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Mimusops obtusifolia Lam. [family SAPOTACEAE]

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 7, Part 1, page 210, (1983) Author: F. K. Kupicha
Names
Mimusops zeyheri [family SAPOTACEAE], sensu A. Meeuse in Bothalia 7: 361 (1960); in Fl. Southern Afr.26: 47 (1963). — Sensu Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Moçamb. 2: 624 (1967), pro parte quoad syn. M. kirkii, non Sonder. Mimusops obtusifolia Lam. [family SAPOTACEAE], Encycl. Méth., Bot. ± 186 (1797), excl. syn. Type a specimen at P., without indication of locality or collector. Mimusops fruticosa A.DC. [family SAPOTACEAE], in DC., Prodr. 8: 202 (1844). — Baker in F.T.A. 3: 508 (1877). — Engl., Mon. Afr.Pflanzen. 8: 66, t. 23 fig. B (1904). — Dubard in Ann. Mus. Col. Marseille, Sér. 3, 3: 50, fig. 18 (1915). — J. H. Hemsley in F.T.E.A., Sapotaceae: 53, fig. 11 (1968). — R. B. Drumm. in Kirkia 10: 266 (1975). — Hall–Martin in Kirkia 12:175 (1980). Type from E. Africa. Mimusops kirkii Baker [family SAPOTACEAE], tom. cit.: 507(1877). Syntypes from Mozambique: Lower Shire Valley, Shamo, Kirk (K, four gatherings). Mimusops busseana Engl. [family SAPOTACEAE], op. cit,: 79 (1904). Type from Tanzania/Mozambique border. Mimusops kilimanensis Engl. [family SAPOTACEAE], op. cit.: 67 (1904). Type: Mozambique, Zambezia, near Quelimane (Kilimane), Puguruni, Stuhlmann 1007 (B, holotype†; HBG, isotype).
Information
Many–stemmed shrub, or tree, 1·5–20 m. tall; bark rough; crown (in large specimens) hemispherical. Young stems appressed brownish pubescent, soon glabrescent; bark of older twigs grey, finely longitudinally fissured and wrinkled. Leaves 3·5–9·5 x 2·2–7 cm., elliptic, broadly elliptic, obovate or suborbicular; apex rounded, often slightly emarginate or apiculate, base acute; petiole 1·3–4 cm. long. Upper leaf surface glossy, usually with prominent midrib and vein reticulation but sometimes the latter obscured by the thick leathery cuticle, glabrous.,Lower surface mat, with prominent midrib and level or raised reticulation, glabrous or sparsely greyish appressed–pubescent. Flowers sweetly scented, in axillary fascicles of 1–3; pedicels 8–20 mm. long, lengthening considerably from bud to fruit. Calyx up to 9 mm. long. Corolla up to 8·5 mm. long, white, cream–coloured or pale pink; lateral segments narrowly triangular or lanceolate, median segment elliptic with narrow attachment, longer or shorter than laterals; tube c. 1 mm. long. Anthers 2·5–3 mm. long. Staminodes longer or shorter than stamens. Gynoecium c. 10 mm. long. Fruit up to 2·5 cm. long, edible, plum–shaped, 1–5(6)–seeded, with brittle orange or red epicarp; fruiting calyx spreading to reflexed. Seed up to 2 cm. long.
Habitat
In riverine forest, in coastal scrub, on termitaria.
