Orbea distincta (E.A.Bruce) Bruyns

First published in Aloë 37: 74 (2000)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is SE. Kenya to NE. Tanzania. It is a succulent subshrub 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: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

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

Morphology General Habit
Decumbent stem-succulent, often prostrate, forming loose clumps.
Morphology Stem
Tubercles spreading to ascending, conical, much longer than leaf rudiments Stems rarely branched, grey-green, spotted purplish or (brownish) green, 6–10 cm long, 5–12 mm diameter, tapering basally, obtusely 4-angled.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf rudiments subulate, ± 10 mm long, acuminate, very acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 1-(2)-flowered, near apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels strictly erect, 5–12 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals spreading, lanceolate, ± 6 mm long, acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla tubular-campanulate, 3.5–4 mm diameter, abaxially cream-coloured or whitish with dark brownish longitudinal streaks, adaxially brownish or flesh-coloured, changing into pale yellowish towards base of lobes and within tube; tube occasionally spotted reddish inside, deeply cupular, 13–17 mm long, 8–12 mm wide, enclosing corona, basally pouching in staminal position, narrowing slightly towards mouth, with a ring of white hairs inside tube at median position; lobes ascending, ovate-lanceolate, 16–28 × 6–10 mm, margins strongly revolute, adaxially rather rugose, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Gynostegial corona (reddish) brown, variably shaped but usually with pouches in interstaminal position, 5–7 × 6–8 mm; interstaminal corona lobes forming pouches ± 2 mm long, margins centrally incised; staminal corona lobes 2–3 mm long, basally triangular and occasionally winged, apically often linear and laterally compressed to a dorsal, longitudinal, wing-like projection
Ecology
In bushland on sandy to loamy soils; 100–1150 m
Note
E.A. Bruce cited Greenway 4260 when describing this species, but also stated that the plant was cultivated by Lt. Col. Boscawen in Mtotohovu and by Mrs. Moreau in Amani (making at least three potential collection events). She also said that the drawing accompanying the description was prepared from material preserved in spirit. Two spirit bottles of Greenway 4260 are preserved at K, both from Boscawen’s cultivated material, and we have chosen to designate the first of the two to be sent by Greenway to Kew, which bears the inscription “type specimen”, as lectotype (sent 26 Jan. 1940 – the second was sent in Apr. of the same year). This is bottle number 6724.000. D.J. Goyder & U. Meve. Sharing quite a few similarities with O. denboefii – including being a Kenya-Tanzania endemic.
Distribution
Flora districts: K7 T3 Range: Not known elsewhere
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. 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 2024. 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