Xylopia antunesii var. shirensis A revision of Xylopia L. (Annonaceae): the species of Tropical Africa Johnson, David M. Murray, Nancy A. PhytoKeys 2018 2018-04-24 97 1 252 E122CC65-2997-58EE-A813-F703A31043E5 (Engler & Diels) D. M. Johnson & N. A. Murray D. M. Johnson & N. A. Murray 2018 D. M. Johnson & N. A. Murray 2018 Magnoliopsida Annonaceae Xylopia CoL Plantae Xylopia shirensis Magnoliales 107 108 Tracheophyta species shirensis comb. nov.   Xylopia antunesii var. shirensisEngler & Diels, Monogr. afrik. Pflanzen-Fam. 6: 66. 1901. Type. MALAWI. Southern Region, Shiri Highlands ["Shire Hochland"], Chnambola, comm. 1881, J. Buchanan 237(holotype: K!).  Description.  Shrubor a tree up to 14 m tall, d.b.h. up to 20 cm; bark cracking. Twigsbrown to dark brown, initially tomentose, the hairs 0.3-1.2 mm long, becoming light brown to gray or dark gray-brown, glabrate or with pubescence somewhat persistent; nodes occasionally with two axillary branches. Leafwith larger blades 4.5-10.2 cm long, 2.1-5.1 cm wide, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, concolorous or slightly discolorous, elliptic, oblong, or ovate, rarely oblanceolate, apex broadly acute, obtuse, or rounded, rarely nearly truncate or emarginate, base broadly cuneate to rounded, occasionally truncate or subcordate, sparsely pubescent on both surfaces; midrib slightly raised to plane adaxially, raised abaxially, secondary veins irregularly brochidodromous, 7-15 per side, diverging at 45-70° from the midrib, these and higher-order veins slightly raised on both surfaces; petiole 3.5-11 mm long, shallowly canaliculate or somewhat flattened, pubescent. Inflorescencesaxillary or from axils of fallen leaves, 1-6-flowered, pedicels emerging side by side from axil or rarely from a common peduncle, pubescent; peduncle ca. 3.5 mm long, with 2 pedicels per peduncle; pedicels 2.8-7 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm thick; bracts 2, at or proximal to midpoint, caducous or somewhat persistent, lower 1.9-2.6 mm long, upper 1-1.7 mm long, semicircular to ovate, apex obtuse or rounded; buds lanceolate, apex more or less acute. Sepalsslightly spreading at anthesis, 1/4-1/2-connate, 1.5-3.0 mm long, 2.3-3.4 mm wide, chartaceous to coriaceous, triangular, broadly ovate, or semicircular, apex acute, pubescent abaxially. Petalsyellow-green to pale yellow, the inner petals crimson or purple-tinged on the inner base in vivo; outer petals spreading at anthesis, 12.2-20.9 mm long, 2.3-3.3 mm wide at base, 1.0-1.6 mm wide at midpoint, coriaceous, linear-lanceolate, apex obtuse, densely pubescent on both surfaces, the pubescence more yellowish abaxially; inner petals spreading to weakly geniculate at anthesis, 9.3-14.6 (-21.5) mm long, (1.6-) 2.0-2.9 mm wide at base, 0.5-1.0 mm wide at midpoint, coriaceous, linear-subulate, apex obtuse, base with undifferentiated margin, densely gray-puberulent on both surfaces, except for glabrous base. Stamensca. 120; fertile stamens 1.0-1.2 mm long, narrowly oblong, apex of connective 0.1-0.2 mm long, shieldlike, overhanging anther thecae, glabrous, anthers 8-11-locellate, filament 0.3-0.5 mm long; outer staminodes 1.2-1.4 mm long, clavate to oblong, apex obtuse, rounded, or truncate; inner staminodes ca. 0.8 mm long, rectangular, apex truncate; staminal cone 1.2-2.3 mm in diameter, 0.8-1.1 mm high, concealing only the bases of the ovaries, rim laciniate. Carpelsca. 