Monanthotaxis filamentosa (Diels) Verdc., Kew Bull. 25(1): 31, 1971

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 : 198-201

Monanthotaxis filamentosa (Diels) Verdc., Kew Bull. 25(1): 31, 1971

Figs 55 , 56 ; Map 7F

≡ Popowia filamentosa Diels, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 39(3-4): 478, 1907.

= Popowia malchairii De Wild., Etudes Fl. Bangala & Ubangi: 309, 1911. Type. Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sud-Ubangi, Budjala, environs de Likimi, Malchair L. 295, 25 Apr 1910: holotype: BR[BR0000008804624, BR0000008804952].

= Popowia setosa Diels, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53(3-5): 442, 1915. Type. Cameroon. South Region, 58 km E of Kribi, Fenda, Mildbraed G.W.J. 5989, 1911: lectotype, chosen by Hoekstra et al. (2021), p. 155: B[B100154095]; isolectotype: HBG[HBG502503]

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; Bipindi, Zenker G.A. 2985, Apr 1904: holotype: B not seen; isotypes: BR[BR0000008804297]; E[E00624352]; GOET[GOET005686]; HBG[HBG-502505]; K[K000198988]; L[L 0038042]; M[M0107931]; P[P00362600]; S[S07-13262]; WAG[WAG0071434]; WU[WU0025872]..

Description.

Liana, 10 m tall, d.b.h. up to 10 cm. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches densely pubescent with dense erect reddish brown hairs 0.7-1.4 mm long. Leaves: petiole 3-6 mm long, 1-3 mm in diameter, densely pubescent with erect reddish brown hairs, grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 12.5-28.6 cm long, 4.1-12.5 cm wide, obovate to oblanceolate, apex acuminate to acute, acumen 0.5-1 cm long, base rounded to subcordate, subcoriaceous, below sparsely pubescent with erect yellowish hairs when young and old, above sparsely pubescent when young, glabrous when old, discolorous, whitish below; midrib impressed, above pubescent when young and old, below densely pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 12 to 19 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation percurrent. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on old leafless branches, leaf opposed to axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 10 per inflorescence; pedicel 1-18 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, pubescent with erect reddish brown hairs; in fruit 9-31 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter; basal bract ca. 2 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide; upper bract 1-8 mm long, 1-4 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, 5-10 mm long, 3-6 mm wide, elliptic to ovate, apex acute, base truncate, brown, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, outer petals longer than inner, inner petals entirely covered in bud; outer petals 3, 8-22 mm long, 4.7-8.5 mm wide, ovate, apex acute to attenuate, base truncate, yellow-brown bright white towards the base and inside, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, pubescent with a glabrous base inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 6.5-14 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, elliptic to ovate, apex acute to attenuate, base truncate, yellow-brown bright white towards the base and inside, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, pubescent with a glabrous base inside; stamens 17 to 46, in 2 to 4 rows, ca. 2 mm long, linear; thecae convergent apically hiding the connective apically, white, filament 1.3-1.9 mm long; staminodes absent; carpels free, 8 to 14, ovary 2-3 mm long, stigma elongate, white, glabrous. Monocarps stipitate, stipes 8-15 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter; monocarps 1 to 7, 110-175 mm long, 7-8 mm in diameter, moniliform, cylindrical, apex apiculate, pubescent to sparsely pubescent, verrucose, constricted around seeds when more than 1, yellow to red when ripe; seeds 1 to 7 per monocarp, 17-25 mm long, 4-5 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

A widespread central African species, from Cameroon to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic; in Cameroon known from Central, East, Littoral, South, and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A common species in Cameroon; in lowland or submontane primary and old secondary rain forests, and gallery forests, on rocky soil. Altitude 100-1200 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

Preliminary IUCN conservation status.

Least Concern ( Hoekstra et al. 2021).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Monanthotaxis filamentosa is distinguished by the dense reddish brown erect pubescence on the young foliate branches and leaves, large ovoid flower buds, and stamens with large white thecae covering the apical connective and a long filament (> 1.3 mm versus generally shorter than 0.5 mm).

