Dichapetalum ugandense M.B.Moss

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

Morphology General Habit

Small to medium-sized, often twining liana or lianescent shrub.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets often grooved lengthwise, shortly appressed hairy, glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules subappressed, narrowly triangular, (1–)2–5(–6) mm. long, shortly appressed hairy, often long-persistent.

Morphology Leaves

Petiole (2–)3–5(–7) mm. long, shortly appressed-hairy; blade elliptic to slightly obovate, rarely ovate, (3.5–)8–11(–12) × (1–)3–4(–5) cm., rounded to cuneate at base, gradually acuminate at apex, the acumen usually 0.5–1 cm. long, mucronate to acute to obtuse apically; glabrous above or with a few hairs on the midrib when young, soon glabrescent, beneath subappressed hairy on midrib and, to a lesser extent, on main lateral nerves and margin, midrib plane or slightly impressed above, the 4–6(–7) pairs of main lateral nerves and tertiary nerves slightly prominent above; glands usually present, often few, beneath only, small, inconspicuous, rather well dispersed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence subumbellate, indistinctly branched or basally once distinctly so, up to ± 35-flowered, shortly appressed hairy; peduncle 0–2(–3) mm. long, free to completely adnate to petiole, the blade of the supporting leaf sometimes absent; bracts and bracteoles ovate-triangular, up to 1 mm. long; pedicel very slender, shortly appressed hairy, up to ± 15 mm. long, the upper part 3–6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals reflexed, shortly united at base, oblong-triangular, 2.5–3.5 × 0.5–1 mm., subappressed-pubescent to tomentellous outside and on apical part inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals slightly spreading to reflexed, obovate in outline, 3–4.5 mm. long, split 2–3 mm., glabrous or with a few hairs below split outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens suberect, subequal in length to petals or slightly longer, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Pistil (2–)3(–4)-merous, 3.5–6 mm. long; ovary lanate, style glabrous, shortly (2–)3(–4)-lobed at top.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits 1–2(–3)-seeded, distinctly lobed when more than 1-seeded, tomentose to tomentellous; 1-seeded fruits subellipsoid, up to ± 18 × 12 mm.; endocarp rather thin, villous inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subellipsoid, ± 10 × 5 mm.

Habitat

Rain-forest to semi-deciduous or riverine forest; 1050–1500 m.

Distribution

T4 U2 U4