Artabotrys aurantiacus Engl. & Diels var. multiflorus Pellegr. ex Le Thomas, Adansonia, ser. 2, 5: 447, 1965

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 : 59-61

Artabotrys aurantiacus Engl. & Diels var. multiflorus Pellegr. ex Le Thomas, Adansonia, ser. 2, 5: 447, 1965

Fig. 11 ; Map 2B

Type.

Gabon. Ogooué-Lolo; Lastoursville, Le Testu G.M.P.C. 7116, Mar 1929: lectotype, sheet here designated: P[P02034091]; isotypes: BR[BR0000008820792, BR0000008809940, BR0000008809933]; IFAN[IFAN01625]; LISC[LISC000367]; P[P02034088]; K[K000198858] .

Description.

Differs from the type variety by the presence of numerous densely packed flowers (6-15 versus 1-4).

Distribution.

A central African species, from Cameroon to the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Artabotrys multiflorus variety is known from Cameroon and Gabon; in Cameroon known from the Central, East, Littoral, South-West and West regions.

Habitat.

A rare variety; in sub montane (sometimes lowland) secondary or primary rain forests. Altitude 700-1600 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None recorded.

Notes.

The variety status is doubtful, but without further investigation, we shall follow Le Thomas (1969b). The main difference between the two varieties is the number of flowers per inflorescence (see above). Le Thomas (1969b) also mentions that var. Artabotrys thomsonii multiflorus has smaller flowers (smaller than 13 mm) and pedicels of 1 cm long. However, our measurements were not able to confirm these two latter differences.

Specimens examined.

Central Region: Près Yaoundé, 3.86°N, 11.45°E, 11 March 1981, Meijer D. 15033 (MO,WAG). West Region : Bali- Ngemba FR, 5.81°N, 10.08°E, 13 April 2002, Onana J.M. 2027 (K,WAG,YA) .

Figures

Map 2. A Artabotrys aurantiacus B Artabotrys aurantiacus var. multiflorus C Artabotrys congolensis D Artabotrys dielsianus E Artabotrys insignis F Artabotrys insignis var. batesii G Artabotrys jacques-felicis H Artabotrys rufus I Artabotrys thomsonii. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 11. Artabotrys aurantiacus var. aurantiacus A flowering branch B outer petal, inner view C inner petal, outer and inner views D flowering receptacle with petals removed E stamen F carpel, side view and detail of basal ovules G fruiting branch. Artabotrys aurantiacus Var. multiflorus H flowering branch, note the numerous flowers. Artabotrys insignis var. insignis I flowering branch J outer petal, inner view K inner petal, inner view L flower, whole M stamen N carpel, side view, and detail of ovules O fruiting branch, note long apiculate apex of monocarps A-F from Le Testu 8499 G from Le Testu 4430 H from Le Testu 7116 I-N from Le Testu 8674; 15 from Berteler 2959. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; modified from Le Thomas (1969 b; pl. 26, p. 143).