Sorindeia africana (Engl.) Van der Veken

Breteler, F. J., 2003, The African genus Sorindeia (Anacardiaceae): A synoptic revision, Adansonia (3) 25 (1), pp. 93-113 : 98-101

1. Sorindeia africana (Engl.) Van der Veken

Bull. Jard. Bot. État 29: 42 (1959); Fl. Congo Belge

et Ruanda-Urundi 9: 92 (1960) — Thyrsodium

africanum Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 106 (1892). —

Type: Pogge 717, Congo (Kinshasa), Mukenge, Mar .

1882, ♂ fl. (syn-, B, delet.; lecto-, K, designated here) .

Sorindeia africana (Engl.) Van der Veken var. lastoursvillensis (Pellegr.) Van der Veken, Flore du Congo Belge & Ruanda-Urundi 9: 93 (1960). — Type: see below under S. lastoursvillensis .

Sorindeia nitidula Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 36: 221 (1905); Keay in Hutch. & Dalziel, Fl. West Trop. Afr. , ed. 2, 1: 737 (1958). — Type: Zenker 802, Cameroun, Yaoundé, fl. Mar. (holo-, B, delet.; lecto-, Z, designated here; isolecto-, G, K, P).

Sorindeia gilletii De Wild., Ann. Mus. Congo sér. 5, Bot. 1: 281, t. 66 (1906); Van der Veken, Fl. Congo Belge & Ruanda-Urundi 9: 96 (1960). — Type: Ch. Gérard in Gillet 1925, Congo (Kinshasa), Lukaya R., fr. Jan. (holo-, BR).

Sorindeia kimuenzae De Wild., Ann. Mus. Congo sér. 5, Bot. 1: 281, t. 72 (1906). — Type: Gillet 1935, Congo (Kinshasa), Kimuenza, fr. (lecto-, BR, désignated here).

Sorindeia crassifolia Engl. & Krause, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 46: 338 (1911). — Type : Ledermann 6153, Cameroun, between Ndonge and Bare, fl.b. Nov. (holo-, B, delet.). Neotype (designated here): Leeuwenberg 9575, Cameroun, 1 km S of Manengouba village, fl.b. Apr. (WAG; iso-, BR, K, LISC, MO, P, PRE, UPS, YA).

Sorindeia lamprophylla Engl. & Krause, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 46: 340 (1911). — Type: Zenker 3567, Cameroun. Makao, fl.b. (holo-, B; iso-, BM, BR, G, GOET, HBG, MO, P, Z).

Sorindeia ochracea Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 46: 339 (1911). — Type: Zenker 3875, Cameroun, Bipindi, fl. Mar. (holo-, B, delet.; lecto-, K, designated here; isolecto-, BM, BR, G, GOET, HBG, K, MO).

Sorindeia tessmannii Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 46: 340 (1911). — Type : Tessmann 400, 408, Equatorial Guinea, Nkolentangan, fl. May (syn-, B, delet.). Neotype: J.M. & B. Reitsma, Gabon, Oveng, fl. Sep. (WAG; iso-, LBV, MO), see note.

Sorindeia lemairei De Wild., Bull. Jard. Bot. État. 4: 371 (1914). — Type: Lemaire 403, Congo (Kinshasa), Mobwasa, ♂ fl. June (lecto-, BR, designated here).

Sorindeia revoluta Engl. & v. Brehmer, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54: 312 (1917). — Type: Mildbraed 3113, Congo (Kinshasa), Marabi on Ituri R., fl. Apr. (holo-, B, delet.; lecto-, HBG, designated here).

Sorindeia letestui Pellegr., Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris) 28: 313 (1922). — Type: Le Testu 1649, Gabon, Issala, fl. Oct. (holo-, P; iso-, BM, BR).

Sorindeia tchibangensis Pellegr., Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris) 28: 314 (1922). — Type: Le Testu 1625, Gabon, Tchibanga, fl. Sep. (holo-, P; iso-, A, BM, BR, Z).

Sorindeia maxima Vermoesen, Man. Ess. For. Congo Belge: 251 (1923). — Type: De Briey 145, Congo (Kinshasa), Buku-Dungu, fl., fr. (holo-, BR).

Sorindeia lastoursvillensis Pellegr., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 102: 330 (1956). — Type: Le Testu 7879, Gabon, Lastoursville, fl. Jan. (holo-, P; iso-, WAG).