In the checklist to the plants of Lebialem ( Harvey et al. 2010), the collection Tchiengue 2637 was suggested to be a new species (sp. nov. of Bechati), but it has since been identified as M. filamentosa ( Hoekstra et al. 2021).

Specimens examined.

Central Region: Mont Mbam Minkon on trail 5 km from Nkol Nyada village On top of small hill, 3.97°N, 11.40°E, 21 March 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 417 (MPU,WAG,YA) . East Region: 43 km NW of Bertoua Road from Mbang to Ebaka, 4.58°N, 13.68°E, 19 May 1961, Breteler F.J. 1374 (BR,K,P,U,WAG,YA); Village situé à 35 km au NNE de Moloundou, 2.29°N, 15.35°E, 21 April 1971, Letouzey R. 10717 (P,YA) . Littoral Region: Path above village summit Likombe village Etinde , 4.21°N, 9.166°E, 28 February 1995, Etuge M. 1191 (K); Nsoung- 1 km from village towards east river Meduya , 4.96°N, 9.802°E, 21 March 2003, Etuge M. 4919 (K) . South Region: Campo Ma’an National Park 11 km on trail from Ebinanemeyong village on road 7 km from Nyabessan to Campo town , 2.49°N, 10.34°E, 12 February 2015, Couvreur T.L.P. 690 (WAG,YA); Campo Ma'an National Park 11 km on trail from Ebinanemeyong village on road 7 km from Nyabessan to Campo town , 2.47°N, 10.33°E, 13 February 2015, Couvreur T.L.P. 695 (WAG,YA); 58 km E of Kribi Fenda, 2.8°N, 10.4°E, 01 January 1911, Mildbraed G.W.J. 5989 (B,HBG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 April 1904, Zenker G.A. 2985 (E,L,P,WAG) . South-West Region: Nyasoso, 4.81°N, 9.683°E, 06 February 1995, Cable S. 1185 (K,YA); Upper Boando, 4.06°N, 9.15°E, 15 March 1995, Cable S. 1581 (K,YA); Kupe village , 4.78°N, 9.700°E, 23 May 1996, Cable S. 2575 (K,YA); slopes of Mount Cameroon on the Bokwango trail near Bokwango village 4 km south west of Bu 4.12°N, 9.186°E, 23 March 2016, Couvreur T.L.P. 989 (WAG,YA); Nyasoso, 4.83°N, 9.683°E, 27 February 1996, Etuge M. 1729 (K,WAG,YA); Nyasoso, 4.83°N, 9.683°E, 24 June 1996, Etuge M. 2377 (K,WAG,YA); Bime rock face, 5.07°N, 9.727°E, 12 November 2001, Etuge M. 4531 (K); Entre Ndikoko et Ile 35 km N Kumba, 4.56°N, 9.23°E, 26 March 1976, Letouzey R. 14591 ( BENIN,GC,IFAN,MO,P, TOGO,YA); Cameroon mountain at Bu 4.15°N, 9.233°E, 01 January 1930, Maitland T.D. 566 (K); Near the path from village Bechati to village Fossimondi, 5.65°N, 9.933°E, 26 September 2006, Tchiengue B. 2816 (K) .

Figures

Map 7. A Monanthotaxis diclina B Monanthotaxis dielsiana C Monanthotaxis elegans D Monanthotaxis enghiana E Monanthotaxis ferruginea F Monanthotaxis filamentosa G Monanthotaxis foliosa H Monanthotaxis glaucifolia I Monanthotaxis gracilis. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 55. Monanthotaxis filamentosa A flowering branch B detail of leaf pubescence, lower side C outer petal, inner view D inner petal, inner view E detail of flower, all petals removed, side view F stamens, front and side views G carpel, side view and detail of ovules A-G from Le Testu 3824. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Figure 56. Monanthotaxis filamentosa A leaf, lower side, and terminal inflorescence B base of leaf blade, upper side C base of leaf base, lower side D inflorescence, leaf opposed E flower, one petal folded, revealing inner petals F detail of receptacle, all petals removed, showing prominent anthers and no connective G flower, top view H flowers, side view I fruit A-I Couvreur 989, Mt Cameroon, Cameroon. Photos Thomas L. P. Couvreur.