Entry From FZ, Vol 1, Part 1, page 104, (1960) Author: N. K. B. Robson
Contributor Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Resource Type Reference Sources
Range
Throughout tropical Africa from Senegal to the Sudan and Uganda, and southward to SW. Africa, Bechuanaland Protectorate and the Transvaal.
Information Shrub or tree, sometimes much branched but not climbing, 2–7 (9) m. high. Branches spreading, ± densely brownish-pubescent or -tomentellous at first, eventually glabrous, with ± prominent and persistent petiole-bases. Leaves petiolate; lamina 3–10 (15) x 1.5–5 (6) cm., elliptic-oblong to obovate, obtuse to rounded or emarginate at the apex, cuneate to rounded or subcordate at the base, chartaceous or subcoriaceous, concolorous, ± glabrescent above and often also below, but persistently appressed-pubescent or tomentellous along the midrib below, with arcuate-ascending nerves slightly prominent on both sides or only below and reticulate venation usually prominent only above; petiole 1–4 (8) mm. long, pubescent. Flowers solitary, axillary, subsessile, opening after leaf-fall; bracteoles 2–3, elliptic-orbicular, cucullate, densely brown-appressed-pubescent outside, glabrous and rugose within, the inner pair enclosing the bud, caducous. Sepals 4–6 mm. long, ovate-elliptic, acute or obtuse, cucullate, brown-sericeo-pilose outside, glabrous and rugose within, spreading widely at anthesis. Petals yellow or cream, thin, subequal, the inner whorl narrower, 10–20 mm. long, narrowly lanceolate, corrugated, obtuse, brown-sericeous outside near the base, appressed-puberulous towards the apex and within. Stamens 1–1.5 mm. long, linear or obconic, glabrous; connective-appendage capitate. Carpels 4–6, densely pubescent. Fruit subsessile; fruiting carpels 1–3 (4), several-seeded, 2–3.5 x 1–1.5 cm., cylindric-ellipsoid to obovoid, not apiculate, sometimes constricted between the seeds, sparsely brown-puberulous, finely rugose, scarlet, sessile. Seeds 1.2–1.5 x 0.6–0.7 cm., semi-lunar, triquetrous.