Ancistrocladus ileboensis
Diagnosis
Species nova habitu affi nis Ancistrocladus congolensis, sed differt ramis lateralibus cum uncis circinatis, foliis rosulatis ramorum lateralium angustioribus 2.5–5 cm, venis secundariis paribus 14–20(–30) dispositis, fl oribus minoribus, petalis rubris 2.2–3.0 × 2.1–3.0 mm, staminibus 10 in verticillos duos dispositis, inaequalibus, externis 1.4–1.7 mm longis, internis 0.9–1.2 mm, fructibus cum sepalis tenuibus, inaequalibus, majoribus spathulatis 32 × 11 mm, minoribus oblongis spathulatis 18 × 6 mm, seminis diametro 3–4 mm. A speciebus Ancistrocladus ealaensis atque A. likoko numero stylorum (1 non 3) discrepat.
Habitat
The species occurs mainly in dry land forest at
altitudes of 420 to 465 m, also in secondary forests, with clay soils.
altitudes of 420 to 465 m, also in secondary forests, with clay soils.
Description
Liana climbing in trees, bark of adult stems purplish-grey, smooth to longitudinally fissured, lateral branchlets each bearing 1-2 circinate hooks. Older saplings leaves 17–35 × 2.5–5.5 cm crowded at the end of the shoot, sessile, ellipticobovate, at apex obtuse to subacute, at base narrowly cuneate, pseudopetiolate, midrib prominent beneath, secondary veins 14–20(–30) pairs, veins finely reticulate, prominulous on both surfaces, about 2–10 oblong or circular glands distributed 3–10 mm from the margin and along the midrib on the lower surface, small pits rather densely distributed on both surfaces, large pits 0.8–1.1(–1.4) mm diameter, circular, occasional and scattered on both surfaces. Leaves drying discolorous, dark green-brown above, somewhat lighter brown beneath, small pits scattered on both surfaces. Leaves at branchlet apices near inflorescences 9–25 × 2.5–5.0 cm, sessile, elliptic-oblong, apex obtuse to acuminate, otherwise as described for the saplings leaves.
Inflorescence paniculate, lateral or subterminal among leaves at apices of branchlets, these bearing 2–3 hooks, without bractal leaves. Cyme emerging from a leaf rosette, lax, branched portion corymbiform, 6–10 × 6–13 cm, 3–4 times dichotomously branched, bearing 30–60 fl owers. Peduncle 2–4 cm long (part to first branching point). Pedicels 3–4 mm long, weakly articulated near the base. Bracts small, ovate, 1.2–1.6 mm long, at apex acute.
Flowers all pedicellate, 5-merous, small, 6.8–8.5 mm in diameter at anthesis. Sepals 5, pale green, slightly unequal, reflexed at anthesis, oblong to spathulate, straight at base, rounded at apex, shortly decurrent on ovary, with fine-reticulate venation, 2.4–3.9 × 1.9–2.4 mm, fleshy, glabrous, cuneate, two sepals of each flower abaxially with 0–2 cup-shaped to crateriform, often paired glands, calyx lobes somewhat longer as corolla, persistent and much enlarged in fruit. Petals 5, free, bright red, glabrous, convolute, 2.2–3.0 × 2.1–3.0 mm, suborbicular, convex, thickened towards base. Stamens 10, apparently in two whorls, alternately inequal, longer stamens (inner whorl) 1.4–1.7 mm long, shorter stamens
0.9–1.2 mm long, filaments fleshy, broadened at whole
length, anthers 0.4–0.5 mm with thecae clearly separated by the connective. Ovary mostly semi-inferior, upper part superior, conical, styles 3, stout, red, 1.2–1.6 mm long, stigma circular.
Fruit turbinate, nut, brown, persistent sepals spreading,
papery-coriaceous, upper surface glossy, unequal, veins
clearly prominent beneath, only major ones visible above, the 2 shorter slightly obovate to spathulate 18–22 × 6–8 mm, the 3 longer oblong to spathulate, 30–35 × 9–11 mm, bases of all wings adnate to the fruit, margins decurrent along the fruit body, longitudinally shallowly 5-ridged, the remnants of the style forming a short column above the spreading wings. Seed obconic, 3–4 mm diameter.
Inflorescence paniculate, lateral or subterminal among leaves at apices of branchlets, these bearing 2–3 hooks, without bractal leaves. Cyme emerging from a leaf rosette, lax, branched portion corymbiform, 6–10 × 6–13 cm, 3–4 times dichotomously branched, bearing 30–60 fl owers. Peduncle 2–4 cm long (part to first branching point). Pedicels 3–4 mm long, weakly articulated near the base. Bracts small, ovate, 1.2–1.6 mm long, at apex acute.
Flowers all pedicellate, 5-merous, small, 6.8–8.5 mm in diameter at anthesis. Sepals 5, pale green, slightly unequal, reflexed at anthesis, oblong to spathulate, straight at base, rounded at apex, shortly decurrent on ovary, with fine-reticulate venation, 2.4–3.9 × 1.9–2.4 mm, fleshy, glabrous, cuneate, two sepals of each flower abaxially with 0–2 cup-shaped to crateriform, often paired glands, calyx lobes somewhat longer as corolla, persistent and much enlarged in fruit. Petals 5, free, bright red, glabrous, convolute, 2.2–3.0 × 2.1–3.0 mm, suborbicular, convex, thickened towards base. Stamens 10, apparently in two whorls, alternately inequal, longer stamens (inner whorl) 1.4–1.7 mm long, shorter stamens
0.9–1.2 mm long, filaments fleshy, broadened at whole
length, anthers 0.4–0.5 mm with thecae clearly separated by the connective. Ovary mostly semi-inferior, upper part superior, conical, styles 3, stout, red, 1.2–1.6 mm long, stigma circular.
Fruit turbinate, nut, brown, persistent sepals spreading,
papery-coriaceous, upper surface glossy, unequal, veins
clearly prominent beneath, only major ones visible above, the 2 shorter slightly obovate to spathulate 18–22 × 6–8 mm, the 3 longer oblong to spathulate, 30–35 × 9–11 mm, bases of all wings adnate to the fruit, margins decurrent along the fruit body, longitudinally shallowly 5-ridged, the remnants of the style forming a short column above the spreading wings. Seed obconic, 3–4 mm diameter.