Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (1976) Author: B. VERDCOURT
Names
PSYCHOTRIA alsophila K. Schum. [family RUBIACEAE], in P.O.A. C: 390 (1895); De Wild., Pl. Bequaert. 2: 331 (1924); Bremek. in J.B. 71: 280 (1933); T.T.C.L.: 524 (1949); Petit in B.J.B.B. 36: 128 (1966). Type: Tanzania, W. Usambara Mts., Kwa Mshuza, Holst 9065 (B, syn. †, HBG, lecto., BR, K, P, isolecto.!)
PSYCHOTRIA eickii K. Schum. & K. Krause [family RUBIACEAE], in E.J. 39: 555 (1907); De Wild., Pl. Bequaert. 2: 364 (1924); Bremek. in J.B. 71: 280 (1933); T.T.C.L.: 524 (1949). Types: Tanzania, W. Usambara Mts., near Kwai, Eick 127 & 330 (both B, syn.†)
Information
Shrub (0.9–)1.2–3 m. tall or rarely a small tree up to 6 m. tall; stems glabrous, narrowly 2-ribbed in the dry state. Leaf-blades drying blackish, narrowly elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 2–12 cm. long, 0.6–4.5 cm. wide, subacute or narrowly rounded at the apex, cuneate at the base, glabrous on both surfaces, rather coriaceous; lateral nerves usually inconspicuous but midrib very prominent beneath; nodules conspicuous and raised, 0.5–1(–3) mm. long, scattered in the lamina but particularly along the midrib; petiole 0.1–0.5(–1.5) cm. long, glabrous. Stipules red-brown with 2 acuminate lobes; base ovate-triangular, 3–4 mm. long, the lobes linear 1–4 mm. long, the base glabrous or hairy with chestnut-coloured hairs on the margins or ± erose. Flowers heterostylous, 5-merous, in 2–3-branched panicles, each branch congested and subcapitate, 8 mm. long; peduncles 1–4 cm. long and secondary branches 3–8 mm. long, both glabrous, sometimes ± ribbed; bracts small; pedicels 0–3(–5 in fruit) mm. long, glabrous. Calyx glabrous; tube ovoid, ± 1 mm. long; limb cupuliform, ± 0.75 mm. long, the margin subtruncate or ± dentate, the teeth minute. Corolla white, glabrous outside and inside; tube 4–7 mm. long; lobes ovate-elliptic, 2.75–3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide. Stamens with filaments 1.75–4.5 mm. long in short-styled flowers, ± 0.5 mm. long in long-styled flowers. Style 5–7.5 mm. long in long-styled flowers, 2–3.5 mm. long in short-styled flowers; stigma-lobes 0.3–0.7 mm. long. Drupes red, with 2 pyrenes, subglobose, 6.5–7.5 mm. diameter, glabrous; pyrenes 5 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide, 3.2 mm. thick. Seeds blackish, subglobose, 4.5 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide, 2.7 mm. thick, with a median fissure on the ventral face; endosperm slightly or scarcely ruminate.
Distribution
KENYA Teita Hills, Ngangao Forest, 4 May 1972, Faden et al. 72/213!TANZANIA Moshi District Narumuru [Naremura], Jan. 1956, Carmichael 540!TANZANIA Lushoto District W. Usambara Mts., Mtai-Malindi road, near Kidologwai, 19 May 1953, Drummond & Hemsley 2660! & W. Usambara Mts., Mkusi, Goose Green, 28 Dec. 1950, Greenway 8487! & Mazumbai, 9 May 1953, Drummond & Hemsley 2450!
Notes
The quite extensive W. Usambara material seen is very uniform but the material from T2 is not identical, all having broader more elliptic leaf-blades with the lateral nerves much more obvious or even drying whitish. F.S. Wilson 35 (Tanzania, N. Pares, Same, Kiverenge, 25 Feb. 1957) not only has broader leaves but is a tree to 6 m. whereas W. Usambara plants never exceed 3 m. These T2 plants would really seem almost as distinct from P. alsophila as that is from P. petiginosa.