Compilation
Olax obtusifolia
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Name
Identification
Olax obtusifolia De Wild. [family OLACACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Not on sheet,
Related name
- Olax obtusifolia
Flora
Entry for OLAX obtusifolia De Wild. [family OLACACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (1968) Author: G. Ll. Lucas
Names
OLAX obtusifolia De Wild. [family OLACACEAE], in Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot. Sér. 4, 1: 177, t. 40/6–11 (1903); Louis & J. Léon, in F.C.B. 1: 261 (1948); F.F.N.R.: 42 (1962); Garcia in F.Z. 2: 332 (1963). Type: Congo Republic;, Katanga, Lukafu, Verdick 156 (BR, holo. !)
Information
Trees or shrubs up to 15 m. high; young branches deep green when young, rusty-brown and ± channelled when mature. Petiole 1–3 mm. long; leaf-blade glabrous, grey-green above at maturity, ovate-lanceolate, 4–9 cm. long, 2–4 cm. wide, rounded to subacute at apex, cuneate to rounded at the base; midrib prominent beneath, ± conspicuous above; secondary veins (6–)7–10 pairs, slightly raised beneath. Inflorescence of single or fasciculate racemes up to 3 cm. long; bracts small, oblanceolate, caducous, rarely foliaceous; pedicels 1–2.5 mm. long; buds clavate, up to 9 mm. long. Flowers white, cream or greenish. Calyx cupuliform, accrescent, 1.5–2 mm. in diameter. Petals 3, spathulate, 7–11 mm. long, ± recurved at maturity. Fertile stamens 3; filaments adnate to petals; anthers 1.5–2.5 mm. long, yellow. Staminodes 5–6; anthers elongate, 2–3 mm. long, white, bifurcate at base. Ovary conical; style up to 5 mm. long; stigma capitate, 3-lobed. Fruit a globose drupe, 1–2.5 cm. in diameter, orange when ripe; accrescent calyx up to 5 mm. in diameter. Seed woody, large, ± 1 cm. in diameter. Fig. 3/1–4, p. 8.
Range
DISTR. T3, 6–8
Altitude range
900–1500 m.
Distribution
TANGANYIKA E. Usambara Mts., Monga, 7 Mar. 1944, Greenway 6832 !TANGANYIKA Morogoro District Nguru Mts., Koruhamba, Nov. 1953, Paulo 217!TANGANYIKA Rungwe District Bulambia, 5 Dec. 1912, Stolz 1734!TANGANYIKA Lindi District Rondo Plateau, Mtene, Nov. 1953, Eggeling 6744 !
Distribution (external)
Congo Republic (Katanga)
Zambia
Rhodesia
Malawi
Mozambique
Notes
It appears that the further north this species occurs the larger the individual floral parts become, as do the overall dimensions of the plant. This, however, may prove to be a completely artificial gradation as there are relatively few herbarium specimens and little field data at present. It may be significant that the East African records are mostly from areas of higher rainfall than those occupied by the species further south.