Piptostigma longepilosum Engl., Notizbl. Konigl . Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 297, 1899

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 : 289-291

Piptostigma longepilosum Engl., Notizbl. Konigl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 297, 1899

Fig. 88 ; Map 11C

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; around Bipinde, Zenker G.A. 1075, 1896: holotype: B[B100154079]; isotypes: HBG[HBG502530]; L[L0183458]; M[M0107925]; NY[NY00026195]; P[P00363294, P00363295]; S[S07-13478]; WU[WU0025868] .

Description.

Tree, 4-16 m tall, d.b.h. unknown; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches sparsely pubescent to glabrous, young foliate branches densely hispid, hairs 4-5 mm long. Leaves: petiole 4-7 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, hispid, hairs 1-5 mm long, cylindrical, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 7.7-24.3 cm long, 4-10.3 cm wide, obovate, apex acuminate, acumen 0.3-1 cm long, base rounded to obtuse, papyraceous, below glabrous when young and old, above glabrous when young and old, discolorous, whitish below; midrib impressed, above densely pubescent when young and old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 14 to 34 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation percurrent. Individuals bisexual; inflorescence cauliflorous, pubescent all over, especially younger parts, with hairs 1-2 mm long, peduncle like base 5-20 mm long, axial internodes 14-40 mm long, lax to sub-lax, sympodial rachis 45-150 mm long. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 to 4 per inflorescence; pedicel 9-12 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent; in fruit 10-12 mm long, 4 mm in diameter, pubescent; basal bract 6-12 mm long, 4-6 mm wide; upper bract 6-12 mm long, 4-6 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, ca. 6 mm long, 4 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base truncate, brown, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, outer petals shorter than inner; outer petals 3, 6-10 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, elliptic, apex acute, base truncate, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 40-80 mm long, 10-15 mm wide, elliptic, apex acute, base truncate, margins wavy, densely pubescent outside, pubescent towards base inside; stamens 70 to 90, in 5 to 6 rows, 1-2 mm long, broad; connective discoid, glabrous, red; staminodes absent; carpels free, 3 to 5, ovary ca. 2 mm long, stigma globose, pubescent. Monocarps sessile, 1 to 3, ca. 15 mm long, ca. 20 mm in diameter, ellipsoid, apex rounded, pubescent, warty, bumpy, orange, pink to yellow when ripe; seeds 10 to 12 per monocarp, ca. 10 mm long, ca. 8 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent.

Distribution.

endemic to Cameroon, known from the South and South-West regions.

Habitat.

A rare species; in the understory of lowland primary rain forests. Altitude 0-120 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Endangered (EN) ( Cosiaux et al. 2019a j).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Piptostigma longepilosum is easily identified by the long (4-5 mm long) generally erect pubescence on the young foliate branches, petioles and young inflorescences, and rounded to obtuse leaf base. Piptostigma mortehanii also has a hispid pubescence, but its hairs are much shorter (less than 4 mm long) and the leaf blade base is acute. This species has not been recollected since 1994, despite efforts to locate it.

Specimens examined.

South Region: Route de Bipindi à Dihani, 3.26°N, 10.20°E, 24 June 1928, Annet E. 420 (P); ca 45 k from Kribi ca 8 km N of Lolodorf road, 3.1°N, 10.25°E, 02 April 1970, Bos J.J. 6683 (BR,K,LD,LM,MO,P,WAG,YA); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 1896, Zenker G.A. 1075 (L,P,WAG) . South-West Region: Mokoko Forest Reserve Boa / Mokoko , 4.42°N, 8.972°E, 31 May 1994, Acworth J.M. 289 (K,YA); Mokoko Forest Reserve Dikome, 4.48°N, 9.033°E, 02 May 1994, Ekema S.N. 862 (K,YA); Aikoume(?) Banondo(?) forest ( Cameroun), 4.45°N, 9.016°E, 03 May 1994, Sonké B. 1173 (BR,WAG); Mokoko Mount above Bonja village , 4.46°N, 9.1°E, 23 March 1993, Tchouto Mbatchou G.P. 613 (K); Korup National Park Primary rain forest, 5.03°N, 8.833°E, 01 March 1987, Thomas D.W. 6906 (MO); Mokoko Forest Reserve Ekombe-Mofako, 4.46°N, 9.066°E, 21 May 1994, Watts J. 1104 (K,YA); Likingi 35 hrs S on Wonge river E hills, 4.33°N, 8.98°E, 23 March 1993, Wheatley J.I. 814 (K) .

Figures

Map 11. A Piptostigma glabrescens B Piptostigma goslineanum C Piptostigma longepilosum D Piptostigma macranthum E Piptostigma macrophyllum F Piptostigma mayndongtsaeanum G Piptostigma mortehanii H Piptostigma multinervium I Piptostigma oyemense. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 88. Piptostigma macranthum A leaf B inflorescence C receptacle, inner petals removed. Piptostigma longepilosum D leaf, note long pubescence E inflorescence F receptacle, outer petals removed A-C from Letouzey 1937 D-F from Annet 420. Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.