Entry From
FZ, Vol 1, Part 1, page 104, (1960) Author: N. K. B. Robson
Names
Genus unknown [family ANNONACEAE]
Monodora sp. [family ANNONACEAE], — Oliv., F.T.A. 1: 39, fruct. 2 (1868).
Monodora junodii Engl. & Diels [family ANNONACEAE], in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berl. 2: 301 (1899); in Engl., Mon. Afr. Pflanz. 6: 86, t. 28 fig. D (1901). — Bak. f. in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 40: 18 (1911). — Brenan, T.T.C.L.: 42 (1949). TAB. 16 fig. A. Type: Mozambique, Delagoa Bay, Junod 411 (B†; Z).
Information
Shrub or small tree, (1.2) 2–7 m. high, erect, sometimes virgate. Branches blackish-purple with pale lenticels at first, turning silvery-grey, glabrous. Leaves petiolate; lamina 6.5–16.5 (17.5) x 3–5.5 (7) cm., narrowly oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic-oblong, rounded or obtuse to acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base, usually ± membranous, glabrous, often with a reddish midrib; petiole 1–6 mm. long, blackish, glabrous. Flowers solitary, extra-axillary or in the axils of fallen leaves, pendulous, appearing with the young leaves, scentless; pedicels 0.8–2.0 cm. long (or rarely to 4 cm. long), sparsely pubescent or glabrescent; bracteole 3–9 mm. long, ovate to orbicular, rounded, amplexicaul, glabrescent except for a marginal fringe. Sepals c. 5–10 (14) mm. long, elliptic to ovate or orbicular, obtuse or rounded, sparsely pubescent, spreading, with plane margins, green. Petals yellow or greenish at first, the inner ones with a reddish base, all turning purple-brown, the outer ones 2–3.5 (4.5) x 1.6–2.7 cm., obovate to broadly elliptic or suborbicular, rounded to obtuse or bluntly acuminate, widely spreading with plane margins, sparsely pubescent or puberulous, the inner ones (0.6) 1–1.6 x (0.9) 1.4–2.1 cm., broadly ovate to subhastate, obtuse or rounded to cuspidate, with a claw (0.5) 0.7–1.0 cm. long, erect or ± spreading, pubescent except for the glossy upper side of the claw. Stamens c. 0.5 mm. long, oblong. Ovary c. 0.75 mm. long, globose, sparsely pubescent. Fruit c. 4–5 cm. in diam., ± globose, wrinkled or lightly vertically ridged, mottled green-grey and brown, glabrous, reflexed, on a pedicel c. 1–3 cm. long. Seeds c. 1.5–2 cm. long, ± flattened-ovoid, smooth, yellow-brown.Slender liane up to 12 m. (at least). Leaf-lamina 11.5–13.5 x 4.8–5 cm., obovate, shortly and bluntly acuminate at the apex, rounded at the base, subcoriaceous, glaucous-grey, glabrous, with orange nerves and reticulate venation prominent below; petiole 8 mm. long, stout. Flowers solitary, axillary ?; pedicels 3.8 cm. long, very slender, not broadened upwards. Sepals 2 mm. long, broadly ovate, obtuse, united at the base. Petals 6, in 2 whorls, free, unequal, the outer ones (damaged) much larger, the inner ones, c. 3 mm. long, oblong, obtuse. Stamens and carpels rather numerous. Fruiting carpels 1-seeded, elliptic, sparsely appressed-pubescent, yellow-brown. Seed erect.
Distribution
Mozambique M Lourenço Marques, fl. 6.xii.1897, Schlechter 11630 (BM; COI; E; K).Mozambique GI outskirts of Chibuto, st. 12.ii.1942, Torre 3971 (BM; LISC).Mozambique T R. Shire valley, fl., Waller (K).Mozambique MS Madanda forest, fl. 5.xii.1906, Swynnerton 1765 (K).Zimbabwe S Nuanetsi Distr., rapids on Lundi R., fl. xi.1956, Davies 2199 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe E 27 km. S. of Umtali, 1·6 km. E. of Melsetter road, fl. 30.xi.1952, Chase 4732 (BM; K; SRGH).Zambia W Mwinilunga, fr. 13.x.1955, Holmes 1272 (K).Mozambique N Lurio, Chamba road, fl. 19.x.1948, Andrada 1422 (COI; LISC).Malawi S Ft. Johnston, Nankumba, fl. 19.xi.1954, Jackson 1388 (BM; K).Zimbabwe N Mtoko Distr., Mkota Reserve, fl. 20.ix.1951, Whellan 571 (K; SRGH).
Notes
Throughout the eastern part of the range of M. junodii occasional specimens occur with elliptic-oblong rather than oblanceolate leaves, and relatively long and glabrous pedicels and outer petals. These might be worthy of recognition as a variety, but it has not been possible to make a decision with the material available.The stout petioles of this specimen suggest an affinity with the genus Neostenanthera Exell; but from the very slender pedicels (which are not broadened upwards), and the relatively large sepals it seems more likely to belong to Oxymitra (Bl.) Hook. f. & Thoms. Unfortunately it is not possible to discern whether or not the anthers are septate.