Sorindeia befalensis Van der Veken, Bull. Jard. Bot. État 29: 243 (1959); Fl. Congo Belge & Ruanda- Urundi 9: 95 (1960). — Type: Evrard 3644, Congo (Kinshasa), Befale, fl. Mar. (holo-, BR).

Sorindeia multifoliolata Van der Veken var. multifoliolata, Bull. Jard. Bot. État 29: 248 (1959); Fl. Congo Belge & Ruanda-Urundi 9: 94 (1960). — Type: A. Léonard 3256, Congo (Kinshasa), Bunyakiri, fl.b. Mar. (holo-, BR; iso-, K) .

Sorindeia multifoliolata Van der Veken var. watsaensis Van der Veken, Bull. Jard. Bot. État 29: 250 (1959); Fl. Congo Belge & Ruanda-Urundi 9: 95 (1960). — Type: Noël 19, Congo (Kinshasa), Watsa, ♀ fl.b. (holo-, BRLU; iso-, BR).

Sorindeia ferruginea Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 46: 341 (1911), nom. illeg. (not S. ferruginea, Mar. 1869 ). — Type : Ledermann 29, Congo (Kinshasa) Kondue (holo-, B, delet.). Neotype not designated.

Shrub or tree up to 33 m tall and 40 cm d.b.h. Branches ± glabrous to distinctly (brown-) hairy. Leaves (1-)7-13(-19)-foliolate; folioles papery to coriaceous, very variable in size, (5-)10-20(-28) × (2-)4-6(-10) cm, rounded to cunate and unequal-sided or not at base, acuminate at apex, ± glabrous to distinctly (brown-) hairy; lateral nerves (10-)11-14(-16) pairs, the collecting nerve usually distinct. Inflorescence up to c. 50 cm long, pubescent to puberulous, the indumentum extending beyond the articulation in the pedicel on the calyx and often on the petals as well. Flowers (Feb.-Dec.), the male with 11-16 stamens, the female with 5(-7) staminodes; pistil glabrous to puberulous. Fruits (Nov.-Feb., May- July) up to 20 × 16 × 14 mm, yellow to orange at maturity, glabrous to puberulous. — Figs. 1A , 3A , 4.

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION. — Rain forest from eastern Nigeria to Angola and Central African Republic. Alt. up to c. 1500 m.

