Dennettia Baker f., Cat. Pl. Oban 5 (1913)

Figs 5, 6

Dennettia tripetala Baker f., Cat. Pl. Oban 5 (1913).

≡ Uvariopsis tripetala (Baker f.) G.E.Schatz, Novon 13(4): 447 (2003). Type. Nigeria - Edo State • R.E. Dennett 44 (lectotype: K! (K000040959), designated by Kenfack et al (2003), sheet designated by Couvreur et al (2022); isolectotype: K! (K000040961)), Benin City; 6°20'N, 5°38'E; 01 Jan. 1907.

Description.

Shrub to tree 1-5 m tall, D.B.H unknown; young branches sparsely pubescent to glabrous, old branches glabrous. Petiole 2-5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, glabrous. Leaf lamina 72-155 mm long, 30-68 mm wide, length:width ratio 1.9-3.25, elliptic, papyraceous to coriaceous, base acute to decurrent, apex attenuate, acumen 6-13 mm long, surface above glabrous, surface below glabrous; midrib impressed above, raised below, glabrous above, glabrous below; secondary veins 5-10 pairs, brochidodromous to weakly brochidodromous, slightly raised above, raised below; tertiary veins reticulate. Flowers bisexual. Flower buds globose. Inflorescences borne on branches or axilary, composed of 1 to 6 flowers. Peduncle ca. 0-1 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter. Flower pedicel 3.5-10 mm long, 1-2.5 mm in diameter, pubescent to sparsely pubescent. Bracts 1 to 3 at base, upper bract 0.5-2 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, broadly ovate, pubescent outside, glabrous inside. Sepals 3, 1-3 mm long, 1.5-4 mm wide, broadly ovate, fused up to more than 50% of their length, forming a persistent ring with the 3 lobes generally clearly distinct, curved downward on fruit pedicel, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, color unknown. Petals 3, 5-14 mm long, 4.5-10 mm wide, length:width ratio 1-1.7, broadly ovate to ovate, connivent in bud, free at anthesis, pubescent to sparsely pubescent outside, glabrate inside, light brown to dark red outside, purplish pink inside. Stamens number unknown, 0.5-1 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide, anthers linear, connective prolongation truncate. Carpels 8-30, 2-4.5 mm long, 0.5-2 mm wide, pubescent, free; stigma 0.5-1 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, coiled, pubescent. Fruiting pedicel 5-14 mm long, 1-2.5 mm in diameter, pubescent to glabrous. Monocarps, 1-7, 11-32 mm long, 5-18 mm wide, length:width ratio 1.5-2.3, cylindrical, slightly constricted between the seeds when dried, sparsely pubescent to glabrous, greyish green when unripe to pink-reddish when ripe, subsessile; stipe 0.1-3 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, pubescent. Seeds 4-12 per monocarp, biseriate, 7.5-10 mm long, 2-5 mm wide, ellipsoid.

Distribution.

Element of the Upper Guinean Domain and Lower Guinean Domain of the Guineo-Congolian Region: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon.

Habitat and ecology.

Lowland mature or secondary rain forests, in west Africa reported from drier forests on rocky outcrops (Hawthorne and Jongkind 2006). Altitude: 250-975 m a.s.l.

Phenology.

Flowers collected from February to April. Fruits collected from January to July.

Vernacular names.

Cameroon: ‘Bushpèpè’ (Westphal 9932). Ivory Coast: 'Michiti à petites feuilles’ ( Aubréville 145). Nigeria: ‘Mmimmi’ in Igbo, 'Ata Igebere’ or ‘Igberi’ in Yoruba, ‘Opipi’ in Idoma, ‘Imako’ in Urhobo, ‘Ako’ in Bini and Edo, ‘Nkarika’ in Efik and Ibibio (Aiyeloja and Bello 2006; Ajibesin et al. 2008; Rafiu and Sonibare 2016; Omage et al. 2019; Muhammed et al. 2021).

Uses.

Fruits used as spice and leaves, roots, fruits and seeds used as local medicine.

Notes.

This species resembles Uvariopsis congensis, Up. oligocarpa and Up. zenkeri in having elliptic leaves generally less than 16 cm long with decurrent base, but it clearly differs by its bisexual flowers having three sepals and three petals.

Preliminary conservation status.

This species is distributed from Guinea to Cameroon. Its EOO is estimated at 705,671 km2 and its AOO at 120 km2. Following IUCN criterion B, it would thus be assigned a status of LC.

Additional specimens examined.

