Carpolobia goetzei Gürke

Polygalaceae, Jorge Paiva. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2007

Type

Type: Tanzania, Uzaramo District, near Dar es Salaam, Goetze 4 (B†, holo.; K!, lecto., BM!, iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets puberulous, glabrescent or glabrous

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent or visible as a dark, gland-like, glabrous spot, usually elevated or sometimes even conical-truncate, up to 1 mm high

Morphology Leaves

Leaves papery to thinly coriaceous, shortly petiolate, obovate to elliptic or ovate-elliptic, (1.5–)2.5–12(–18) × (1–)1.5–6(–7.5) cm, acuminate or rounded, obtuse, base rounded or cuneate; upper surface glabrous except for the midrib, sometimes sparsely pubescent below with rather long, reddish-brown hairs on midrib often extending towards the base or leaves entirely glabrous; petiole (1–)1.5–3(–4) mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, cream or yellowish, with purple, red to bright pink honeyguides on tips of the petals; the corolla turns pinkish-brown after fertilization, scented, in axillary racemes (1–3 per axil) up to 3.5 cm long, 2–9-flowered; peduncle 3 mm long, pubescent; rachis pubescent; bracts and bracteoles often soon caducous, triangular, 0.5–1.5(–2) mm long, pubescent or glabrous; the basal ones often sterile and up to 3(–4) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals pale green, broadly ovate-elliptic, (3–)4–10 × (2–)3–6 mm, the largest up to 2 times the smaller, the upper one keel-shaped, the 2 inner ones obtuse or emarginate, glabrous or brownish pubescent outside, more densely towards the base, ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals subequal in size, (10–)12–15(–18) × 2–4(–5) mm, the median one narrowly obovate-spathulate, gradually tapering into the claw, the inner ones oblong-elliptic, puberulous outside, ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens (7–)9–12 mm long; anthers 1 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit ovoid-subglobose, (1–)1.5(–2) cm in diameter, usually lobed, 1–3-seeded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ellipsoid, flattened, 7–9(–10) × 3–6(–7.5) mm, covered with silky rusty brownish hairs

Figures

Fig 1, p 2

Ecology

Moist and dry forest, riverine forest, wooded grassland, forest edges and thicket; 0–1400 m

Distribution

Flora districts: U2 U4 K 5 (fide EA), K7 T1 T3 T4 T6 T7 T8 Z Range: Southern Sudan, Eastern Congo-Kinshasha, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar

Use

The fruit contains a sweet pulp that is edible, like the other three species of the genus ( C. alba G. Don, C. glabrescens Hutch. & Dalz. And C. lutea G. Don).