SELECTED SPECIMENS. — ANGOLA: Luna de Carvalho 37, Dundo, fl.b. Aug. (BR); Gossweiler 14017, Dundo, fl. May (BM). — CAMEROUN: Bates 1608 , Bitye, fl. Feb. (BM, MO, Z); Breteler 1347, Djang, fl. May (K, P, WAG); Breteler 2708, Oveng, fl.b. Mar. (A, G, K, MO, P, WAG, Z); W. de Wilde c.s. 2393, Nanpé, fl. May (P, WAG); W. de Wilde c.s. 2851, 70 km W of Eséka, fr. July (P, WAG); Etuge & Thomas 164, Bakossi Mts., fr. June (K, WAG); Fleury 33192, Douala, fl.b. June (P); Leeuwenberg 9575, Manengouba village, fl. Apr. (K, P, UPS, WAG); Letouzey 11231, Bandonga, fl. Feb. (HBG, K, P, WAG); Maitland 671, Buea, fl. (K, P); Mildbraed 8239, 115 km NE of Yaoundé, fl.b. Feb. (K); Thomas 8260, Toko, fl. Mar. (MO); Zenker 802, Yaoundé, fl.b. (G, K, P, Z). — CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Thomas & Fay 7268, 30 km S of Libongo, fr. July (MO); Tisserant Equipe 2414, fl. Apr. (BM, P). — CONGO (Brazzaville): Cusset 1296, Dimonika, fl., fr. Dec. (P); Koechlin 5256, Kinkala, fl. Sep. (P, WAG); Sita 2604 , near Brazzaville, y.fr. Oct. (P). — CONGO (Kinshasa): Bamps 605, Yangambi, fl. Apr. (BR, K, WAG); Breyne 287, Tshela, fl.b. Aug. (BR); Compère 1085, Zaza, fl.b. Dec. (BR); Davio 28, Mvuazi, fr. Dec. (A, BR, K); Delvaux 349, fl.b. July (BR); Delvaux 362, Kabinda, fl. July (BR); Desenfans 1957, Mapanda, fl.b. Aug. (BR); Devred 2549, Kiyaka, fr. Sep. (BR, MO); Detchuvi 968, Botsima, fl.b. Mar. (BR); Donis 1669, Luki, fr. Jan. (BR, FHO, K, P); Dubois 684, Tshuapa, fr. May (BR); Evrard 2796, Monkoto, ster. Oct. (Br, K); Evrard 3644, Befale, fl.b. Mar. (BR); Evrard 5714, Yalisanga, fl. Feb. (BR, K); Evrard 5777, Djolu-Befori, fl.b. Feb. (BR); Evrard 6092, Bolengambi, fl.b. Apr. (BR, K); Evrard 6210, Yalisenga, fr. Apr. (BR); Gaillez- Mahin 47, km 37 Elundu-Kindu, fl.b. Sep. (BR); Gérard 1752, Tukpwo, fr. June (BR); Gérard 2807, Madabu, fl. Apr. (BR, K); Gérard 4862, Bambesa, fl.b. Mar. (BR); Gillardin 593, Mukumari, fl. June (BR); Hart 173, Epulu, fl.b. Dec. (BR); E & M. Laurent s.n., Munungu, fr. Nov. (BR); Lebrun 2969, Angodia, fl. May (BR, G, WAG); Lebrun 6113, Katako Kombe, fl.b. Sep. (BR); Lebrun 6330, Kole, fl.b. Oct. (A, BR, K); Lebrun 6535, Bumbuli, fl.b. (BR, K); Leemans 642, Eala, fl. (BR, K, L, WAG); A. Léonard 1846, Kabunga, ster. Nov. (BR, FHO); A. Léonard 3256, Bunyakiri, fl. Mar. (BR, K); A. Léonard 6018, Kamisuku, y.fr. Aug. (BR, FHO, K); Lescrauwaet 225, Foa Lake, fr. Sep. (BR); Liben 1684, Dimbelenge, fr. Oct. (BR); Liben 3510, Musoko, fl.b. Aug. (BR, WAG); Liben 3553, Gandajika, fl.b. July (BR, K); Louis 14144, Opala, fr. Feb. (BR); Luja s.n., Sankuru, fl.b. June (BR); Michelson 157, Pangi, fl.b. June (BR); Mildbraed 3113, Kasanga, fl. Apr. (HBG); Noel 19, Watsa, fl. (BRLU); Pogge 717, Mukenge, fl. Mar. (K); Vanderijst 12413, Bampunu, fr. Oct. (BR); Wagemans 748, Gimbi, fr. Dec. (BR, L, WAG). — GABON: Bos et al. 10744, Bélinga, Babiel Sud, fr. July (K, LBV, MO, WAG); Breteler et al. 9930, 30 km NE Lastoursville, fr. Apr. (LBV, WAG); Breteler & Jongkind 10225, Rabi- Kounga, fl. Oct. (LBV, WAG); Breteler et al. 13298, 6 km E of Ndambi, fl. Oct. (WAG); Breteler et al. 14735, Makandé, fr. Jan. (LBV, WAG); Florence 1786, 120 km Makokou-Libreville, fr. Mar. (P); Hladik 1785, Ipassa, fl. Dec. (P); Le Testu 1625, Tchibanga, fl. Sep. (A, BM, BR, P, Z); Le Testu 1649, Issala, fl. Oct. (BM, BR, P); Le Testu 2097, Malemba, fl. Aug. (BM, P); Le Testu 9167, Oyem, fl. June (BM, P); Le Testu 9601, Mimvoul, fl. June (BM, P); A. Louis et al. 1208, Bikélé, fl. Dec. (BR, LBV, MO, P, WAG); McPherson 15629, Lopé-Okanda Reserve, W of Offoué R., fr. Dec. (LBV, MO); Reitsma c.s. 1199, Oveng, ster. June (LBV, WAG); Reitsma c.s. 1420, Doudou Mts., fl.b. Aug. (LBV, WAG); Reitsma c.s. 3112, Ekobakoba, ster. Feb. (LBV, WAG). — NIGERIA: Daramola FHI 31281, Ishan, fl. Apr. (FHO, K); Kennedy 2382, Sapoba, fr. (FHO); Latilo FHO 30983, Ikom, fl.b. May (K); Talbot 1714, Oban, fl.b. (BM); van Meer 1302, Oban Group F.R., fl. Apr. (BR, WAG).

NOTES. — Sorindeia africana is a variable species. This is reflected by the large number of synonyms. This variation concerns the indumentum, from almost glabrous in the former S. letestui to very hairy in the former S. lastoursvillensis , and the number of leaflets, 3 in the former S. befalensis to many in VAN DER VEKEN’ s S. multifoliolata . Also the indumentum of the ovary is variable: thus S. multifoliolata var. watsaensis with glabrous ovaries is distinguished from the typical form.

