Uvariodendron molundense (Diels) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 61, 1930

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 : 399-403

Uvariodendron molundense (Diels) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 61, 1930

Figs 125 , 126 ; Map 15G

≡ Uvaria molundensis Diels, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 435, 1915.

= Uvaria letestui Pellegr., Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., 26: 658, 1920; Uvariodendron letestui (Pellegr.) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 60, 1930. Type. Gabon. Nyanga, Tchibanga, Le Testu G.M.P.C. 1234, Nov 1907: lectotype, sheet here designated: P[P00315833]; isotypes: BM[BM000554071; BM000554072]; P[P00315835, P00315837].

= Uvariodendron mayumbense (Exell) R.E.Fr., Acta Horti Berg. 10: 57 1930; Uvaria mayumbense Exell, Journ. of Bot. 64 Suppl. Polypet.: 3, 1926. Type. Angola. Cabinda, Pango Munga, Gossweiler J. 6159, 17 Jan 1916: holotype: BM[BM000554073].

= Uvaria mannii Hutch. & Dalziel, Kew Bull.: 150, 1927. Type. Equatorial Guinea. Bioko Norte, Bioko (Fernando Po), Mann G. 257, 1860: holotype: K[K000198802]; isotype: P[P00315831].

Type.

Cameroon. East Region; Südkameruner Waldgebiet: Bezirk Molundu, 'Bange Busch’, unbewohnter Urwald zwischen Lokomo , Bumba und Bange, Mildbraed G.W.J. 4373, 29 Jan 1911: holotype: B[B 10 0153118] .

Description.

Tree to shrub, 1.2-10 m tall, d.b.h. up to 20 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches glabrous to slightly pubescent. Leaves: petiole 2-17 mm long, 1.5-5 mm in diameter, glabrous to slightly pubescent, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 14.1-46 cm long, 5.1-16 cm wide, narrowly elliptic to oblong to obovate, apex attenuate to acuminate, acumen 0.1-3.8 cm long, base rounded to decurrent, papyraceous, below glabrous when young and old, above glabrous when young and old; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below glabrous to glabrescent when young, glabrous when old; secondary veins 12 to 22 pairs per side, glabrous above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences cauliflorous or ramiflorous on old or young foliate branches, axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 2 per inflorescence; pedicel 2-14 mm long, 1-4 mm in diameter, pubescent; in fruit 3-15 mm long, 2-6 mm in diameter, pubescent; bracts 2 to 6, several basal and one upper towards the middle of pedicel, basal bracts 2-3 mm long, 1-3 mm wide; upper bract 3-8 mm long, 3-10 mm wide; sepals 3, imbricate, free or sometimes fused at base, 5-9 mm long, 5.5-10 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, green, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, sub equal; outer petals 3, 9-30 mm long, 6-17 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, cream-colored with a purple blotch at the base, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 9-27 mm long, 5-16 mm wide, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, cream-colored with a purple blotch at the base, margins flat, glabrous to densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside; stamens 1000 to 1500, in 15 to 20 rows, 0.8-2 mm long, 0.1-0.5 mm wide, linear; connective discoid, pubescent, cream; staminodes absent; carpels free, 8 to 36, ovary 2-4 mm long, 0.4-2 mm wide, stigma bilobed, slightly capitate, densely pubescent. Monocarps shortly stipitate, stipes ca. 0-5 mm long, ca. 2-5 mm in diameter; monocarps 1 to 12, 20-60 mm long, 9-30 mm in diameter, ellipsoid to oblong ovoid, apex rounded, bumpy, otherwise smooth, glabrous to sparsely pubescent, greyish green to orange when ripe; seeds 3 to10 per monocarp, 12-15 mm long, 7-11 mm wide, oblong, yellow to pale brown; aril absent.

Distribution.

From south Nigeria to Gabon to Central African Republic (southeast), and one collection from Democratic Republic of Congo; in Cameroon known from the East, South, Central Littoral and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A common species in Cameroon, locally dominant in the understory; in lowland and premontane primary and old secondary rain forests. Altitude 0-1000 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Least Concern (LC) (Botanic Gardens Conservation International and IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group 2019d).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

This species is very variable in terms of leaf size and shape. It is characterized by few carpels (<40) and imbricate sepals.

In the check list of Mount Cameroon ( Cable and Cheek 1998), two collections are identified as Uvariodendron sp. 1 and sp. 2 (Tchouto 136 and 611, respectively). However, we have identified these as U. molundense .

Selected specimens examined.

