Flora of Cameroon - Annonaceae Vol 45 Author Couvreur, Thomas L. P. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8509-6587 IRD, DIADE, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France & Universite de Yaounde I, Ecole Normale Superieure, Departement des Sciences Biologiques, Laboratoire de Botanique systematique et d'Ecologie, B. P. 047, Yaounde, Cameroon & Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Botany Section, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands thomas.couvreur@ird.fr Author Dagallier, Leo-Paul M. J. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3270-1544 IRD, DIADE, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France Author Crozier, Francoise IRD, DIADE, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France Author Ghogue, Jean-Paul Universite de Yaounde I, Ecole Normale Superieure, Departement des Sciences Biologiques, Laboratoire de Botanique systematique et d'Ecologie, B. P. 047, Yaounde, Cameroon & Green Connexion, Environmental Group, siege face GP Melen, a cote de l'immeuble Palais des verres. Yaounde, Cameroun Author Hoekstra, Paul H. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Botany Section, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands Author Kamdem, Narcisse G. Universite de Yaounde I, Ecole Normale Superieure, Departement des Sciences Biologiques, Laboratoire de Botanique systematique et d'Ecologie, B. P. 047, Yaounde, Cameroon Author Johnson, David M. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2896-7419 Department of Botany-Microbiology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, 43015, USA Author Murray, Nancy A. Department of Botany-Microbiology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, 43015, USA Author Sonke, Bonaventure https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4310-3603 Universite de Yaounde I, Ecole Normale Superieure, Departement des Sciences Biologiques, Laboratoire de Botanique systematique et d'Ecologie, B. P. 047, Yaounde, Cameroon text PhytoKeys 2022 2022-09-20 207 1 532 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.207.61432 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.207.61432 1314-2003-207-1 29CD4EF8FB525DBAA022DF25CDB649C9 Letestudoxa bella Pellegr., Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 26: 655, 1920 Figs 42 , 43 ; Map 5I = Letestudoxa grandifolia Pellegr., Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 26: 656, 1920. Type. Gabon. Nyanga, Ilou Micongo, Le Testu G.M.P.C. 1442 , 4 Nov 1908: holotype: P[P00364780]; isotype: BM[BM000546387]. = Pachypodanthium simiarum Exell & Mendonca , J. Bot. 74 (Suppl.): 14, 1936. Type. Angola. Maiombe, Belize, Gossweiler J. 6971 , 16 Fev 1917: holotype: BM[BM000067635]; isotypes: COI[COI00004878]; LISC[LISC000102, LISC000101, LISC000098, LISC000099, LISC000100]. Type . Gabon . Nyanga ; Midounga, near Tchibanga, Le Testu G.M.P.C. 1637, 24 Oct 1910: holotype : P[P00364779]; isotype: BM[BM000546388] . Description. Liana, 16-40 m tall, d.b.h. up to 4 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent. Indumentum of simple hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches densely pubescent. Leaves: petiole 3-10 mm long, 1-4 mm in diameter, pubescent to glabrous, slightly grooved, blade inserted on top of the petiole; blade 5-18 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, elliptic to obovate , apex acuminate to emarginate, acumen 0.5-1 cm long, base rounded to cordate, coriaceous, below densely pubescent when young, densely pubescent when old, above glabrous when young and old, concolorous; midrib sunken or flat, above glabrous when young and old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 12 to 20 pairs, pubescent below; tertiary venation percurrent to indistinct. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on old leafless branches, extra axillary. Flowers with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, 1 per inflorescence; pedicel 3-6 mm long, 1-3 mm in diameter, pubescent; in fruit 3-7 mm long, 1-3 mm in diameter, pubescent; bracts 2, one basal and one upper towards the lower half of pedicel, basal bract 5-7 mm long, 3-5 mm wide; upper bract 6-12 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, not clasping the flower bud ; sepals 3, valvate, completely fused, tearing at anthesis, 10-20 mm long, base truncate, brown, densely pubescent outside, densely pubescent inside, margins flat; petals free, outer petals longer than inner; outer petals 3, 30-55 mm long, 15-55 mm wide, ovate, apex acute, base attenuate, yellow to orange with pinkish margins, margins crisped, densely pubescent outside, pubescent inside; inner petals 3, imbricate, 15-30 mm long, 10-25 mm wide, elliptic to ovate, apex acute, base attenuate to acute, yellow to orange with red marginal zone, margins wavy, densely pubescent outside, pubescent inside; stamens numerous, 2-3 mm long, broad; connective flattened, pubescent, red; staminodes absent; carpels free, around 175, ovary ca. 2 mm long, stigma capitate, pubescent. Fruit pseudosyncarpous , ca. 45 mm long, ca. 50 mm in diameter in total, globose; individual carpels sessile, 125 to 150 carpels, obovoid to obtrulloid, apex rounded to apiculate, sparsely pubescent, 6 to 7 ribbed, green turning red when ripe; seed 1 per monocarp, 15-16 mm long, 4-8 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril present, light brown. Figure 42. Letestudoxa lanuginosa A flowering branch, with one open flower and one flower bud, note sepals completely fused B detail of lower side of leaf blade showing dense pubescence C flower, bottom view D stamens, side and front views E carpels, note long elongated stigma F longitudinal section of receptacle G flower diagram. Letestudoxa bella H detail of lower side of leaf blade showing pubescence I flower bud, note sepals completely fused A-G from Le Testu 9320 ; 8-9 from Le Testu 8362 . Drawings by Helene Lamourdedieu, Publications Scientifiques du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; modified from Le Thomas (1969b , pl. 17, p. 99). Distribution. Known from Angola, Cameroon to Gabon and in the Republic of Congo; in Cameroon known from the South region. Habitat. Growing in lowland primary and secondary rain forests. Altitude 50-750 m a.s.l. Local and common names known in Cameroon. None recorded. IUCN conservation status. Not evaluated. Uses in Cameroon. None reported. Notes. Letestudoxa bella is characterized by its mostly elliptic leaves (sometimes obovate too) which are generally smaller (5-18 cm) than those of L. lanuginosa (15-28 cm). In addition, in fresh material, L. lanuginosa has a bullate upper surface (versus a more leathery smooth upper surface in L. bella ). In flower, L. lanuginosa is characterized by the upper bract clasping the flower bud, which is not the case in L. bella . Specimens examined. South Region : 26 km E of confluent Ntem River and Akom River near Ebolowa , 2.29°N , 11.86°E , 05 March 1970 , Letouzey R. 10097 (BR,P,P,YA); Tom (Nyabessan), 2.43°N , 10.52°E , 04 March 1963 , Raynal J. 10195 (P,YA) .