7; ovaries ca. 1 mm long, narrowly oblong, pubescent, stigmas loosely connivent, 2-2.6 mm long, linear, glabrous except for a tuft of hairs at the apex. Torusconcave beneath ovaries but otherwise flat, 2.0-3.7 mm in diameter. Fruitof up to 8 glabrate monocarps borne on a pedicel 5.5-10 mm long, 1.9-2.5 mm thick, pubescent to glabrate; torus 3.3-5 mm in diameter, 2-3.0 mm high, staminal cone often persistent on it, depressed-globose. Monocarpswith pale green to purple-red exterior and green endocarp in vivo, 1.2-3.8 cm long, 1.0-1.2 cm wide, 0.8-1.1 cm thick, oblong, irregularly torulose, apex rounded or obliquely truncate, occasionally with a short beak ca. 1 mm long, base contracted into a stipe 3.5-9 mm long, 2-3 mm thick, slightly obliquely wrinkled, finely verrucose, occasionally pruinose; pericarp 0.2-0.3 mm thick. Seeds1-6 per monocarp, in a single row or two irregular rows, oblique to long axis, 8.5-11 mm long, 6.0-8.3 mm wide, 5.1-6.5 mm thick, ellipsoid, broadly elliptic in cross-section, brown, slightly wrinkled, dull, micropylar end truncate, chalazal end rounded, raphe/antiraphe not evident, micropylar scar ca. 2.5 mm long, elliptic; sarcotesta deep orange in vivo; aril absent.  Phenology. Specimens with flowers have been collected from October to February, and with fruits in October and from December to February.  Distribution (Fig. 26). Occurs from southern Democratic Republic of the Congo east to western Tanzania and south to eastern Zambia and Malawi in open woodland, often dominated by  Brachystegiaspp. and often on sand, at elevations of 470-1770 m.  Local names. Akiziga (Kilungu, Bredo 6276), chikiza or kikiza (Chimambwe (Musa) and Chilungu), Michelmore 1045), kizika (Kikungu, Bredo 6232), mshenene (Kinyamezi, Wigg F.H. 1121), msyenene (Kinyamwezi, Shabani for Bullock 10), mtuzya (Kinyamwezi, Mwiga et al. 174).   Additionalspecimens examined.    DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Haut-Katanga: Kisanga[near Lubumbashi],  1200 m, 20 Jan 1984(fl),  Malaisse13134(MO, WAG); pres de Mulwe foret Katanguaise, 7 Jan 1949(fl),  de Witte5144(K, P).   TANZANIA. Iringa: Iringa District, 44 kmon Mafinga-Madabiraroad, 08°14'S, 34°58'E,  1300 m, 26 Mar 2006(fl),  Bidgoodet al. 5122(K, MO).-  Kigoma: Bangwe,  Kigoma District, Western Province, T. T.,  2450 ft, Nov 1956(buds),  Procter558(NHT).- Mbeya: T7,  Mbeya District, above Chimala Mission, 8°50'S, 34°01'E,  1200 m, 23 Mar 1988(fl),  Bidgoodet al. 642(K, NHT, WAG); Madibira,  1200 m, 28 Jan 2001(fr),  Congdon588(K).-  Shinyanga: Kahama, 18 mialong Ushirombo R., 1 Jan 1936(fl),  Burtt5459(BM, K).-  Tabora: Tabora, 28 May 1970,  Collinson U.9(EA);  Tabora, s. d.,  Hammerstein5838(EA, K); S of Kuliwa-Tabora Region, 5°30'S, 32°40'E, 15 Nov 1979(fl),  Lawton2178(K, P); S  Tabora,  Lindeman440(K); Sikonge South  Tabora, 29 Sep 1940(yg fr),  Lindeman788(K); Ulyakulu Forest Reserve,  Tabora,  Manolo183(K);  Tabora, Tabora  Rural District, Mtakuja Village, Urumwa Forest Reserve, 4°53'29"S, 32°45'25"E,  1040 m, 6 Jul 1999(fl, yr fr),  Mwigaet al. 174(MO); collected from the Tabora  Beekeeping Institute Plantation, 28 Nov 1976(buds),  Shabani1131(K, WAG); without definite locality [probably Tabora],  Wigg523(MO, US);  Simbo Reserve, Tabora, June 1938(st),  Wigg F.H.1121(K).   