Compilation
Psychotria megistosticta

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Name

Identification
Psychotria megistosticta (S.Moore) E.M.A.Petit [family RUBIACEAE ] (stored under name); Psychotria mahonii C.H.Wright [family RUBIACEAE ] Verified by Verdcourt,B., Grumilea punicea S.Moore [family RUBIACEAE ]
Related name
  • Grumilea punicea
  • Grumilea macrantha
  • Grumilea megistosticta
  • Psychotria mahonii
  • Grumilea succulenta
  • Grumilea kirkii
  • Psychotria megistosticta

Flora

Entry for PSYCHOTRIA mahonii (Petit) Verdc. var. puberula [family RUBIACEAE]
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, (1976) Author: B. VERDCOURT
Names
PSYCHOTRIA mahonii (Petit) Verdc. var. puberula [family RUBIACEAE], in K.B. 30: 253 (1975). Type: Tanzania, Njombe District, Ruhudji R., Lupembe, Schlieben 1168A (BR, holo.!, BM, K, iso.!)
Grumilea macrantha K. Schum. [family RUBIACEAE], in E.J. 28: 102 (1899); De Wild. in B.J.B.B. 9: 42 (1923). Type: Malawi, Mt. Malosa (‘Matosa’), Whyte (B, holo. †, ?K, iso.!), non Psychotria macrantha Muell. Arg.
Grumilea megistosticta S. Moore [family RUBIACEAE], in J.L.S. 38: 256 (1908); De Wild. in B.J.B.B. 9: 42 (1923); I.T.U., ed. 2: 346 (1952). Type: Uganda, Ruwenzori, Wollaston (BM, holo.!)
Grumilea punicea S. Moore [family RUBIACEAE], in J.L.S. 40: 101 (1911); De Wild. in B.J.B.B. 9: 45 (1923); Goodier & Phipps in Kirkia 1: 64 (1961). Type: Rhodesia, Chimanimani Mts., Swynnerton 563 (BM, holo.!, K, iso.!)
Psychotria ficoidea K. Krause [family RUBIACEAE], in Z.A.E.: 336 (1911); De Wild., Pl. Bequaert. 2: 365 (1924); F.P.N.A. 2: 365 (1947). Types: Zaire, Ruwenzori, Butagu valley, Mildbraed 2493 (B, syn. †) & Rwanda, Sabinyo Mt. Forest, Mildbraed 1729 (B, syn. †, BR, fragment) & Rugege Forest, Mildbraed 1019 (B, syn. †, BR, fragment)
Grumilea bequaertii De Wild. [family RUBIACEAE], in B.J.B.B. 9: 28 (1923) & Pl. Bequaert. 2: 453 (1924); F.P.N.A. 2: 366 (1947); K.T.S.: 443 (1961). Types: Zaire, Kivu, Butagu, Bequaert 3618 & Lamia, Bequaert 4308 & Ruwenzori, Bequaert, (BR, syn.)
Grumilea sp. [family RUBIACEAE], sensu I.T.U., ed. 2: 346 (1952)
Psychotria megistosticta (S. Moore) Petit [family RUBIACEAE], in B.J.B.B. 34: 112, t. 3, photo. 3/F (1964) & in Distr. Pl. Afr. 5, map 129 (1973)
Psychotria megistosticta Petit var. puberula [family RUBIACEAE], in B.J.B.B. 34: 116 (1964)
Psychotria megistosticta (S. Moore) Petit var. punicea [family RUBIACEAE], in B.J.B.B. 34: 117 (1964)
Information
Leaf-blades mostly smaller, 3–16 cm. long, 1.5–9 cm. wide, with 8–13 pairs of lateral nerves. Fig. 3, p. 59.
Range
DISTR. U2, 4; K3–5; T1, 4, 6, 7
Altitude range
1230–2700 m.
Distribution
KENYA Elgeyo Forest, Gardner 1398a!KENYA S. Mt. Kenya, Wimbush 1513!KENYA Kiambu District Limuru, near Girls’ High School, 26 Mar. 1961, Polhill 366!TANZANIA Mpanda District below summit of Kungwe Mt., 7 Sept. 1959, Harley 9551!TANZANIA Iringa District Ihangana Forest Reserve, near Kibengu, 14 Feb. 1962, Polhill & Paulo 1470!TANZANIA Rungwe Forest Reserve, Feb. 1954, Semsei 1616!UGANDA Toro District Ruwenzori, Nyinabitaba, Aug. 1933, Eggeling 1359! & Bwamba Pass, 22 Sept. 1932, A.S. Thomas 692!UGANDA Kigezi District Kachwekano Farm, Jan. 1950, Purseglove 3220!
Distribution (external)
Zaire
Rwanda
Malawi
Zambia
Rhodesia
Notes
Petit has divided this species into three varieties, var. megistosticta with glabrous flowers and var. puberula and var. punicea both with tomentose or pubescent flowers. In Uganda and Kenya specimens with glabrous or ± glabrous flowers occur, whereas nearly all specimens from Tanzania, particularly in the south, have densely tomentose or pubescent flowers. Specimens cited as var. megistosticta, e.g. Eggeling 1359, have flowers just as tomentose as other Uganda specimens referred to var. puberula. In the Mbeya area specimens from the same place, Mbozi, which are clearly quite identical have been annotated differently, e.g. Jessel 68, annotated var. punicea, and St. Clair-Thompson 1071, annotated as var. puberula. The variation is complicated and only partly correlated geographically. I am therefore not formally recognising these varieties. Those who wish could refer any southern plants with densely pubescent flowers to var. punicea, glabrous flowered or with only the corolla tube slightly papillate-pubescent to a var. megistosticta and papillate-pubescent flowered plants to var. puberula. Lucas & Polhill 77 (Kenya, Kiambu District, Gatamayu Forest, 30 Mar. 1961) bears the “divided and undivided stipules present”.

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