Dichapetalum eickii Ruhland

Dichapetalaceae, F.J. Breteler (Agricultural University, Wageningen). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Liana, lianescent shrub or shrub.

Morphology Stem

Stem and branches glabrous, usually with small lenticels, those on the orthotropic shoots often in rows; branchlets sparsely to densely puberulous-tomentellous, usually soon glabrescent, the same indumentum present on stipules and petioles.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules usually soon deciduous, narrowly triangular, 1–3 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Petiole 1–5 mm. long; blade elliptic, often narrowly so, sometimes ovate or obovate, 5–10(–14) × (1.5–)2–4(–6) cm., obtuse to cuneate at base, gradually acuminate or acute at apex, the acumen obtuse, acute or mucronate, 0.5–1(–1.5) cm. long, sparsely appressed puberulous when young, mainly so on midrib and main lateral nerves, soon glabrescent, the midrib often impressed above, the (5–)6–8(–10) main lateral nerves on each side often hardly visible above, fairly prominent and often paler beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences usually shortly peduncled, 1–3 times distinctly branched, up to ± 30-flowered, brown tomentellous; peduncle 0–4(–9) mm. long; bracts and bracteoles ovate-triangular, up to 1 mm. long; pedicel up to 3 mm. long, the upper part very short or absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals erect to slightly spreading, free or shortly united at base, oblong or nearly so, 2–3 × 1–1.5 mm., obtuse to acute, densely brown tomentellous on both surfaces or inside only so on apical part.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals erect, ± narrowly elliptic in outline, 1.5–2.5 mm. long, split 0.5–1.5 mm., glabrous or partly short-hairy at base both sides or outside only.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 1.5–2.5 mm. long, glabrous; filaments often curved inwards.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Pistil (2–)3-merous, 1–2 mm. long; ovary densely lanate; style glabrous, shortly (2–)3-lobed at top.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits obovoid-ellipsoid, up to ± 2.5 cm. long and 1.5 cm. in diameter, densely rusty-brown tomentellous to velutinous; endocarp densely subappressed brown hairy inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed ovoid, ± 1.5 cm. long, 1 cm. in diameter.

Habitat

Upland wet evergreen forest, mist forest, heath vegetation; 1050–2200 m.

Distribution

K7 T3 T6 not known elsewhere