Artabotrys dielsianus Le Thomas, Adansonia ser . 2, 9: 442, 1969

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 : 63-65

Artabotrys dielsianus Le Thomas, Adansonia ser. 2, 9: 442, 1969

Figs 13 , 14 ; Map 2D

Type.

Cameroon. South Region; Bipindi, Zenker G.A. 510, 1 Jan 1914: lectotype, sheet here designated: P[P00363381]; isotypes: B[B 10 0153019]; BR[BR0000008820693]; P[P00363377]; U[U 0000237]; WAG[WAG0000084,WAG0000085] .

Description.

Liana, height unknown, d.b.h. unknown. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches pubescent, young foliate branches tomentose to densely pubescent with long, up to 2 mm, ferruginous hairs. Leaves: petiole 2-3 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent, grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 15-24 cm long, 6-7 cm wide, elliptic, apex acuminate to acute, acumen 0.5-1 cm long, base subcordate, coriaceous, below densely pubescent when young and old, above sparsely pubescent when young, glabrous when old, concolorous; midrib impressed, above glabrous or sparsely pubescent when young, glabrous when old, below densely pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 13 to 16 pairs, glabrous above; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences, ramiflorous on old leafless branches, generally without leaves, leaf opposed. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 10 to 15 per inflorescence, hook-shaped peduncle 12-17 mm long; pedicel 3-4 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, densely pubescent; bracts ca. 2, all basal, basal bracts 5 mm long, 4 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, 5-12 mm long, 3-7 mm wide, triangular, apex acute, base truncate, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free, sub equal; outer petals 3, 20-35 mm long, 6-10 mm wide, elliptic, apex acute, base broad and concave, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner petals 3, valvate, 15-25 mm long, 6-9 mm wide, elliptic, apex acute, base broad and concave, margins flat, densely pubescent outside, pubescent inside; stamens 50 to 70, in 3 to 4 rows, 1-2 mm long, cuneiform; connective discoid, pubescent; staminodes absent; carpels free, 25 to 32, ovary 1-2 mm long, stigma cylindrical, glabrous. Fruits unknown.

Distribution.

endemic to Cameroon; known from the South region.

Habitat.

Rare species; in primary lowland rain forest. Altitude 0-200 m a.s.l.

Local and common names known in Cameroon.

None recorded.

IUCN conservation status.

Not evaluated.

Uses in Cameroon.

None recorded.

Notes.

Artabotrys dielsiana is characterized by its densely pubescent young foliate branches with longish ferruginous hairs, leaf blades with a subcordate leaf base and pubescent below but glabrous above (including the midrib), and tightly packed flowers mainly borne on leafless branches ( Le Thomas 1969a). This species has only been collected four times.

Specimens examined.

South Region: Lélé, 2.29°N, 13.34°E, 06 September 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 453 (WAG,YA); Campo-Ma’an area 2.28°N, 9.866°E, 03 October 2001, van Andel T.R. 4128 (KRIBI,U,WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.41°E, 01 January 1914, Zenker G.A. 2087 (WAG); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1914, Zenker G.A. 510 (B,P,U,WAG).

Figures

Map 2. A Artabotrys aurantiacus B Artabotrys aurantiacus var. multiflorus C Artabotrys congolensis D Artabotrys dielsianus E Artabotrys insignis F Artabotrys insignis var. batesii G Artabotrys jacques-felicis H Artabotrys rufus I Artabotrys thomsonii. White borders represent region limits in Cameroon; green patches represent protected areas (see methods and Suppl. material 1: Fig. S 1).

Figure 13. Artabotrys dielsiana A branch B detail of the pubescence on the lower side of leaf blade C Inflorescence D flower E sepal, outside side F outer petals inner and outside view G inner petals inner and lateral side views H receptacle with stamens and carpels (stigmas showing) A-H from Zenker 510. Drawings D. Godor de Mauroy, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; modified from Le Thomas (1969 a, pl. 1, p. 441).

Figure 14. Artabotrys dielsiana A branch B base of leaf blade; upper side C base of leaf blade; lower side D detail of hooked shaped inflorescence (sterile). Artabotrys insignis var. batesii E branch F base of leaf blade; lower side, note tomentose branches G base of leaf blade; upper side, note tomentose branches H flower, side view I flower, top view J flower, bottom view A-D Couvreur 453, Lele, Cameroon E-J Couvreur 1044, Mt Cameroon, Cameroon. Photos Thomas L. P. Couvreur.