Entry From
FZ, Vol 4, Part 0, page 212, (1978) Author: A. Fernandes
Names
Heteropyxis dehniae Suesseng. [family HETEROPYXIDACEAE], in Proc. Trans. Rhod. Sci. Ass. 43: 27 (1951).— Fernandes in Mitt. Bot. Staatss. München 10: 223 (1971).—Martins in Garcia de Orta, Sér. Bot. 3, 1: 51(1976). TAB. 48; TAB. 49. Type: Rhodesia, Marandellas, Dehn 188b (M, holotype).
Information
Tree up to 20 m. tall, with pale bark and pendent foliage, the leaves, young shoots and inflorescences dotted with oil-cavities. Leaf-lamina (3–5)6–14 x (1)2–4 cm., usually broadly lanceolate, sometimes ovate, attenuate at the base into a canali-culate petiole to 1·5–2·5 cm. long and at the apex into an acute tip, membranous to chartaceous, dull green and shining above, light green below, ± patent-pubescent on both surfaces when young, becoming almost glabrous when old; midrib grooved above, very prominent beneath, lateral nerves 2–10 on each side, prominent below, reticulation close and very conspicuous, usually with a gland dot in each mesh. Cymes paniculate, the male panicles larger than the female; rhachis of the inflorescence and pedicels usually densely ± patent-pubescent; bracteoles minute, up to 1·5 mm. long, pilose; pedicels c. 2 mm. long. male flower: receptacle c. 2 x 2·5 mm., ± appressed-pilose and gland-dotted outside; calyx-lobes c. 1 x 1 mm., irregularly semi-circular, gland-dotted; petals 2 x 2 mm., subcircular, very slightly unguiculate, reticulately nerved and gland-dotted; stamens (5–6)7–8(9–10), inserted near the margin of the disk; filaments 2·5–3 mm. long; anthers c. 1 mm. long, the connective with 1–3 glands on the back; disk c. 1 mm. broad, usually densely pubescent; pistillode turbinate, c. 1 x 1 mm., ± wrinkled, gland-dotted and ± pilose; style very short, with a capitate stigma. female flower: perianth as in male; staminodes similar to the stamens but very small (c. 1 mm. long); ovary 3·2 x 1·5 mm., ovoid, gland-dotted and sometimes pilose; style up to 2·5 mm. long, glabrous or patent-pilose; stigma capitate, papillose, reddish. Capsule 3–4 x 2–2·5 mm., ellipsoid, loculicidal, 2(3)-valved, gland-dotted, sometimes pubescent. Seeds slightly curved, the outer ones longer and narrower, 2–3 x 0·5 mm., winged at both ends.
Habitat
Slopes and summits of hills between granite or quartzite rocks, stream-banks, galleries and Brachystegia forest, savanna, bush clumps, etc.
Distribution
Mozambique MS Inyamatshira Mt. Range, male fl. 29.i.1950, Chase 1954 (BM; COI; K; LISC; SRGH); Mossurize, near Espungabera Catholic Mission, fr. 8.vi.1942, Torre 4266 (LISC).Mozambique Z Lioma, south of the Mossolua Mts., female fl. 22.iii.1954, Gomes e Sousa 4248 (COI; K; LISC; LMA; PRE); Gúruè, 24 km. on the road to Lioma, male fl. 25.ii.1966, Torre & Correia 14862 (B; BM; LISC; LUA; LUAI).Malawi S Shire Highlands, male fl. 8.iv.1906, Adamson 317 (BM; K); Shire Highlands, male fl. & fr. s.d., Buchanan 88 (63) (K).Zimbabwe S Chibi, Sibanajene Hills, fr. iii.1955, Davies 1788 (K; LISC; LMA; SRGH); Belingwe near Mnene, male fl. 27.ii.1931, Norlindh & Weimarck 5195 (COI; LD) et female 5192 (COI; LD).Zimbabwe E Umtali Commonage, male fl. iii.1946 & fr. 22.vi.1946, Chase 195 (BM; LISC; SRGH); Umtali, S-eastern slope of Quagga Hill, female fl. 30.i.1955, Chase 5463 (BM; COI; K; LISC; LMA; SRGH).Zimbabwe C Gwelo, Salemore Farm, male fl. 10.ii.1950, Harvie 7/50 (SRGH); Domboshawa, fr. 16.ii.1947, Wild 1666 (BM; EA; SRGH).Zimbabwe W Farm Besna Kobila, male fl. i.1953, Miller 1489 (K; SRGH); female fl. xii.1953, Miller 2029 (K; LISC; SRGH); fr. iv.1954. Miller 2116 (K; LISC; SRGH).Mozambique N Ribáuè Mt. (Melapuè), male fl. 23.iii.1964, Torre & Paiva 11343 (BR; LISC; LMU; P; PRE).Malawi C Dedza, road to Sosola Rest House, Mua-Livulezi Forest, st. 22.iii.1962, Adlard 456 (SRGH).Zimbabwe N Mazoe, Iron Mask Hill, 1320–1500 m., male fl. i.1915, Eyles 607 (BM; K; PRE; SRGH).