Compilation
Prunus africana

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Name

Identification
Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman [family ROSACEAE ]
Related name
  • Prunus africana
Common name
  • red stinkwood, bitter almond (E Africa, south central Africa)., Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • alumty (JMD) (WEST CAMEROONS, BAMILEKE), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4

Flora

Entry for Prunus africana Hook. f. Kalkm. [family ROSACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 4, Part 0, page 7, (1978) Author: E. J. Mendes
Names
Pygeum africanum Hook. f. [family ROSACEAE], in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 7: 191 (1864).—Oliv. in F.T.A. 2: 373 (1871).—Sim, For. Fl. Col. Cape Good Hope: 215, t. 63 (1907).— Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1: 302, fig. 192 (1915).—Burtt Davy, F.P.F.T.: 312, fig. 48 (1936).—Gardner, Trees & Shrubs of Kenya Col.: 57 (1936).—Robyns & Tournay, Fl. Pare Nat. Alb. 1: 256 (1948).—Brenan, T.T.C.L.: 477 (1949).— Hauman in F.C.B. 3: 32 (1952).—Eggeling & Dale, Indig. Trees Uganda ed. 2: 335 (1952).—Brenan in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 8: 431 (1954).—Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1: 426 (1958).—R. A. Grab. in F.T.E.A., Rosaceae: 45, fig. 6 (I960).— F. White, F.F.N.R.: 70 (1962).—Boughey in Journ. S. Afr. Bot. 30: 157 (1964). Type as above.
Prunus africana Hook. f. Kalkm. [family ROSACEAE], in Blumea 13: 26, 33, fig. 1e, 6c, 7a, 11, 13 (1965).— Mendes in C.F.A. 4: 1 (1970).—Palmer & Pitman, Trees of S. Afr. 1: 679, cum 2 fig. (1972). TAB. 2. Lectotype from Cameroon.
Pygeum crassifolium Hauman [family ROSACEAE], in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 22: 93 (1952); in F.C.B. 3: 33 (1952) saltern pro parte quoad specim. Stolz 2279 (BM; BR; K). Lectotype from Zaire, cf. Kalkman, op. cit.: 34 (1965); R. A. Grah., op. cit.: 47 (1960).
Information
A much-branched evergreen tree c. 10 (up to 25) m. high, or rarely a shrub 3–5 m. tall, entirely glabrous except for the flowers. Bark dark brown to grey, rugged. Leaves petiolate; lamina (4)6–11(15) x 2–4(5·5) cm., elliptic, lanceolate-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, glabrous, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, the apex obtuse to subacuminate, the base broadly cuneate to rarely rounded, margins coarsely crenate-serrate to subentire with dark glandular dots in the incisions (the most proximal gland on one or both margins of the leaf sometimes conspicuous); petiole 1–2 cm. long, channelled, often reddish; stipules ± linear, 1·5–2·0 cm. long, caducous. Racemes usually solitary, 2–5(8) cm. long, 7–15-flowered, arising from the axils of scales at the base of lateral shoots which may also produce leaves in their upper part; peduncle usually 5–10 mm. long; pedicels (3)5–7(10) mm. long; bracts triangular, small, soon caducous. Perianth (4)5(6)-merous, sometimes irregularly so. Calyx-tube ± cyathiform, (3·0)3·5–4·0(5·0) mm. in diameter at the mouth, rather fleshy, glabrous outside, usually hairy inside; calyx-lobes 1–1·5 mm. long, triangular, glabrous except for the ciliate apex. Petals up to 2 mm. long, creamy-white, elliptic to oblong, reflexed, hairy abaxially especially towards their margins and sometimes adaxially also. Stamens 25–35; filaments c. 1·5 mm. long, glabrous; anthers didymous, 0·5–1·0 mm. long. Ovary ± ovoid, sparsely longhaired; style c. 1·5 mm. long, sparsely haired; stigma peltate, slightly 2-or 3-lobed. Fruit 5–8 x 8–12 mm., transversely ellipsoid, broader than long, slightly didymous and thus appearing as if 2-locular, dry, usually glabrous, red to purplish-brown.
Habitat
In upland rain forest, riverine forest, or rarely solitary in plateau grasslands
Range
from Ghana to Ethiopia, Fernando Po, S. Tomé, Zaire, Uganda to Tanzania, S. Africa, Madagascar and Grand Comore.
Altitude range
1000–2100 m.
2100
1000
Distribution
Mozambique MS Manica Distr., Chimoio, Garuso, st iv 1935, Gilliland 1868 (FHO); Zuira Mts., Tsetsera, fl. 3.iv.1966, Torre & Correia 15659 (COI; EA; K; LISC; LMU).Mozambique Z Gúruè, Lioma, Tetete, source of R. Lucasse, fr., Serrano 31 (LMA).Malawi S PalombeR., fl. 29.iv.1958, Chapman 563 (FHO; K); Blantyre, fl., Buchanan in J. M. Wood Herb. 7022 (PRE; SRGH).Malawi C Dedza Distr., Chongoni, Ciwau, fr. 9.x.1960, Chapman 983 (SRGH); on top of Kalichero, fr. 12.vi.1961, Chapman 1369 (FHO; SRGH).Zimbabwe E Umtali Distr., road to Honde Valley, fl. buds & immat. fr. 5.xi.1948, Chase 1325 (BM; COI; LISC; SRGH); Umtali Commonage, Inyamatshira Mt. range, S. side of the Gomo, fl. 9.ix.1951, Chase 3946 (BM; COI; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Zambia W Chingola, fl. & immat. fr.27.viii.1954, Fanshawe 1505 (FHO; K; SRGH); Solwezi, fr. 23.vii.1964, Fanshawe 8832 (FHO; K).Mozambique N Amaramba, foot of Tchirassulo (“Tshiradzuru”) Mt., fr. 3.x.1858, Kirk (K).Malawi N Matipa Forest Reserve, fr., Chapman 209 (FHO); Nyika Plateau near L. Kaulime, fl 3.ix.1962, Tyrer 792 (BM; SRGH).Zimbabwe C Rusape Distr., fl. 2.xi.1952, Dehn R75/S3 (SRGH); Makoni Distr., Silverbow road 19 km. N. of Rusape, st. iv.1961, Guv 55/61 (SRGH).Zambia N N. side of L. Young, fr. 20.ix.1938, Gremway & TrapneU. 5728 (EA; FHO; K); Mbala (Abercorn), Ndundu, fl.vi.1961, Procter 1883 (EA; K).

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