooded grassland ["gemischte Dornbusch- und Obstgartensteppe"], 700 m, fl, Oct, A. Engler, Reise nach Ostafrika 1587 (Syntype: B destroyed).

Coccinia microphylla Type: Tanzania. [Kilimanjaro]: between Kihuiro [Kihurio] and Gonja, thornbush steppe, fl, Oct, A. Engler, Reise nach Ostafrika 948 (Syntype: B destroyed).

Coccinia microphylla Type: Kenya. Coast Province: near Mariakani, NW of Mombasa, male, fl, 15 Oct 1955, E. Milne-Redhead & P. Taylor 7104 (Neotype, designated here: LISU!, isoneotypes: B!, EA!)

Coccinia buikoensis Zimm., Die Cucurbitaceen 2: 177, 24, 51, 84, 96, 114, fig. 17 I-III, fig. 63 II, fig. 74 VII-XII, fig. 81 XVI, XVII. 1922.

Coccinia microphylla Type: Tanzania. [Tanga]: Lushoto District, [S of Pare Mts], [between Hedaru and Mkomazi], near Buiko, steppe, male and female, fl, fr, Dec 1919, P.W.A. Zimmermann G6595 (Holotype: B destroyed, lectotype designated by Jeffrey (1967: 68): EA [EA000002132, digital image: JPS]).

Coccinia sp. C in C.Jeffrey, F. T. E. A.: 69. 1967. Kenya, Northern Province: Furroli, lava plateau, semi-desert, Acacia - Commiphora shrub, on sand, female, fl, fr, 12 Sep 1952, J.B. Gillett 13820 (B!, EA!, K!, P!, S! [S08-12180]) and J.B. Gillett 13826 (K!).

Description.

Perennial creeper or climber. Stems up to 4 m, glabrous or more or less densely covered with short, white trichomes, when older often densely white pustulate. Petiole 0.45-4 cm, with erect, often thick, when longer sometimes bent trichomes that are sometimes soft spiny (<1 mm) or only wart-like. Leaves 0.7-7.5 × 1.1-12 cm wide, usually rather small, shallowly to deeply 3- or 5-lobate, sometimes lobulate, rarely reniform. Lobes narrow to broadly triangulate to lanceolate. Upper leaf surface more or less densely white pustulate, pustules sometimes with a short, thick trichome (Fig. 2a). Lower leaf surface glabrous or more or less dense with often stiff, pale yellowish trichomes, sometimes with darker glands between nerves, nerves usually with thick, erect trichomes, sometimes reduced to wart-like appearance. Leaf margin rather remotely denticulate, usually with minute, bent trichomes. Apex acute to obtuse, with final tooth. Probract usually absent, if present then <1.5 mm. Tendrils simple. Male flowers 1-2 solitary, if fasciculate or in few-flowered racemes, then accompanied by 1 solitary flower. Common peduncle <5 mm, glabrous or with minute to long, articulate trichomes. Pedicel of solitary flowers 2-7(-25 mm), pedicel of flowers in inflorescences <5 mm, glabrous or especially at apex with long, yellowish, articulate trichomes. Perianth tube usually with long, yellowish, articulate trichomes, rarely almost glabrous. Calyx lobes 1.5-4 mm, narrowly lanceolate to lineal, when young erect, later spreading to reflexed. Corolla 0.7-1.2 cm long, greenish white to yellowish-orange with darker green veins, lobes 4-7 mm. Filament column and anther head pale greenish yellow. Pollen sacs yellow. Female flowers 1(-2) solitary (Fig. 2a). Pedicels up to 0.7 cm, glabrous or with white trichomes. Ovary glabrous, with some articulate trichomes to densely wooly with long (when dry articulate) trichomes. Style columnar, pale green. Stigmas bulging, greenish yellow. Ripe fruit globose to shortly obovate, 1.8-2.5 × 1.4-2.5 cm, glabrous or with few articulate trichomes, unripe green sometimes with longitudinal, whitish mottling (Fig. 2a), which obtains a dark green corona during ripening, when ripe bright orange-red to red. Seeds 4.5-6 × 2-3 × 1-1.5 mm (L/W/H), asymmetrically obovate to somewhat falcate, face flattened.

