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Chasmanthera dependens Hochst. [family MENISPERMACEAE]

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 1, Part 1, page 150, (1960) Author: G. Troupin
Names
Chasmanthera dependens Hochst. [family MENISPERMACEAE], in Flora, 27: 21 (1844). — Oliv., F.T.A. 1: 41 (1868). — Diels in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV, 94: 152, fig. 51 A–F & J–M (1910). — Troupin in Keay, F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 1: 74 (1954). — Cufod. in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 24, suppl.: 115 (1954). — Troupin, F.T.E.A. Menisperm.: 17 (1956). TAB. 20 Type from Ethiopia.
Information
Liane; mature branches with flaking bark; young branchlets densely pubescent. Leaf-lamina 7–20 cm. long and wide, clearly cordate at base, acuminate or subobtuse at apex, membranous to subpapyraceous, silky-tomentellous when young, later pubescent, basal nerves 5–7, palmate, petiole 7–14 cm. long. Male inflorescences 10–30 cm. long, 1.5–2 cm. wide; pedicels 3–6 mm. long; bracts linear-filiform, pubescent or subtomentellous. Male flowers with lanceolate outer sepals 1.5–2 x 0.5–1 mm.; inner sepals 2.5–3.5 x 1.5–2 mm., obovate with a tuft of hairs at the apex and sometimes also down the median line outside; petals subequal, 2–2.5 x 1.5–2 mm., obovate, glabrous; stamens 2.5–3 mm. long. Female inflorescences 10–18 cm. long. Female flowers with staminodes about 1 mm. long; carpels 1.8–2 mm. long, ± united at the apex by the stigma. Drupelets up to 2 x 1.2 cm. Seeds 1–1.8 cm. long.
Habitat
Lowland rain-forest, riverine forest, and in drier country on termite hills, near rock outcrops and in dried-up water-courses
Range
Widely spread from Sierra Leone east to Somaliland and south to Tanganyika, the eastern Belgian Congo and N. Rhodesia.
Altitude range
800–1500 m. 1500 800
Distribution
Zambia N Abercorn Distr., Kambole Escarpment, fl. 2.i.1955, Richards 3868 (K).
Notes
C. welwitschii Troupin of the rain-forests and riverine forests of the Congo Basin is closely related to this species. It differs in the longer inflorescences and the stiffer and fewer hairs. The two species appear to be ecologically distinct.

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 1, Part 1, page 150, (1960) Author: G. Troupin
Names
Chasmanthera dependens Hochst. [family MENISPERMACEAE], in Flora, 27: 21 (1844). — Oliv., F.T.A. 1: 41 (1868). — Diels in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV, 94: 152, fig. 51 A–F & J–M (1910). — Troupin in Keay, F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 1 1: 74 (1954). — Cufod. in Bull. Jard. Bot. Brux. 24, suppl.: 115 (1954). — Troupin, F.T.E.A. Menisperm.: 17 (1956). TAB. 20 Type from Ethiopia.
Information
Liane; mature branches with flaking bark; young branchlets densely pubescent. Leaf-lamina 7–20 cm. long and wide, clearly cordate at base, acuminate or subobtuse at apex, membranous to subpapyraceous, silky-tomentellous when young, later pubescent, basal nerves 5–7, palmate, petiole 7–14 cm. long. Male inflorescences 10–30 cm. long, 1.5–2 cm. wide; pedicels 3–6 mm. long; bracts linear-filiform, pubescent or subtomentellous. Male flowers with lanceolate outer sepals 1.5–2 x 0.5–1 mm.; inner sepals 2.5–3.5 x 1.5–2 mm., obovate with a tuft of hairs at the apex and sometimes also down the median line outside; petals subequal, 2–2.5 x 1.5–2 mm., obovate, glabrous; stamens 2.5–3 mm. long. Female inflorescences 10–18 cm. long. Female flowers with staminodes about 1 mm. long; carpels 1.8–2 mm. long, ± united at the apex by the stigma. Drupelets up to 2 x 1.2 cm. Seeds 1–1.8 cm. long.
Habitat
Lowland rain-forest, riverine forest, and in drier country on termite hills, near rock outcrops and in dried-up water-courses
Range
Widely spread from Sierra Leone east to Somaliland and south to Tanganyika, the eastern Belgian Congo and N. Rhodesia.
Altitude range
800–1500 m. 1500 800
Distribution
Zambia N Abercorn Distr., Kambole Escarpment, fl. 2.i.1955, Richards 3868 (K).
Notes
C. welwitschii Troupin of the rain-forests and riverine forests of the Congo Basin is closely related to this species. It differs in the longer inflorescences and the stiffer and fewer hairs. The two species appear to be ecologically distinct.
Chasmanthera dependens Hochst. [family MENISPERMACEAE]
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