Uvariopsis sp. nov. 1 'Uganda'

Fig. 87

Description.

Tree ca. 3 m tall, D.B.H unknown; young branches glabrous, old branches glabrous. Petiole ca. 6 mm long, ca. 1.7 mm wide, glabrous. Leaf lamina ca. 160 mm long, ca. 60 mm wide, length:width ratio ca. 2.6, elliptic, coriaceous, base acute to decurrent, apex attenuate, surface above glabrous, surface below glabrous; midrib impressed above, raised below, glabrous above, glabrous below; secondary veins ca. 12 pairs, brochidodromous to weakly brochidodromous, impressed above, raised below; tertiary veins reticulate. Flowers unknown. Fruits unknown.

Distribution.

Endemic to Zambezian Region. Known from only one locality in Uganda: the Budongo Forest Reserve.

Habitat and ecology.

Rain forests. Altitude ca. 1051 m asl.

Phenology.

Unknown.

Notes.

This species resembles Up. congensis in having elliptic leaves with acute to decurrent base and attenuate apex, but it differs in having longer petioles (ca. 6 mm vs. 2-5 mm). Molecular analysis retrieves this species as sister species of the clade formed by Up. congensis and Up. lovettiana . Further collection of this species is needed to provide a more complete description (particularly for the flowers and fruits). This species is known from a single specimen from the Budongo Forest Reserve. It is thus likely to be Critically Endangered CR. However, further exploration of the region is necessary to know whether this species occurs in other localities.

Specimen examined.

Uganda - Western Province • ATBP (Africa Tropical Biodiversity Programme) 666 (MO); Masindi District, Budongo Forest Reserve, Nyakafunjo Nature Reserve; 1°43'N, 31°31'E; alt. 1051 m; 26 Jun. 1998.