Xylopia talbotii Exell, J. Bot. 69: 98, 1931

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 : 490-491

Xylopia talbotii Exell, J. Bot. 69: 98, 1931

Map 19C

Type.

Nigeria. Cross River State; Oban, Talbot P.A. 1601, 1912: holotype: BM; isotype: K[000199068] .

Description.

Tree, up to 5 m tall, d.b.h. unknown; stilt roots and buttresses absent. Old branches glabrous to pubescent, young branches rusty-pubescent, with sparser erect hairs 1.5-2 mm long mixed with denser erect hairs 0.2-0.4 mm long. Leaves: petiole 3-5 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, rusty-pubescent, grooved, blade inserted on the side of the petiole; blade 9.2-12.5 cm long, 3-4.2 cm wide, lanceolate-oblong to elliptic, rarely oblanceolate, apex acuminate, acumen 0.9-1.7 cm long, base cuneate to rounded, papyraceous, below pubescent when young, densely pubescent to pubescent when old, above glabrous when young and old, concolorous to discolorous; midrib sunken or flat, above densely pubescent when young, pubescent when old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 11 to 15 pairs, glabrous, above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on young foliate branches, axillary, peduncle absent. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 per inflorescence; pedicel 3-6 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, rusty-pubescent; in fruit 3-6 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, glabrous; bracts 2 to 3, evenly spaced, 3-4 mm long, 2-3 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, basally fused, 4-6 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, triangular to ovate, apex acute to acuminate, base truncate, densely rusty-pubescent outside, glabrous inside; petals free, subequal; outer petals 3, 32-38 mm long, 3.1-3.3 mm wide at base, linear, apex acute to obtuse, base broad and concave, color unknown, sericeous outside, pubescent and glabrous towards the base inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 16-33 mm long, 2.1-3.2 mm wide at base, linear, apex acute, base truncate, color unknown, pubescent, base glabrous outside, pubescent and glabrous towards the base inside; stamens ca. 140, in rows, 1-2 mm long, oblong; connective apex shield-like, glabrous; carpels ca. 8, ovary 1 mm long, stigmas connivent, linear, bent at midpoint, 2.5-3 mm long, glabrous. Monocarps (only immature ones seen) sessile; monocarps ca. 8, 10-30 mm long, 9-25 mm wide, apex with a small curved beak, sparsely pubescent; seeds unknown.

Distribution.

Eastern Nigeria and Cameroon; in Cameroon known from South and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A rare species, in Cameroon known from three collections; in gallery forests near rivers (Bos 4650) or lowland rain forests. Altitude: 0-50 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Data Deficient (DD) ( Cosiaux et al. 2019b g).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Xylopia talbotii is readily distinguished by the striking and persistent rusty pubescence of the twigs, petioles, pedicels, and sepals, and the long-acuminate leaves. It is similar in flower characteristics to the more widespread X. thomsonii .

Specimens examined.

South Region: ca 10 km From Kribi S of Lolodorf road, 2.96°N, 9.966°E, 27 May 1969, Bos J.J. 4650 (BR,P,WAG,YA); Bebai - Camposgebiet - Weg u [locality reported as being in Equatorial Guinea], 2.17°N, 11.12°E, December 1908, Tessmann G. 747 (K). South-West Region : Korup National Park, 5.05°N, 8.8°E, 03 April 1984, Thomas D.W. 3204 (K,MO,P) .

Figures

Map 19. A Xylopia rubescens B Xylopia staudtii C Xylopia talbotii D Xylopia thomsonii E Xylopia villosa. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).