Compilation
Ochna splendida

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Name

Identification
Ochna macrocalyx Oliv. [family OCHNACEAE ] (stored under name); Isotype of Ochna splendida Engl. [family OCHNACEAE ] Verified by Robson,N.K.B.,
Related name
  • Ochna macrocalyx
  • Ochna splendida

Flora

Entry for Ochna macrocalyx Oliv. [family OCHNACEAE]
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, (2005) Author: B. Verdcourt, B.Sc., Ph.D.
Names
Ochna macrocalyx Oliv. [family OCHNACEAE], in F.T.A. 1: 319 (1868) & in Trans. Linn. Soc. 29: 43, t. 19 (1873); Gilg in E.J. 33: 236 (1903); Sim, For. Fl. Port. E Afr.: 28 (1909); T.T.C.L.: 384 (1949); Robson in F.Z. 2: 234, t. 44, fig. A (1963); Haerdi in Acta Trop. Suppl. 8: 100 (1964); Vollesen in Opera Bot. 59: 25 (1980). Types: Tanzania, District unclear, Mbumi, 6°56’ S, Grant s.n.; Malawi, Soche Mts [Sotschi], Kirk s.n. & ?Mozambique, Manganja Mts, Meller s.n. (all K!, syn.)
Ochna macrocarpa Engl. [family OCHNACEAE], in E.J. 17: 77 (1893); P.O.A. C: 273 (1895); Gilg in E.J. 33: 236 (1903). Type: Tanzania, Shinyanga District: Usukuma, between Usulu and Usiha, Fischer 90 (B†, holo.)
Ochna splendida Engl. [family OCHNACEAE], in E.J. 28: 434 (1900) & in E.J. 30: 355, fig. A–F & 356; Gilg in E.J. 33: 236 (1903). Type: Tanzania, Morogoro District: Uluguru, between Mgeta and Mbakana, Goetze 335 (B†, holo., BR!, K!, iso., EA, photo.)
Information
Suffrutex or small shrub 0.1–3 m tall, sometimes with only leaves and flowers showing above ground; bark greybrown, rough; branchlets purplish, usually lenticellate, later greyish with epidermis sometimes peeling. Leaves coriaceous, oblong- to oblanceolate-elliptic, 6–19(–25) cm long, 1.6–4.5(–7) cm wide, acute to obtuse at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base, margin densely, evenly and acutely serrulate; lateral veins and tertiary reticulate venation prominent above, less so beneath; petiole 1–3 mm long. Flowers precocious or occurring with leaves, (2–)3–9(–14) in axillary receme-like inflorescences with short rhachis; pedicels 1.3–4 cm long with joint at 2–5 mm from base. Sepals elliptic to narrowly ovate, 1.2–2.2(–2.5) cm long, 0.6–1 cm wide, rounded at the apex, becoming red and attaining 2–3 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide in fruit. Petals bright yellow or orange-yellow, elliptic, obovate or almost round, 1.6–3.2 cm long, 0.9–2.7 cm wide. Anthers (4.5–)7–8 mm long, as long as or twice as long as the filaments, dehiscing by apical pores. Carpels 5(–10); styles free at apex and recurved with capitate stigmas. Drupelets black, oblong-ellipsoid or subcylindrical, 9–13 mm long, 5–9 mm wide, inserted near base. Fig. 1 (p. 13).
Range
DISTR. K 7 (see note); T 1, 3–8
Altitude range
350–1350 m
Distribution
TANZANIA Lushoto District Kijango, 27 Oct. 1935, Greenway 4136!;TANZANIA Mpanda District plateau above Ngungusi escarpment, 24 Oct. 1959, Richards 11536!;TANZANIA Songea District Gumbiro, 24 Jan. 1956, Milne-Redhead & Taylor 8515!
Distribution (external)
Zambia
Malawi
Mozambique
Zimbabwe
Notes
Robson (F.Z. 2: 236 (1963)) states “the number of carpels in our area [F.Z.] is apparently always 5. In a closely related species of fringing forest and rain-forest margins in Morogoro District, Tanzania, however, it varies from 6–10 and specimens of O. macrocalyx from that area sometimes have 6–8”. Vollesen in Opera Bot. 59: 25 (1980) mentions O. sp. nov. aff. O. macrocalyx which differs in habit and in the larger number of carpels but is otherwise very close. He cites Carmichael 147, Burtt 5405, MRC 537 and Vollesen MRC 4062. I have been unable to sort out this variable assemblage and am treating all as O. macrocalyx. Dr. Wadhwa during preliminary studies had reached the same conclusion. Doubt remains and field studies on correlation of habit and carpel number with habitat are needed.The K 7 indication above is based on Luke & Mbinda 5847 from Kwale District: Shimoni collected in coral rag forest at 10 m on 11 May 1999. It is a tree to 5 m with rather thinner leaves with rather more rounded base and more slender pedicels; the bright red fruiting sepals are up to 3 x 1.5 cm. Further flowering material is needed to confirm its identity (see also after O. insculpta).

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