Range
Coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania
Altitude range
100 0 inferred from habitat
Distribution
Mozambique M Magude, between Mapulanguene and Rio dos Elefantes, fl. 29.i.1948, Torre 7236 (BR; LISC; MO; WAG).Mozambique GI Gaza, Canicado, 18 km. from Mabalane (Vila Pinto Teixeira) to Combomune, fr. 21.viii.1969, Correia & Marques 1105 (COI; LMU; PRE; SRGH).Mozambique MS Sofala Prov., Chiniziua, fr. 17.iv.1957, Gomes e Sousa 4365 (COI; FHO; K; LISC; LMU; PRE).Mozambique T margin of R. Zambesi, 7 km. W. of Tete, fl. 20.xi.1965, Neves Rosa 126 (LISC; LMA).Mozambique Z Namagoa, fl. x–xii, 1944, Faulkner 56 (BM; COI; K; PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe S Ndanga Distr., Chitsa’s Kraal, fl. 5.vi.1950, Chase 2338 (BM; COI; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Mozambique N Nampula area, Mureveia, Chefe Niaro, fl. 22.xi.1948, Andrada 1470 (COI; LISC; LMA).Malawi S Chikwawa Distr., Lengwe Game Reserve, 200 m., st. 18.viii.1970, Hall–Martin 928 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe E Chipinga Distr., Dinde R., fl. 28.ix.1958, Phelps 265 (K; LISC; SRGH).
Distribution (external)
S. Africa (N. Transvaal) Comoro Is. Madagascar
Notes
After his detailed description of M. obtusifolia, Lamarck cited a specimen from Mauritius, collected by Joseph Martin. The specimen identified in Paris as the type of this species, however, has no locality or collector. M. obtusifolia is not known from Mauritius (Dr. H. Heine, pers. comm.), and it is possible that the description was based on a cultivated plant which came originally from E. Africa. This seems the more likely since A. Oe Candolle based his description of M.fruticosa (syn. M. obtusifolia) on a Bojer specimen cultivated in Mauritius but originating from E. Africa. I am most grateful to Dr. Heine for his help in typifying this species. M. obtusifolia varies throughout its range in respect to the relative lengths of petiole and pedicel. In material from the F.Z. area the petioles are longer than pedicels, whereas further north the pedicels usually exceed the petioles (cf. J. H, Hemsley in F.T.E.A,, Sapotaceae: 53, fig. 11, 1968). The leaves of M. obtusifolia are usually relatively broader and more rounded at the apex than shown in this figure.

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 7, Part 1, page 210, (1983) Author: F. K. Kupicha
Names
Mimusops zeyheri [family SAPOTACEAE], sensu A. Meeuse in Bothalia 7: 361 (1960); in Fl. Southern Afr.26: 47 (1963). — Sensu Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Moçamb. 2: 624 (1967), pro parte quoad syn. M. kirkii, non Sonder. Mimusops obtusifolia Lam. [family SAPOTACEAE], Encycl. Méth., Bot. ± 186 (1797), excl. syn. Type a specimen at P., without indication of locality or collector. Mimusops fruticosa A.DC. [family SAPOTACEAE], in DC., Prodr. 8: 202 (1844). — Baker in F.T.A. 3: 508 (1877). — Engl., Mon. Afr.Pflanzen. 8: 66, t. 23 fig. B (1904). — Dubard in Ann. Mus. Col. Marseille, Sér. 3, 3: 50, fig. 18 (1915). — J. H. Hemsley in F.T.E.A., Sapotaceae: 53, fig. 11 (1968). — R. B. Drumm. in Kirkia 10: 266 (1975). — Hall–Martin in Kirkia 12:175 (1980). Type from E. Africa. Mimusops kirkii Baker [family SAPOTACEAE], tom. cit.: 507(1877). Syntypes from Mozambique: Lower Shire Valley, Shamo, Kirk (K, four gatherings). Mimusops busseana Engl. [family SAPOTACEAE], op. cit,: 79 (1904). Type from Tanzania/Mozambique border. Mimusops kilimanensis Engl. [family SAPOTACEAE], op. cit.: 67 (1904). Type: Mozambique, Zambezia, near Quelimane (Kilimane), Puguruni, Stuhlmann 1007 (B, holotype†; HBG, isotype).
