Compilation
Psychotria volkensii

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Name

Identification
Isotype of Psychotria volkensii K.Schum. [family RUBIACEAE ] Psychotria kirkii (K.Schum.) Verdc. [family RUBIACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Verdcourt,B.,
Related name
  • Psychotria swynnertonii
  • Psychotria kaessneri
  • Psychotria griseola
  • Psychotria volkensii
  • Psychotria kirkii
  • Psychotria nigropunctata
  • Psychotria tarambassica

Flora

Entry for PSYCHOTRIA kirkii (K. Schum.) Verdc. var. volkensii [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 kirkii (K. Schum.) Verdc. var. volkensii [family RUBIACEAE], in K.B. 30: 262 (1975). Type: Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, Marangu, Volkens 604 (B, syn.†, K, lecto.!, BM, isolecto.!)
PSYCHOTRIA volkensii K. Schum. [family RUBIACEAE], in P.O.A. C: 390 (1895); De Wild., Pl. Bequaert. 2: 438 (1924); Bremek. in J.B. 71: 280 (1933); T.T.C.L.: 522 (1949); K.T.S.: 467 (1961); Petit in B.J.B.B. 36: 113 (1966) ]
PSYCHOTRIA subhirtella K. Schum. [family RUBIACEAE], P.O.A. C: 390 (1895); De Wild., Pl. Bequaert. 2: 427 (1924). Type: Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, Marangu, Volkens 1455 (B, holo.†, BM, iso.!)
PSYCHOTRIA punctata [family RUBIACEAE], [sensu K. Krause in N.B.G.B. 10: 607 (1929), non Vatke]
PSYCHOTRIA kassneri Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE], in J.B. 71: 278 (1933); K.T.S.: 466 (1961). Types: Kenya, Machakos District, Mukaa, Kassner 923 in part (K, holo.!) & 923 (BM, iso.!)
PSYCHOTRIA kirkii [family RUBIACEAE], [sensu Bremek. in J.B. 71: 280 (1933), quoad syn. P. subhirtella]
Information
Small shrub 0.5–2 m. tall, with stems mostly densely velvety pubescent at least when young. Leaf-blades mostly elliptic or narrowly elliptic, 1.8–7 cm. long, 0.5–3.5 cm. wide, typically 4 × 1.5 cm., usually discolorous, densely pubescent with short hairs above, pale velvety pubescent beneath with longer matted hairs, the margins distinct and often crinkly as in var. nairobiensis; petiole 1–6 mm. long.
Range
DISTR. K1, 4, 6, 7; T1–3, 5–7 not known elsewhere
Altitude range
(300–)660–1800(–2000) m.
Distribution
KENYA S. Mt. Kenya, between Kirimiri and foot of mountain, 27 Feb. 1922, Fries 2096!KENYA Machakos, 1 Jan. 1968, Mwangangi 520!KENYA Teita District Mbololo Hill, 14 Feb. 1953, Bally 8583!TANZANIA Arusha District Engare Nanyuki R. gorge, 1 Nov. 1971, Greenway & Kanuri 14836!TANZANIA Lushoto District W. Usambara Mts., Soni-Baga road, 1 km. SE. of Soni, 8 May 1953, Drummond & Hemsley 2429!TANZANIA Kondoa District Swagaswaga, 10 Jan. 1928, B. D. Burtt 882!
Notes
This is more or less identical with var. nairobiensis except for the usually very dense indumentum but some intermediates occur. The two varieties often occur together. The Kew sheet of Kassner 923 bears three scrappy specimens which were all referred to different ‘species’ by Bremekamp namely P. volkensii, P. nairobiensis and P. kassneri! What is more Dummer 5078 from Mukaa in the same district has a few less hairs than volkensii and a few more than nairobiensis and is referred to P. kirkii. All four are clearly the same species. Other sheets from Tanzania namely Bruce 829 (T6) and Tanner 1176 have been divided by Petit between P. volkensii and P. swynnertonii on apparently nothing but leaf size. He draws attention to this himself and hints that there is some doubt as to the specific distinctness of P. volkensii. Thomas 3917 (Uganda, Kampala, 16 May 1941) cited by Petit as P. volkensii I prefer to refer to var. mucronata. Peter 32607 (Tanzania, Kilosa, open end of Mukondokwa Valley, 28 Nov. 1925), consisting of 5 sterile shoots bearing extremely densely velvety hairy leaves, may be an extreme form of var. volkensii.

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