Benin - Mono • J.-P. Essou 1443 (BENIN, MO, WAG); Aplahoué, Kpédjihoundéhoué; 7°21'N, 1°44'E; 17 Feb. 1999 - Ouémé • A. Akoègninou 2201 (BENIN, WAG); Kétou, Ewè; 7°28'N, 2°35'E; 01 Feb. 1999 - Zou - K. Küppers 2059 (FR, WAG), Noyau Central forêt class. Lama; 6°57'N, 2°07'E; 28 Feb. 1998 . Cameroon - South-West Region • D.W. Thomas 5661 (K, MO, P, WAG), Nganjo . West bank of Meme River on Kumba Mbonge road; 4°33'N, 9°24'E; alt. 50 m; 25 Feb. 1986 • E. Westphal 9932 (WAG), Victoria; 4°01'N, 9°12'E; 04 Apr. 1978 • G.W.J. Mildbraed 10515 (K), Likomba - Pflangzung, 15-35 km NE of Victoria; 4°06'N, 9°20'E; alt. 50 m; 18 Oct. 1928 • T.D. Maitland 626 (K); Fako, Victoria (= Limbe), Bonjongo; 4°06'N, 9°08'E; alt. 600 m; Apr. 1929 • T.D. Maitland 627 (P), Victoria (= Limbe), Bonjongo; 4°06'N, 9°08'E; 1929 • T.D. Maitland s.n (K), Mt Cameroon; 4°15'N, 9°13'E; alt. 920 m; 1930 • T.D. Maitland s.n.14 (K), Mt Cameroon, Buea area; 4°12'N, 9°11'E; alt. 975 m; 1930 . Ghana - Ashanti Region • J.K. Morton A3394 (K), Nyinahin range, W of Kunasi; 6°36'N, 2°07'W; alt. 700 m; 07 Jun. 1958 - Central Region • J.B. Hall GC43611 (K, WAG), Ojobi near Awutu; 5°29'N, 0°32'E; 29 Feb. 1972 • J.K. Morton s.n (K), About 1 mile N of Ojubi, Senya Beraku; 5°23'N, 0°29'E; 24 May. 1953 - Unknown major area • J.B. Hall GC43276 (K), Yaugwu F.R; alt. 460 m; 19 Mar. 1972 . Guinea - Kindia • D. Molmou 603 (P), Layah, Sousoude. Just avant Tonkoyah; 9°43'39.3"N, 13°12'26.6"W; alt. 12 m; 06 Jul. 2013 . Ivory Coast - Bouaflé • C.C.H. Jongkind 4356 (MO, WAG), Parc National de la Marahoue. Near south border; 6°59'N, 6°10'W; alt. 250 m; 11 Feb. 1998 - Bouaké • L. Aké Assi 18031 (G), Foret de Bamoro; 7°48'N, 5°05'W; 07 Jun. 1989 - Bouna • C. Geerling 2222 (K, WAG), Iringou (Gawi-Bania confl. Bamago); 8°58'N, 3°39'W; 15 Mar. 1968 • P.P. Poilecot 1224 (G), P.N. Comoé Sud; 8°45'N, 3°35'W; 13 Apr. 1986 • P.P. Poilecot 4164 (G, MO), P.N. Comoé Sud; 8°45'N, 3°35'W; 13 Apr. 1986 - Danané • A.J.M. Leeuwenberg 2999 (K, L, MO, P, WAG), 2 km E of Danané; 7°16'N, 8°07'W; alt. 410 m; 06 Mar. 1959 - Oumé • A. Le Thomas 27 (P), Lamto-Station, Fleuve Bandama; 6°13'N, 5°01'30"W; 07 Jul. 1985 • A. Le Thomas 97 (P), Lamto-Station, Bandama; 6°13'N, 5°01'30"W; 26 Jul. 1985 - Sassandra • A. Aubréville 1957/163 (BR, K, P); 4°59'N, 6°08'W; 07 Mar. 1957 - Soubré • L. Aké Assi 9490 (G, P), Foret du Bassin de la Lobo; 6°07'N, 6°48'W; 22 Feb. 1967 - Vavoua • F.N. Kouamé 1470 (CSRS, G), F.C. du Haut-Sassandra, Centre. forêt très dégradée, relevé FNK20; 7°07'N, 7°00'W; 07 Apr. 1995 - Unknown major area • A. Aubréville 145 (K, P); 7°37'26.4"N, 5°33'14.4"W; 28 Feb. 1957 • L. Aké Assi 13255 (G), Mont Nienokoue; 5°23'N, 7°10'W; 19 Jan. 1976 • L. Aké Assi 9543 (G, K, P), Mt Mafa; 5°52'N, 4°04'W; 14 Mar. 1967 . Nigeria - Anambra State • J.C. Okafor FHI35869 (K), Onitsha; Nnwei; Ukpor - Nzagha village; 6°50'N, 6°50'E; 22 Oct. 1956 - Cross River State • C.F.A. Onochie FHI36331 (K), Calabar, Ikot Efanga, c. 12 miles from Calabar on the Oban road; 4°58'N, 8°29'E; 09 Feb. 1957 - Oyo State • C.E. Darter 41837 (K), Olokemeji Forest Reservee; agbola pool, Ogun River; 7°25'N, 3°32'E; 06 Apr. 1958 - Unknown major area • J.O. Ariwaodo ARS1184 (K), Munta Village . Sierra Leone - Western Area • J.K. Morton SL2013 (FHI, IFAN, K, SL, WAG); Western Area, near York by Whale Bay, Peninsula; 8°17'N, 13°11'W; 02 May. 1965 .