Tapinanthus forbesii (Sprague) Wiens

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Type

Lectotype selected by Wiens (1978), Mozambique, Maputo, Delagoa Bay, Forbes s.n. (K, lectotype).

Stem

Stems spreading to 1–1.5 m, essentially glabrous; lateral branches mostly rather short

Leaves

Leaves mostly opposite; petiole 4–10 mm long; lamina coriaceous, green to slightly glaucous, 2–8 × (0.5)1–4 cm, mostly ovate-elliptic to obovate-elliptic, less often lanceolate, generally obtuse to shortly rounded at apex, cuneate to shortly rounded at base, with 4–6 pairs of lateral nerves, the lower ones strongly ascending Leaves mostly opposite; petiole 4–10 mm long; lamina coriaceous, green to slightly glaucous, 2–8 × (0.5)1–4 cm, mostly ovate-elliptic to obovate-elliptic, less often lanceolate, generally obtuse to shortly rounded at apex, cuneate to shortly rounded at base, with 4–6 pairs of lateral nerves, the lower ones strongly ascending.

Inflorescences

Umbels in axils and at older nodes, 2–4-flowered; peduncle 1–3 mm long; pedicels 0–3 mm long; bract 1.5–2 mm long, saucer-shaped, with a small triangular limb, occasionally slightly glandular-papillate Umbels in axils and at older nodes, 2–4-flowered; peduncle 1–3 mm long; pedicels 0–3 mm long; bract 1.5–2 mm long, saucer-shaped, with a small triangular limb, occasionally slightly glandular-papillate.

Receptacle

Receptacle 1–1.5 mm; calyx 1–1.5 mm, saucer-shaped Receptacle 1–1.5 mm.

Style

Style with neck 2–3 mm long; stigma 0.7–0.8 mm across, capitate

Ecology

Mainly in dry mixed woodland and coastal bushland, occasionally in miombo and mopane, up to 1150 m, on a wide variety of hosts, commonly Acacia, Combretum, Sterculia, with an aberrant form on Uapaca extending the range further into Malawi, Zambia and Katanga (Shaba) Province of Dem. Rep. Congo and up to 1750 m; flowering in most months, but most commonly in the dry season.

Note

Differs significantly from T. oleifolius in the lack of any conspicuous indumentum, apart from glandular papillae on the petiole and often the bracts. The species rarely grow together though their total ranges overlap widely. T. forbesii may also be confused with T. dependens, but easily distinguished by the short calyx. The populations growing on Uapaca are quite widely distributed, and somewhat coherent in their short peduncles and generally broad leaves. This element may be independently derived from T. dependens, but is not clearly distinguishable on current information.

Distribution

Mozambique Malawi Zimbabwe ZAM B, ZAM W, ZAM S, ZIM N, ZIM W, ZIM E, MAL N, MAL S, MOZ N, MOZ GI, MOZ M Zambia Also in Angola, Katanga (Shaba) Province of Dem. Rep. Congo, SE Tanzania and South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces).

Habit

Stems spreading to 1–1.5 m, essentially glabrous; lateral branches mostly rather short.

Calyx

Calyx 1–1.5 mm, saucer-shaped.

Corolla

Corolla tube 2.7–3.2 cm long, dull red, generally with whitish spots, head of buds green turning greyish-black particularly along angles; bud heads 4 × 2–3 mm, oblong to oblong-obovoid, rounded to subtruncate, angled or narrowly winged; basal swelling 4–5 × 3–5 mm, variously ellipsoid-obovoid to obovoid or depressed globose, tube constricted 2–4 mm above; lobes 7–9 mm long, reflexed, the upper expanded part 4 × 1.5–2 mm. Corolla tube 2.7–3.2 cm long, dull red, generally with whitish spots, head of buds green turning greyish-black particularly along angles; bud heads 4 × 2–3 mm, oblong to oblong-obovoid, rounded to subtruncate, angled or narrowly winged; basal swelling 4–5 × 3–5 mm, variously ellipsoid-obovoid to obovoid or depressed globose, tube constricted 2–4 mm above; lobes 7–9 mm long, reflexed, the upper expanded part 4 × 1.5–2 mm

Stamens

Stamen filaments green; tooth 0.5–0.7 mm long; anthers 2–3 mm long. Stamen filaments green; tooth 0.5–0.7 mm long; anthers 2–3 mm long

Pistil

Style with neck 2–3 mm long; stigma 0.7–0.8 mm across, capitate.

Fruits

Berry not seen, said to be orange. Berry not seen, said to be orange.