Whether the petals are keeled inside or not, seems to be related to the number of stamens in the male flower: many stamens with ± flat petals, few stamens with keeled petals. In the female flowers, usually with 5 staminodes only, the petals are mostly distinctly ridged.

Both S. africana and S. juglandifolia more or less fit the original description of S. tessmanni , and they probably both occur in Equatorial Guinea. Unfortunately all the material that I have seen from that country which represents these species, is sterile. On account of the following elements of this description: ‘calyx brevis ad medium usque in lobes late ovatos divisus’ and ‘ staminum filamenta tenuia, antherae anguste oblongae filamentis paulum breviores ’, however, I have placed S. tessmannii in synonymy of S. africana and selected the neotype accordingly.

I have followed VAN DER VEKEN as regards the synonymity of Sorindeia maxima Verm. The type material is sterile which implies that its identification is however doubtful .

2. Sorindeia batekeensis Lecomte

Bull. Soc. Bot. France 55: 181 (1908). — Type: Thollon 576, Congo (Brazzaville), Alima river bank, y.fr. July (lecto-, P, designated here) .

Tree. Leaves (17-)19-23-foliolate; rachis and petiolule puberulous; leaflets ± oblong, (3-)7- 11(-13) × 2-2.5(-3) cm with numerous ± parallel nerves, unequal-sided, caudate-acuminate. Inflorescence a narrow panicle, cauliflorous, 8- 18 cm long, sparsely puberulous. Male and complete female flowers unknown. Upper part of pedicel and calyx glabrous in fruit. Fruit (immature) obovoid, sparsely puberulous. — Figs. 3B , 5.

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION. — Gallery forest,

Batéké Plateau, Congo (Brazzaville).

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — CONGO (Brazzaville): Thollon 576, Alima river bank, y.fr. July ( P, type); Thollon 36, Dielé (Batéké), y.fr. Sep. ( P) .

NOTES. — LECOMTE described his species with axillary, glabrous, inflorescences. The two collections on which he based S. batekeensis , however, show separate leaves and (puberulous) inflorescences, which suggests strongly that the latter have been taken from a trunk.

The description of the collecting localities of the two specimens are imprecise. Therefore the geographical localization of S. batekeensis on Fig. 5 is an approximation. As these localities are both situated on the Batéké Plateau, they are represented by a single point.

Figures

Fig. 1. — Flowers of Sorindeia species, one petal removed: A, S. africana (Engl.) Van der Veken; B, S. gabonensis Bourobou & Breteler; C, S. grandifolia Engl.; D, S. juglandifolia (A. Rich.) Planch. ex Oliv.; E, S. madagascariensis DC.; F, S. oxyandra Bourobou & Breteler; G, S. winkleri Engl. (A1, Reitsma et al. 2525; A2, Breteler & Jongkind 10225; A3, Louis et al. 1208; B1, Breteler & Jongkind 10730; B2, Breteler et al. 8731; C1, Leeuwenberg 9265; C2, Leeuwenberg 8854; D1, Breteler et al. 8735; D2, Morton SL692; E1, Jongkind et al. 3206; E2, Rabevohitra & Breteler 3899; F1, Breteler & de Wilde 51; F2, Breteler & de Wilde 50; G1, Breteler & de Wilde 518; G2, Breteler & de Wilde 632). Drawing by H. DE VRIES.

Fig. 3. — Fruits of Sorindeia species: A, S. africana (Engl.) Van der Veken; B, S. batekeensis Lec.; C, S. gabonensis Bourobou & Breteler; D, S. grandifolia Engl.; E, S. juglandifolia (A. Rich.) Planch. ex Oliv.; F, S. madagascariensis DC.; G, S. oxyandra Bourobou & Breteler; H, S. winkleri Engl. (A1, Breteler et al. 14735; A2, Breteler et al. 15033; B, Thollon 576; C, Breteler et al. 14754; D1, Meyer 15086; D2, J.J. de Wilde 8008; D3, Thomas 7023; E1, Reitsma et al. 2596; E2, Breteler & van Raalte 5626; E3, Devred 2554; F1, Jongkind et al. 3206; F2, Chapman 9358; G, Breteler & de Wilde 51; H, J.J. de Wilde 8850). Drawing by H. DE VRIES.

Fig. 4. — Distribution of Sorindeia africana (Engl.) Van der Veken and S. calantha Mildbr.

Fig. 5. — Distribution of Sorindeia batekeensis, S. gabonensis and S. oxyandra.