Phenology.

Flowering time: January, April, May, July, October-December.

Distribution.

Fig. 33. NE Tanzania (Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Tanga), Kenya (Coast, Eastern, North Eastern, Rift Valley), S Ethiopia (S and C Oromia), Somalia. 70-1300(-1600) m. Savanna, open Acacia - Commiphora bushland, degraded Combretum bushland, open grassland, cultivated land, roadsides. Red sand, dark brownish-black soil. Limestone.

Vernacular names.

[Akiek; Ogiek]: notoku (A.S. Vincent 29, A.S. Vincent 221), Maa [Maasai language]: ndegegeya (A.S. Vincent 29), sikuni (Kiamba et al. KEFRI 112).

Remarks.

Some collections have a mixed (not intermediate) phenotype with Coccinia trilobata : the calyx lobes are unusually long (up to 7 mm), which speaks for Coccinia trilobata , but the indumentum matches Coccinia microphylla . However, these do not occur in a single location, but are found in the Ndoto Mts (O. Kerfoot 2644), in Kiboko (P. Kirika et al. 002/020/2011), and around Voi (M. Hucks 579, B. Verdcourt 3888). Whether these are hybrids (F2 or later) or just a variety is not known. These collections also resemble Coccinia megarrhiza , which occurs in northern Kenya and Ethiopia, however, the indumentum does not match either.

Despite the epithet, the leaves can become quite large, especially at higher altitudes. Then, collections may resemble Coccinia trilobata , which has a denser indumentum. In dry low altitude areas, leaves and flowers emerge quickly, e.g., soon after a rain shower. The leaves are thus not well developed and small. Collections from more arid locations tend to be smaller in many characters, but whether these represent a new species is doubtful. There are only few collections of the proposed species ( Coccinia sp. Burger 2947A, Coccinia sp. Gilbert & Jones 129 ( Jeffrey 1995)), but the natural scope of Coccinia microphylla is hardly assessed. This will not be resolved without a phylogeographic analysis and more intensive collecting from Ethiopia.

Specimens examined.

(Selection, in total: 72) Ethiopia. Oromia: 105 km on road from Negelli [Negele] to Filtu, J.J.F.E. de Wilde & M.G. Gilbert 346 (K, WAG [WAG0285710], WAG [WAG0285711], UPS). Kenya. Coast Province: near Mariakani, NW of Mombasa, E. Milne-Redhead & P. Taylor 7105 (B, EA, LISU). Eastern Province: E side of Lake Rudolf, between Koobi Fora and Shin (hill), 3°57'-58'N, 36°12'-20'E, R.B. Faden & A. Evans 71/301 (EA, K). North Eastern Province: Wajir District, Catholic Girl’s Town 2 km E of Wajir, J.B. Gillett 21273 (EA, K, WAG [WAG0234120]). Rift Valley Province: Turkana District, I. Ohta 24 (EA). Somalia. Togdheer: Malol [Mt Malool] near Sheikh, J.R. Ironside 5/73/31 (K). Tanzania. Arusha: Monduli district, Longido division, SE of Longido, c. 100-300 m from Arusha Municipality, 2°43'14"S, 36°42'02"E, C.J. Kayombo & K. Kitaba 4242 (MO). Dodoma: Tarangire National Park, Kalima Hill, S. Chuwa et al. 5329 (NHT). Kilimanjaro: Same district, Mkomazi Game reserve, Ibaya Hill, 3°58'S, 37°48'E, R. Abdallah & K. Vollesen 95/198 (BR, K, P [P05620649]). Tanga: Korogwe District, 2 km W of Mkomazi, under power line, 4°38'53.7"S, 38°03'26.7"E, N. Holstein et al. 90 (B, DSM, M).