ZAMBIA. Eastern: Ndundu Hill,  1770 m, 5 Oct 1966(fl),  Richards31484(K); Chadiza,  850 m, 29 Nov 1958(fr),  Robson770(BM, K).-  Luapula: Western Province, Fort Rosebery District, near Lake Bangweulu, Samfya Mission, 24 Aug 1952(fr),  Angus304(BM, K, MO);  Western Province, Fort Rosebery District, near Lake Bangweulu, Samfya Mission, 28 Aug 1952(old fls), White 3156(K).-Northern: Abercorn, 10 Nov 1948(st),  Bredo6232(BR);  Abercorn District, Ulungu County, Mchinda village, 13 Nov 1948(fr),  Bredo6276(BR); Kawimbe, 11 Nov 1949(fl),  Bullock1414A(K, P); Mutinondo Wilderness, Mpika,  1500 m, 24 Dec 2005(fr),  Congdon709(K);  Abercorn District, 4500', Feb 1932(fl),  Gamwell106(BM); NE of Abercorn, 11 Dec 1934(fl),  Michelmore1045(EA, K); Abercorn, 1933,  Miller133D(A, BM, K);  Abercorn District, Chilongowelo, in open ground close to Plain of Death,  4800 ft, 29 Sep 1954(fl),  Richards1881(K);  Abercorn District, close to Luchechestream by road to AbercornClub turning,  5000 ft., 23 Feb 1954(fl),  Richards2326(K);  Abercorn District, Kawimbe,  1680 m, 2 Jan 1956(fl, fr),  Richards6833(K);  Abercorn District, Kawimbe,  1740 m, 20 Sep 1960(buds, fr),  Richards13266(K); Uninji Pond, Mbala,  5000 ft, 3 Nov 1968(fl),  Sanane346(B, K);  Northern Province, Abercorn District, near top of Sunzu Hill, 18 Nov 1952(fl),  White3711(K, MO).   MALAWI. Machinga District, Chikala Mt. Liwonde Forest Reserve, Grid Ref.36LYU6927, 1460 m, 30 Feb 1982(fl),  Patel977(K);  Machinga District, Chikala Mt. Liwonde Forest Reserve, Grid Ref.36LYU6927, 1460 m, 5 Dec 1982(fl),  Patel& Tawakali1028 (K); N Region,  Karonga District, Vinthukutu Forest Reserve, 10 Jan 1990(fl),  Patel& Usi4605(PRE); N. Prov.,  Nkhata Bay District, Nkhata Bay, Chikale Beach,  1550 ft., 5 Dec 1976(fl),  Pawek11992(MO, WAG; N. Prov.,  Chitipa District, Kaseye Mission,  10 miE of Chitipa,  1270 m, 26 Dec 1977(fl, fr),  Pawek13379(K, MO, WAG); N. Prov.,  Mzimba District,  5 mi.NE of Mzambazi,  22Jan 1978(fr),  Pawek13659(K, MO, WAG); N. Prov.,  Mzimba District,  5 mi.NE of Mzambazi, 22 Jan 1978(fl),  Pawek13660(MO);  Nkata District, Chintechenr. Sand Dunes, L. Nyasa,  570 m, 21 Feb 1961(fl),  Richards14438(K); Central Province, Senga BayHotel, nr.  Salima,  470 m, 16 Feb 1959(fl),  Robson& Steele1628(BM, K, PRE).   Xylopia shirensisincludes specimens formerly identified as  Xylopia odoratissimain Boutique (1951b), Robson (1960), and Verdcourt (1971b), but it differs consistently from that species in the somewhat longer and wider leaves, up to 10.2 cmlong and 5.1 cmwide versus 6.9 cmlong and 3.3 cmwide, more variable size and shape of the leaves, the smaller flowers that are grouped into inflorescences of 1-6 flowers, flower buds less bulbous at the base, and petals marked with red or purple on the inner base. The two species are not known to overlap in distribution, although both occur frequently in  Brachystegiawoodland. The label of Congdon 588from western