Central Region: Eastern part of park West of Ndangan 1, 3.62°N, 11.60°E, 18 March 2004, Cheek M. 11839 (K,YA); Colline ‘’Nkom-Benka’a’’ dans l’appellation locale 4-5 km N du village Ekekam, 3.38°N, 11.8°E, 09 March 1978, Dang D. 643 (P,YA); Mefou National park 18 km from MFOU, 3.61°N, 11.58°E, 22 March 2004, Tadjouteu F. 566 (K,YA). East Region : A 30 km au NE de Bange (km 75 route Yokadouma-Moloundou), 3.02°N, 15.12°E, 25 May 1963, Letouzey R. 5142 (P,YA); Moloundou near Lokomo Bumba and Bange , 2.08°N, 15.25°E, 29 January 1911, Mildbraed G.W.J. 4373 (B); Camp CFA Bango I Bord de la rivière Bango 36 km SE Bateha Malen village situé à 21 km N de Moloundou, 2.15°N, 15.35°E, 08 April 1971, Villiers J.-F. 625 (P,YA). Littoral Region : Mapubi 30 km before Edea on Yaounde-Edea road On forestry road 5 km direction to Sanaga river , 3.84°N, 10.38°E, 28 February 2018, Couvreur T.L.P. 1172 (MPU,P,WAG,YA); Mambe Massif above Boga village 100 km along road from Yaoundé to Ed 3.91°N, 10.77°E, 19 June 2014, Couvreur T.L.P. 652 (WAG,YA); Mambe Massif above Boga village 100 km along road from Yaoundé to Ed 3.90°N, 10.77°E, 19 June 2014, Couvreur T.L.P. 655 (WAG,YA); Mambe Massif above Boga village 100 km along road from Yaoundé to Ed 3.90°N, 10.77°E, 20 June 2014, Couvreur T.L.P. 656 (WAG,YA). South Region : 13 km from Kribi Ebolowa road, 2.87°N, 9.980°E, 13 November 1968, Bos J.J. 3259 (P,WAG,YA); S Bbank Lobé R SE of Grand Batanga ferry riverine forest edge, 2.86°N, 9.9°E, 11 October 1969, Bos J.J. 5474 (BR,MO,P,WAG,YA); 40 km from Kribi 4 km W of Edea road N bank of lokoundje R, 3.08°N, 10.25°E, 12 March 1970, Bos J.J. 6521 (WAG); ca 5 km N of km 7 Kribi-Ebolow, 2.93°N, 9.95°E, 10 July 1970, Bos J.J. 7075 (P,WAG); Massif de Ngovayang village de Ngovayang sommet, 3.25°N, 10.57°E, 08 June 2015, Droissart V. 1880 (BRLU); Campo-Ma’an area Bibabimvoto, 2.25°N, 10.36°E, 01 February 2000, Elad M. 1270 (KRIBI,WAG); Meyo Centre, 2.55°N, 11.03°E, 24 March 1970, Letouzey R. 10222 (P); Region de Kribi , 2.93°N, 9.92°E, 01 January 1911, Mildbraed G.W.J. 5936 (B); Environs de Mvini 34 km east of Campo , 2.37°N, 10.09°E, 24 October 1984, Nkongmeneck B.A. 800 (YA); Campo-Ma’an area Bibabimvoto, 2.27°N, 10.05°E, 26 August 2000, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. T 8X_70 (WAG); Campo-Ma’an area 2.71°N, 9.866°E, 26 October 2001, van Andel T.R. 4228 (KRIBI,U,WAG). South-West Region : Mokoko Forest Reserve Ekumbe-Mofako, 4.47°N, 9.092°E, 21 April 1994, Akogo M. 234 (K,YA); Dikome, 4.92°N, 9.240°E, 05 May 1994, Sonké B. 1226 (K); Mapanja, 4.08°N, 9.15°E, 20 April 1992, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 136 (K,YA); Mokoko Above Bonja village, 4.41°N, 9°E, 23 March 1993, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 611 (WAG) .

Figures

Map 15. A Uvariastrum zenkeri B Uvariodendron angustifolium C Uvariodendron calophyllum D Uvariodendron conniven s E Uvariodendron fuscum F Uvariodendron fuscum var. giganteum G Uvariodendron molundense H Uvariopsis bakeriana I Uvariopsis citrata. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 125. Uvariodendron molundense A leaf B flower on branch, side view C flower, bottom view D flower, petals open, top view E longitudinal section of receptacle F stamen, front view G carpel, side view and detail of ovules H floral diagram I fruit, longitudinal sections of monocarps A-C, E-G from Le Testu 9649 D from Le Testu 8437 H, I from Halle 3264. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; modified from Le Thomas (1969 b, pl. 51, p. 281).

Figure 126. Uvariodendron molundense A leaf, upper side B base of leaf blade, upper side C base of leaf blade, lower side D trunk with cauliflorous flowers E flowers, cauliflorous F detail of receptacle showing stamens and carpels G fruit, cauliflorous H detail of mature monocarp I section of monocarp showing seeds A-C, G Couvreur 655, Mambe, Cameroon D-F Couvreur 1172, Mapubi, Cameroon H, I Couvreur 932, Gabon. Photos Thomas L. P. Couvreur.