Streptocarpus bullatus Mansf.

Gesneriaceae, Ian Darbyshire. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2006

Type

Type: Tanzania, Morogoro District, Uluguru Mts, Mkambaku mist forest, Schlieben 3586 (B†, holo., K!, illustr.; BM!, BR!, LISC, Z, iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial caulescent herb

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome shortly creeping, 5–8 mm thick, pubescent, producing a series of erect flowering shoots; petiolode stem-like, 2.5–17 cm long, densely eglandular-pubescent sometimes with longer gland-tipped hairs, with a large leaf at the apex opposite which develops a much-reduced leaf whose blade may be carried upwards by extension of its petiolode, this pattern sometimes repeated so that up to five reduced leaves develop

Morphology Leaves

Blade of lowest leaf oblong-elliptic, 5–21 cm long, 2–7.5 cm wide, often bullate, lower surface sometimes tinged purple, base cordate to obtuse, margin crenate to crenate-dentate, apex obtuse, both surfaces appressed-pubescent, on the upper surface the hairs often directed away from both the midrib and lateral nerves, on the lower surface most dense along these; lateral nerves conspicuous, 18–33 pairs, scalariform

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences solitary or up to three developing from below the base of the lamina, spreading, 2–20-flowered; peduncles 3–7 cm long; pedicels 2–9 mm long, wiry, both spreading-pubescent, with or withoutgland-tipped hairs; bracts oblong-lanceolate, 1.5–3 mm long, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes broadly lanceolate, 1.5–2.8 mm long, pubescent, with or without gland-tipped hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, sometimes tinged or marked pink or purple, obliquely subcampanulate, 6–12.5 mm long, with scattered hairs outside and with numerous unicellular hairs on the roof of the tube and the inside of the upper two lobes; tube 4–5.5 mm long, 4.5–5 mm diameter, floor downcurved to the open mouth; limb subregular, upper two lobes suberect, rounded, 2–3.5 mm long, 3–4.5 mm wide, lower three lobes rounded, 2.5–4 mm long, 3–5 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens arising from near the base of the corolla tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 1.5–2.5 mm long, almost straight or inflexed, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther thecae ± 0.75 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes

Staminodes minute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary narrowly conical, 1–1.5 mm long, pubescent and/or with stalked glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 3–4.5 mm long, pubescent particularly towards the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma rounded or shallowly bilobed, 0.2–0.4 mm wide, papillose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 5–14 mm long, 1.5–2 mm diameter, sparsely pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± 0.6 mm long, verruculose.

Ecology

Moist, mossy rocks in forest; (1200–)1700–2250 m

Conservation

Although highly restricted in range, this species can be locally “very common” in suitable habitat ( Semsei 1961) in the Uluguru Mts. With eleven specimens seen, it is clearly more numerous than the following three species from the same mountain range. However, populations at the lower end if its altitudinal range may be threatened by loss of habitat, thus this species is provisionally assessed as Vulnerable (VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii))

Note

Due to the complex habit of upwards extension of the petiolode during development of the phyllomorphs, this species can appear truly caulescent with alternately-arranged sessile leaves, though with the initial blade disproportionately larger than the upper ones.

Distribution

Range: Restricted to the Uluguru Mts Flora districts: T6

Use

None recorded on herbarium specimens