Entry From
FZ, Vol 1, Part 1, page 194, (1960) Author: H. Wild
Names
Maerua kirkii Oliv. F. White [family CAPPARIDACEAE], in Bol. Soc. Brot., Sér. 2, 32: 33 (1958). Syntypes: Nyasaland, Lake Nyasa, Cape McClear, Kirk (K); Upper ShireR., Mitonda, Kirk (K).
Capparis kirkii Oliv. [family CAPPARIDACEAE], F.T.A. 1: 98 (1868) — Gilg & Bened. in Engl., Bot. Jahrb. 53: 199 (1915). — Brenan, T.T.C.L. 112 (1949). — Hauman & Wilczek, F.C.B. 2: 458 (1951). Syntypes as above.
Information
Evergreen bush or small tree up to 5 m. tall; young branches scabrous-puberulous, sulcate. Leaves simple; lamina 4–12 x 2–5 cm., coriaceous, oblong-obovate, narrowly obovate-oblong or oblanceolate, apex rounded, obtuse or acute, mucronate, narrowed to an obtuse or subcordate base, scabrous-pubescent on both sides, rather shining above, dull below and with the nerves strongly raised, venation strongly reticulate, on puberulous petioles up to 5 mm. long. Flowers numerous in terminal, dense, corymbose racemes; rhachis c. 1 cm. long, pubescent; pedicels up to 3 cm. long, pubescent; bracts 1–2.5 mm. long, subulate, trifid, pilose, persistent. Receptacle 2.0 mm. long, 2.25 mm. wide at the mouth, funnel-shaped, pubescent outside, with a disk at the mouth inside which is rather thick, undulately lobed and 2 mm. long; sepals c. 9 x 5 mm., oblong, concave, rounded at the apex, pubescent on both sides. Petals whitish, c. 0.6 x 3.5 mm., obovate-oblong, rounded at the apex, rounded at the base. Androgynophore exserted from the receptacle, 2.5–3 mm. long. Stamens c. 60 on filaments up to 3 cm. long; anthers 1.3 x 1 mm., broadly oblong. Ovary on a gynophore up to 2.5 cm. long, ovoid; ovules c. 4 on 2 placentas; stigma subsessile, capitate. Fruit up to 1.7 cm. in diam., globose, bluntly apiculate, shining, minutely and smoothly verrucose. Seeds 2–4 c. 1 x 0.5 cm., dark brown, oblong, ellipsoid; testa smooth.
Distribution
Mozambique GI Madanda Forest, fl. ix.1911, Dawe 411 (K).Mozambique MS between Maringuè and Macossa, fl. 30.ix.1949, Pedro & Pedrógão 8432 (LMJ; SRGH).Zimbabwe S Ndanga, fl. 25.vii.1955, Mowbray 52 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe C Gatooma, fr. 2.xi.1929, Jack in GHS 4036 (SRGH).Zambia S Gwembe valley, S. of Masuku Mission, fl. White 2348 (FHO),Zambia C Luangwa-Mpamadzi Junction, fl. 3.x.1933, Michelmore 629 (K).Mozambique N Macondes, between Muêda and Nairoto, fr. 20.ix.1948, Mendonça 1376 (BM; LISC).Malawi S Shire R., Matope Bridge, fl. 30.ix.1937, Lawrence 491 (K).Zimbabwe N Urungwe, Msukwe R., fr. 18.xi.1953, Wild 4185 (K; SRGH).Zambia N Mweru marsh, fl. 24.ix.1937, Trapnell 1790 (K).