Xylopia paniculata Exell, J. Bot. 64 (Suppl.): 8, 1926

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 : 475-476

Xylopia paniculata Exell, J. Bot. 64 (Suppl.): 8, 1926

Map 18F

Type.

Angola. Cabinda; Belize, Mayumbe, Gossweiler J. 6988, no date: holotype: BM; isotypes: COI[COI00004886]; LISC[LISC000323, LISC000324, LISC000322, LISC000321]

Description.

Tree, up to 35 m tall, d.b.h. up 35 cm; stilt roots or small buttresses present. Old branches glabrous, young branches glabrous to pubescent with loosely appressed hairs 0.4-0.9 mm long. Leaves: petiole 2-3 mm long, 1 mm wide, pubescent, grooved, blade inserted on the side of the petiole; blade 7.2-11.5 cm long, 1.8-2.7 cm wide, narrowly oblong to elliptic, apex acuminate, acumen 0.2-0.7 cm long, base decurrent to cuneate, papyraceous to subcoriaceous, below sparsely pubescent when young, sparsely pubescent when old, above glabrous when young and old, somewhat shiny above, slightly discolorous; midrib raised to slightly sunken, above sparsely pubescent when young, glabrous when old, below pubescent when young, sparsely pubescent when old; secondary veins 8 to 16 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on young foliate branches, axillary, peduncle 2-3 per axil, highly branched, 1-4.5 mm long, sometimes with a longer floriferous axis emerging from among the cluster of flowers in an axil. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, up to 32 per inflorescence; pedicel 2-3 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, pubescent; in fruit 23-30 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent; bracts 1 or 2, at or above the middle of pedicel, 2-3 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, basally fused, 2-3 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, ovate, apex acute to obtuse, base truncate, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; petals free, inner and outer whorl subequal; outer petals 3, 10-19.7 mm long, 2.3-3.6 mm wide at base, linear-lanceolate, apex obtuse, base broad and concave, yellow-green with red base, densely pubescent outside, pubescent and glabrous towards center inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 9.7-13.1 mm long, 2.2-2.5 mm wide at base, linear, apex acute, base broad and concave, yellow-green with red base, pubescent, base glabrous outside, pubescent, base glabrous inside; stamens 120 to 130, in 5 to 6 rows, 1-2 mm long, narrowly oblong; connective apex capitate, glabrous; carpels 3 to 6, ovary ca. 1 mm long, stigmas connivent, filiform, 2.5-2.7 mm long, sparsely pubescent. Monocarp stipitate, stipe 2-3 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter; monocarp 1, 56-85 mm long, 31-40 mm wide, obovoid to oblongoid, apex rounded, pubescent, longitudinally ridged and wrinkled when dried, green outside, endocarp carmine, red or pink-red; seeds 3 to 4 per monocarp, in a single row, 21-22 mm long, 16-17 mm wide, flattened ellipsoid; sarcotesta grayish blue or greenish blue in vivo; aril absent.

Distribution.

A sparsely distributed species from Cameroon to Angola (Cabinda); in Cameroon known from a single collection in the East region.

Habitat.

A very rare species in general; in primary rain forests. Altitude unknown, but probably lowland.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Endangered (EN) ( Cosiaux et al. 2019b c).

Uses in Cameroon.

None reported.

Notes.

Xylopia paniculata is distinguished by its highly branched inflorescences with up to 32 flowers, a unique characteristic for African species. The monocarps and seeds are among the largest of any African Xylopia species. The specimen label of the single Cameroon specimen lists Baillonella toxisperma and Pentaclethra macrophylla as associated species.

Specimen.

East Region: A 23 km à l’Ouest de Maséa (village situé à 50 km au SSW de Yokadouma, 3.15°N, 14.87°E, 04 July 1963, Letouzey R. 5402 (P,YA).

Figures

Map 18. A Xylopia katangensis B Xylopia letestui C Xylopia longipetala D Xylopia mildbraedii E Xylopia monticola F Xylopia paniculata G Xylopia phloiodora H Xylopia pynaertii I Xylopia quintasii. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).