Pavetta chapmanii Bridson

Rubiaceae, D.M.Bridson & B.Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 5:3. 2003

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 2–7(12) m tall; young branches appressed pubescent; older branches covered with light to mid-brown bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades 6–12 × 2–4 cm, oblanceolate or less often elliptic, acuminate at the apex, attenuate at the base, glabrous above, sparsely pubescent and densely pubescent on nerves beneath; lateral nerves in 8–9 main pairs; domatia present as a few hairs in the nerve axils; bacterial nodules dot-like or elliptic, concentrated on either side of the midrib and with a few scattered; petiole 0.7–1(1.5) cm long, sparsely pubescent; stipule limbs 1.3–2 cm long, narrowly deltoid, acuminate, pubescent outside, thinly papery, breaking down.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence-supporting branches 5–13 cm long, slender, bearing (0)1–2(3) pairs of leaves, clustered near apex or sometimes with one pair somewhat below apex. Inflorescences subumbellate, 1.8–2.5 cm across (excluding corollas); primary inflorescence branches up to 4 mm long, pubescent; secondary and tertiary branches present or suppressed; pedicels 1–4 mm long, pubescent; primary bracts 5–9 mm long, broadly ovate, acuminate, often obscuring base of inflorescence, membranous, pubescent outside; bracteoles conspicuous, densely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 0.75–1 mm long pubescent, pubescent at base and glabrous above or rarely entirely glabrous; limb-tube 0.5–1 mm long, somewhat wider than the tube, bearing well spaced lobes, sparsely pubescent or glabrous or with a patch of hairs along the sinuses between the lobes; lobes 1–2(3) mm long, filiform or subulate tending to reflex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 1–1.7 mm long, c. 2 mm wide at the top, glabrous outside, usually pubescent inside; lobes 5–9 × 1.5–2 mm, oblong, obtuse or subacuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, shiny, 8–9 mm in diameter; pedicels slightly accrescent; calyx limb persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Well formed seeds not seen.