Information
Many–stemmed shrub, or tree, 1·5–20 m. tall; bark rough; crown (in large specimens) hemispherical. Young stems appressed brownish pubescent, soon glabrescent; bark of older twigs grey, finely longitudinally fissured and wrinkled. Leaves 3·5–9·5 x 2·2–7 cm., elliptic, broadly elliptic, obovate or suborbicular; apex rounded, often slightly emarginate or apiculate, base acute; petiole 1·3–4 cm. long. Upper leaf surface glossy, usually with prominent midrib and vein reticulation but sometimes the latter obscured by the thick leathery cuticle, glabrous.,Lower surface mat, with prominent midrib and level or raised reticulation, glabrous or sparsely greyish appressed–pubescent. Flowers sweetly scented, in axillary fascicles of 1–3; pedicels 8–20 mm. long, lengthening considerably from bud to fruit. Calyx up to 9 mm. long. Corolla up to 8·5 mm. long, white, cream–coloured or pale pink; lateral segments narrowly triangular or lanceolate, median segment elliptic with narrow attachment, longer or shorter than laterals; tube c. 1 mm. long. Anthers 2·5–3 mm. long. Staminodes longer or shorter than stamens. Gynoecium c. 10 mm. long. Fruit up to 2·5 cm. long, edible, plum–shaped, 1–5(6)–seeded, with brittle orange or red epicarp; fruiting calyx spreading to reflexed. Seed up to 2 cm. long.
Habitat
In riverine forest, in coastal scrub, on termitaria.
Range
Coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania
Altitude range
100 0 inferred from habitat
Distribution
Mozambique M Magude, between Mapulanguene and Rio dos Elefantes, fl. 29.i.1948, Torre 7236 (BR; LISC; MO; WAG).Mozambique GI Gaza, Canicado, 18 km. from Mabalane (Vila Pinto Teixeira) to Combomune, fr. 21.viii.1969, Correia & Marques 1105 (COI; LMU; PRE; SRGH).Mozambique MS Sofala Prov., Chiniziua, fr. 17.iv.1957, Gomes e Sousa 4365 (COI; FHO; K; LISC; LMU; PRE).Mozambique T margin of R. Zambesi, 7 km. W. of Tete, fl. 20.xi.1965, Neves Rosa 126 (LISC; LMA).Mozambique Z Namagoa, fl. x–xii, 1944, Faulkner 56 (BM; COI; K; PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe S Ndanga Distr., Chitsa’s Kraal, fl. 5.vi.1950, Chase 2338 (BM; COI; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Mozambique N Nampula area, Mureveia, Chefe Niaro, fl. 22.xi.1948, Andrada 1470 (COI; LISC; LMA).Malawi S Chikwawa Distr., Lengwe Game Reserve, 200 m., st. 18.viii.1970, Hall–Martin 928 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe E Chipinga Distr., Dinde R., fl. 28.ix.1958, Phelps 265 (K; LISC; SRGH).
Distribution (external)
S. Africa (N. Transvaal) Comoro Is. Madagascar
Notes
After his detailed description of M. obtusifolia, Lamarck cited a specimen from Mauritius, collected by Joseph Martin. The specimen identified in Paris as the type of this species, however, has no locality or collector. M. obtusifolia is not known from Mauritius (Dr. H. Heine, pers. comm.), and it is possible that the description was based on a cultivated plant which came originally from E. Africa. This seems the more likely since A. Oe Candolle based his description of M.fruticosa (syn. M. obtusifolia) on a Bojer specimen cultivated in Mauritius but originating from E. Africa. I am most grateful to Dr. Heine for his help in typifying this species. M. obtusifolia varies throughout its range in respect to the relative lengths of petiole and pedicel. In material from the F.Z. area the petioles are longer than pedicels, whereas further north the pedicels usually exceed the petioles (cf. J. H, Hemsley in F.T.E.A,, Sapotaceae: 53, fig. 11, 1968). The leaves of M. obtusifolia are usually relatively broader and more rounded at the apex than shown in this figure.
Mimusops obtusifolia Lam. [family SAPOTACEAE]
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