Garcinia kingaensis Engl.

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: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Guttiferae, P. Bamps, N. Robson & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or large tree 3–15 m. tall, glabrous; branches grooved, flattened or 4-angled when young, eventually cylindric; bark grey or brown, somewhat rough with fine reticulation; slash deep red with very fine drops of yellow latex.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite; blades elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, 6–16 cm. long, 3–6 cm. wide, acute, obtuse or rarely shortly acuminate or apiculate at the apex, cuneate at the base, coriaceous, bluish to sage-green above, paler beneath, the venation prominent on both surfaces; lateral nerves 30–60 pairs, leaving the midrib almost at right-angles; longitudinal glandular canals usually visible beneath; petiole 0.6–1.6 cm. long, channelled above, longitudinally grooved and transversely wrinkled, the ligule prominent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers dioecious or ? polygamous, solitary or in fascicles of 2–7 in the axils of the older leaves; pedicels 0.7–1 .5(–2.7) cm. long. Male flowers with 4 spongy fasciclodes united in the centre of the flower, alternating with 4 staminal bundles, each made up of (5–)8–10 stamens with the filaments connate for up to 2/3 of their length. Female flowers with small denticulate fasciclodes alternating with bundles of (2–)3–5 staminodes; ovary globose to ovoid, 2-locular; stigma fleshy, ± 2-lobed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4, pale green, decussate, unequal, oblong to round, 1.5–5 mm. long, and wide, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4, greenish or creamy white or yellowish with longitudinal translucent glandular lines, ± round, 4–6(–10) mm. long, 5–6 mm. wide.

sex Male

Male flowers with 4 spongy fasciclodes united in the centre of the flower, alternating with 4 staminal bundles, each made up of (5–)8–10 stamens with the filaments connate for up to 2/3 of their length.

sex Female

Female flowers with small denticulate fasciclodes alternating with bundles of (2–)3–5 staminodes; ovary globose to ovoid, 2-locular; stigma fleshy, ± 2-lobed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits orange-yellow when mature, globose, (1–)2.5–3.7 cm. long, 2.2–3.7 cm. wide, 1.7–2.8 cm. thick.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1–2, ovoid, (1–)2.6 cm. long, 2.1 cm. wide, 1.6 cm. thick, flattened on one side, the seed coat dark brown with some pale anastomosing lines.

Habitat

Evergreen forest, forest edges and upland grassland; 1200–2300 m.

Distribution

T1 T6 T7 T8

Guttiferae, N. K. B. Robson. Flora Zambesiaca 1:2. 1961

Morphology General Habit

Shrub to large robust tree, 3–15 m. high (or more?), glabrous.

Morphology Branches

Branches longitudinally grooved, flattened or quadrangular when young, eventually cylindric.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, coriaceous, petiolate; lamina 6–16 × 3–6 cm., elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic or elliptic-oblong, obtuse to acute or rarely shortly acuminate or apiculate at the apex, cuneate at the base, bluish to sage green above, usually paler below, with prominent venation on both sides, the 30–60 main laterals leaving the midrib almost at right angles, ± straight, occasionally anastomosing, and with the longitudinal glandular canals usually visible below; petiole 6–16 mm. long, channelled above, longitudinally grooved and transversely wrinkled; ligule prominent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers dioecious (or polygamous?), single or in fascicles of 2–7 in the axils of the older leaves; pedicels 7–15 (27) mm. long, pale green. Female (and bisexual?) flowers with small denticulate fasciclodes alternating with fascicles of (2) 3–5 staminodes (or stamens?); ovary globose to ovoid, 2-locular, surmounted by a ± 2-lobed fleshy stigma. Male flowers with 4 spongy fasciclodes uniting in the centre of the flower, alternating with 4 fascicles each of 8–10 stamens (rarely less), with filaments connate for up to 2/3 of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4, decussate, unequal, oblong to orbicular, obtuse, pale green.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4, 4–6 mm. long, c. 1·5–2 times as long as the inner sepals, ± orbicular, cream-white or yellowish, with longitudinal translucent glandular lines.

sex Male

Male flowers with 4 spongy fasciclodes uniting in the centre of the flower, alternating with 4 fascicles each of 8–10 stamens (rarely less), with filaments connate for up to 2/3 of their length.

sex Female

Female (and bisexual?) flowers with small denticulate fasciclodes alternating with fascicles of (2) 3–5 staminodes (or stamens?); ovary globose to ovoid, 2-locular, surmounted by a ± 2-lobed fleshy stigma.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berries 1–2·5 cm. in diam., turning orange-yellow when mature, 1–2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 1 cm. long, plano-ovoid.