Pauridiantha callicarpoides (Hiern) Bremek.

Rubiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1976

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 4–15 m. tall, the branches concentrated towards the apex of the main stem; youngest parts of shoots hairy, very soon glabrous or in Zaire material persistently pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades narrowly oblong or obovate-oblong, 15–40 cm. long, 3.7–12 cm. wide, acuminate at the apex, cuneate to shallowly emarginate at the base, sometimes bullate, at first shortly pubescent above and beneath particularly on the venation, at length practically glabrous save for a few hairs on the midnerve particularly above or in Zaire material often scabrid yellowish pubescent to densely velvety all over; lateral nerves ± 15–30 on each side; petioles 0.4–1.3 cm. long; stipules ovate-triangular, 1.1–2.3 cm. long, 0.9–1.9 cm. wide, glabrous to pubescent outside, deciduous, the scar hairy within.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, often trichotomous from the extreme base, peduncles or apparent peduncles 0.5–2.5 cm. long, the bracts borne towards the apex, 2–6 mm. long, 1–1.5 mm. wide; secondary peduncles 5 mm. long; pedicels 1–5 mm. long; all parts of inflorescence rather sparsely to very densely yellowish pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx hemispherical, the tube 1–1.5 mm. long, the limb 1.1–1.6 mm. long, glabrous or pubescent at the base, the lobes no more than slight undulations on the limb edge.

Morphology General Buds

Buds grooved and ribbed when dry.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla glabrous outside, whitish or pale green with blue hairs in the throat; tube 1.6–3.2 mm. long; lobes ovate-triangular, 2.2–3 mm. long, 1.3–1.7 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens almost as long as the lobes in short-styled flowers, just exserted in long-styled flowers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disc subglobose, pubescent to tomentose, the central stigma-pit surrounded by 10 small pits visible only when hairs have worn off.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style densely hairy, 0.8–1.7 mm. long in short-styled flowers, 2–6 mm. long in long-styled flowers; stigma 0.7–1.25 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berries green, subglobose, ± 6 mm. in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, ovoid, 0.8–1 mm. long, deeply wrinkled and pitted.

Habitat

Evergreen forest; 1050–1650 m.

Distribution

U2