Tanzanianotes that the plant is a food plant for the larvae of the  Abantisbutterfly; Cock and Congdon (2011)report that this is one of a number of food plants from a variety of families that are used by  Abantis paradisea(Butler). The Congdon specimen also includes a photograph of the dehisced monocarp, showing the green endocarp and orange sarcotesta that characterize the members of the  X. odoratissimasubgroup. Several specimens show an oblong gall-like structure developing within the androecium of the flower. 1949-01-07 1984-01-20 1949-01-07 Malaisse, de Mulwe, Katanguaise, de Witte DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 1200 Kisanga Haut-Katanga 1 2006-03-26 Bidgood TANZANIA 1300 -8.233334 Mafinga-Madabira 1301 34.966667 1 Iringa 2018-01-01 2018-12-31 2018-01-01 Bangwe Tanzania Kigoma 1 Kigoma 1956-11 T. T., Procter Tanzania 747 Western Province 1 Kigoma District 1988-03-23 2001-01-28 1988-03-23 Bidgood, Madibira, Congdon Tanzania 1200 -8.833333 Chimala Mission 1300 34.016666 1 Mbeya District 1936-01-01 Ushirombo R., Burtt Tanzania Kahama 1 Shinyanga 1970-05-28 Collinson U. Tanzania Tabora 1 Tabora 1979-11-15 Lawton Tanzania -5.5 Hammerstein 1305 32.666668 1 Tabora 2018-01-01 2018-12-31 2018-01-01 Sikonge South Tanzania Lindeman 1 Tabora 1940-09-29 Lindeman Tanzania Ulyakulu Forest Reserve 1 Tabora 2018-01-01 2018-12-31 2018-01-01 Tanzania Manolo 1 Tabora 1999-07-06 Mwiga Tanzania Rural District 1040 -4.891389 Urumwa Forest Reserve 21 32.756943 Mtakuja Village 1 Tabora 1976-11-28 Shabani, Wigg US Beekeeping Institute Plantation 1 Tabora 1938-06 Wigg F. H. United States of America Tabora Simbo Reserve 1 1958-11-29 1966-10-05 1958-11-29 Richards, Chadiza, Robson ZAMBIA 1770 Ndundu Hill Eastern 1 1952-08-24 Angus Zambia Fort Rosebery District Samfya Mission Lake Bangweulu 1 Luapula 1948-11-10 1952-08-28 1948-11-10 Bredo Zambia Fort Rosebery District Samfya Mission Lake Bangweulu 1 Western Province 1948-11-13 2005-12-24 1948-11-13 Congdon Zambia Ulungu County 1500 Bredo Mchinda village 1 Abercorn District 1932-02 1934-12-11 1932-02 Gamwell, Michelmore, Miller Zambia Abercorn 1 Abercorn District 1954-09-29 Richards Zambia 1463 Plain of Death Chilongowelo 1 Abercorn District 1954-02-23 Richards Zambia 1524 Abercorn Lucheche 1 Abercorn District 1956-01-02 Richards Zambia 1680 Kawimbe 1 Abercorn District 1960-09-20 1968-11-03 1960-09-20 Richards, Uninji Pond, Sanane Zambia 1740 Mbala Kawimbe 1 Abercorn District 1952-11-18 White Zambia Sunzu Hill Abercorn District 1 Northern Province 1982-02-30 Patel MALAWI Grid Ref. Chikala Mt. Liwonde Forest Reserve 1 Machinga District 1982-12-05 Patel, Tawakali, N Region Malawi Grid Ref. Chikala Mt. Liwonde Forest Reserve 1 Machinga District 1990-01-10 Patel, Usi, N. Prov Malawi Vinthukutu Forest Reserve 1 Karonga District 1976-12-05 Pawek, N. Prov Malawi 472 Chikale Beach 1 Nkhata Bay District 1977-12-26 Pawek, N. Prov Malawi 1270 Kaseye Mission 1 Chitipa District 1978-01-22 Pawek, N. Prov Malawi 5 mi. NE of Mzambazi 1 Mzimba District 1978-01-22 Pawek Malawi 5 mi. NE of Mzambazi 1 Mzimba District 1961-02-21 Sand Dunes, L, Richards Malawi 570 Nyasa Chinteche 1 Nkata District 1959-02-16 Robson, Steele Malawi 470 Salima 1 Salima