Apocynaceae
Pachycarpus

Pachycarpus goetzei (K.Schum.) Bullock

First published in Kew Bull. 8: 338 (1953)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is W. & SW. Tanzania to Zambia. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Goyder, D. J., Gilbert, M. G. & Venter, H. J. T. (2020). Apocynaceae (part 2). In: M. A. García (ed.), Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 7(3). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Type
Tanzania, Uhehe, Kipundi Mts, Goetze 674 (B† syntype); Iringa, near Gumbira, Goetze 706 (B† syntype); Mbeya Dist., Kitulo-Matamba road, Bidgood & Congdon 154 (K neotype, EA, TPRI), designated by Goyder in Kew Bull. 53: 363 (1998).
Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb similar in most respects to P. eximius with 1 to several annual stems, rootstock not seen; stems 0.5 to 1.3 m tall, erect, unbranched
Morphology Leaves
Leaves (4.5)7–12 × 1.5–4.5 cm, lanceolate to oblong, acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences with 5–18 sweetly scented flowers in a secund umbel; pedicels 1–1.5 cm long, densely pubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx often reddish towards tip
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white or cream, often tinged pink; lobes 9–10 × 5–7 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona lobes cream or white, ascending or erect with a spreading or slightly recurved tip, 4–5 × 3–5 mm, ± as long as the staminal column, oblong, broadened slightly towards the truncate to 3–toothed apex, inner face with an erect triangular tooth in centre of the lobe c.2 mm long ± reaching the top of the anthers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther wings c.2 × 0.5 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruiting pedicel contorted or not; follicle 6–9 × 2–2.5 cm, narrowly ovoid with 4 broad longitudinal wings, pubescent.
Distribution
Known from southern Tanzania and adjacent parts of Zambia and Malawi.
Ecology
Upland grassland and Brachystegia woodland; 1600–2300 m.
[FZ]

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb similar in most respects to P eximius with one to several annual stems, rootstock not seen.
Morphology Stem
Stems 0.5 to 1.3 m tall, erect, unbranched
Morphology Leaves
Leaves lanceolate to oblong, (4.5–)7–12 × 1.5–4.5 cm, acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences with 5–18 sweetly scented flowers in a secund umbel.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels 1–1.5 cm long, densely pubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx often reddish towards tip
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white or cream, often tinged pink; lobes 9–10 × 5–7 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona lobes ascending or erect with a spreading or slightly recurved tip, cream or white, oblong, 4–5 × 3–5 mm, ± as long as the staminal column, broadened slightly towards the truncate to 3–toothed apex, inner face with an erect triangular tooth in centre of the lobe ± 2 mm long ± reaching the top of the anthers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther wings ± 2 × 0.5 mm; corpusculum dark brown, ovoid, 0.8 × 0.4 mm; translator arms 0.5 × 0.2 mm, flattened, obtriangular and with a short clasping overlap with the pollinia.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollinia
Pollinia elliptic, 1 × 0.4 mm. Fruiting pedicel contorted or not; follicle narrowly ovoid, 6–9 × 2–2.5 cm, with 4 broad longitudinal wings, pubescent
Figures
Fig 108/7–8, p 447
Ecology
Upland grassland and Brachystegia woodland; 1600–2300 m
Distribution
Flora districts: T4 T7 Range: Adjacent parts of Zambia and Malawi
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0