Trichoscypha bracteata Breteler, 2004

Breteler, F. J., 2004, The genus Trichoscypha (Anacardiaceae) in Lower Guinea and Congolia: A synoptic revision, Adansonia (3) 26 (1), pp. 97-127 : 107

4. Trichoscypha bracteata Breteler , sp. nov.

T. bijugae Engl. affinis disco glabro et inflorescentia compacta, ab ea differt bracteis grandibus persistentibus, staminibus inflexis et disco floris masculis majore, perspicue exposito, irregulatim plicato.

TYPUS. — Walker s.n., Gabon, St. Martin, Ƌ fl .

July 1939 (holo-, P!; iso-, WAG!) .

Medium sized tree. Branchlets appressedpubescent. Leaves 7-13-foliolate; petiole and rachis appressed-puberulous; leaflets alternate to subopposite, elliptic to lanceolate, 2-4 times as long as wide, (4-)8-15 × (1.5-) 2.5-5 cm, rounded to cuneate at base, shortly acuminate at apex, glabrous above exept for the impressed, pubescent midrib, beneath appressed-puberulous on midrib and the 9-12(-14) pairs of main lateral nerves, sparsely so to glabrous on the remaining surface. Inflorescence (sub)terminal, paniculate, compact, up to c. 5 cm long, densely bracteate until anthesis, pubescent; main bracts subtending the flower clusters boat-shaped, ± keeled, 5-10 mm long, appressed-pubescent outside, appressed-puberulous inside; secondary bracts and bracteoles much smaller. Flowers 4(-5)-merous; male flower: pedicel 2-3 mm long, pubescent; calyx c. 1 mm long, shortly lobed, appressed-puberulous outside; petals narrowly imbricate, spreading to reflexed, ovate-elliptic, c. 2.5 × 2 mm, glabrous; stamens inflexed, slightly shorter than petals, glabrous; disc well exposed, ± quadrate, 1.5-2 mm across, irregularly plicate, glabrous. Pistillode glabrous. Female flowers and fruits unknown. — Figs 1D ; 4 ; 6.

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION. — Rain forest of

W Gabon. Alt. below 300 m.

NOTES. — The calyx of Trichoscypha bracteata is distinctly appressed-puberulous outside in bud, but at anthesis it is glabrous or nearly so ( Fig. 6 F ). I have never before observed this phenomenon so clearly in a single specimen (see also BRETELER 2001: 248).

Figures

FIG. 1. — Flowers of Trichoscypha species, one petal removed: A, T. acuminata Engl.; B, T. arborea (A. Chev.) A. Chev.; C, T. bijuga Engl.; D, T. bracteata Breteler; E, T. engong Engl. & Brehmer; F, T. hallei Breteler; G, T. imbricata Engl.; H, T. laxiflora Engl.; I, T. lucens Oliv. A1, Breteler 15670; A2, Sosef et al. 516; A3, Breteler 15680; B1, Van der Burg 766; B2, J.J. de Wilde 311; C1, Stoop-van de Kasteele 210; C2, Beentje 889; D, Walker s.n.; E1, Mildbraed 5391; E2, Wilks 3519; F, N. Hallé 2822; G1, Breteler et al. 14477; G2, Breteler et al. 14491; H1, Bos 4981; H2, Van Andel et al. 3959; I1, de Koning 3909; I2, Beentje 875. Drawing by H. DE VRIES.

FIG. 4. — Distribution of Trichoscypha species 2, 4-9, 12.

FIG. 6. — Trichoscypha bracteata Breteler: A, flowering branch; B, part of inflorescence; C, detail of inflorescence, showing pubescent calyx; D, flower from above; E, flower, one petal removed; F, open flower from beneath, calyx nearly glabrous. All from Walker s.n. Drawing by H. DE VRIES.