Acridocarpus subg. Acridocarpus ( Niedenzu 1921: 17 )

de Almeida, Rafael F., Rasambo, Sedera Norotiana, Elliott, Kelda, Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Rakotonirina, Nivohenintsoa, Randriamboavonjy, Tiana, Rajaonah, Mamy Tiana, Andrianantenaina, Miantsa, Randrianarimanana, Noro Fenitra, Rakotomalala, Nantenaina Herizo, Rakotondratsimba, Mbola, Ranaivoson, Sedera Ny Aina, Randriatsarazaka, Tafitaniaina, Goyder, David & Vorontsova, Maria S., 2025, Historical biogeography and character-mapping of Acridocarpus (Malpighiaceae) evidence a revised infrageneric classification system and shifts in African biomes from the Eocene to the Miocene, Plant Ecology and Evolution 158 (3), pp. 428-444 : 428-444

1. Acridocarpus subg. Acridocarpus ( Niedenzu 1921: 17)

Fig. 4

Acridocarpus subg. Acridocarpus sect. Acridocarpus ( Niedenzu 1921: 17)

Acridocarpus subg. Acridocarpus sect. Diacra Nied. ( Niedenzu 1921: 17)

Type species

Acridocarpus plagiopterus Guill. & Perr.

Diagnosis

Acridocarpus subg. Acridocarpus is characterised by its liana habit, leaf blades glabrous to glabrescent, epidermis visible, leaf glands prominent, epidermal cells elongated, vascular system biconvex to plano-convex in the midrib portion, bract and bracteoles patent, bracteoles 0–1 - glandular, sepals 1 – many-glandular, lateral petals cucullate, margins erose, filaments shorter than anther, mericarps with a patent dorsal wing, mericarp nuts semi-globose to semi-ovoid in shape.

Distribution

Acridocarpus subg. Acridocarpus comprises six accepted species distributed in Central and Western continental Africa.

Habitat and ecology

Species of Acridocarpus subg. Acridocarpus are found in dry to rainforests.

Figures

Figure 4. Acridocarpus subg. Acridocarpus. A. Lianescent habit of A. plagiopterus. B. Adaxial side of a leaf blade of A. macrocalyx. C. Detail of the glands on the abaxial side of the leaf blade of A. staudtii. D. Detail of a thyrsus of A. macrocalyx showing the patent bracts and bracteoles. E. Detail of a floral bud in lateral view. F. Frontal view of an A. macrocalyx flower in anthesis. G. Detail of an A. macrocalyx flower in post-anthesis without petals and anthers. H. Detail of the mericarp nuts in A. macrocalyx. I. Mature mericarps of A. macrocalyx showing their dorsal wings patently inserted in the nut. Photos: A by Carel L. Jongkind; B, D by Olivier Lachenaud; C, E – I by Ehoarn Bidault.