Pavetta cataractarum S.Moore

Rubiaceae, D.M.Bridson & B.Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 5:3. 2003

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 0.5–4.5 m tall; young branches sparsely pubescent to glabrescent or rarely glabrous; older branches covered with thin grey or buff bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades drying greyish-bronze, discolorous, 6–16.3 × 2.9–8.3 cm, obovate or occasionally broadly obovate or oblanceolate, rounded and usually shortly acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, sparsely pubescent to glabrous or scabrid above, pubescent to sparsely pubescent or rarely glabrous beneath; lateral nerves in (8)9–12 main pairs, whitish, acutely angled, often prominent beneath; domatia absent; bacterial nodules few–many, dot-like to elongate, along the nerves and scattered; petiole 0.9–2.5 cm long, pubescent to glabrescent; stipule limbs usually greenish, triangular, 6–14 mm long, cuspidate, pubescent to sparsely pubescent outside, with some silky hairs inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence-supporting branches 1–18 cm long bearing up to 3 pairs of leaves near the apex, slightly smaller and with shorter petioles than leaves on main branches. Inflorescences compact to moderately lax, typically hemispherical when young, 2–4.7(6) cm across (excluding corollas); primary inflorescence branches 1–10 mm long, pubescent; secondary and tertiary branches present or reduced; pedicels (2)4–7 mm long, pubescent or rarely sparsely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 1 mm long, densely pubescent; limb-tube 0.5–1 mm long, slightly wider than the tube; lobes 3–5(7) × 1–1.25 mm, lanceolate or linear- lanceolate, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 0.8–1.5 cm long, 1.5 mm wide at the top, glabrous or occasionally hairy outside, not bearded at the throat; lobes 3.5–6 × 1.25–2 mm, oblanceolate-oblong, rounded or sometimes acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 6–8 mm in diameter, shiny, sparsely pubescent, calyx limb persistent; pedicels accrescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds greyish, 5–6 mm wide, slightly rugulose on convex face.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 0.5–4.5 m. tall; young branches sparsely pubescent to glabrescent or rarely glabrous; older branches covered with thin grey or buff bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades drying greyish bronze, discolourous, obovate or occasionally broadly obovate or oblanceolate, 6–16.3 cm. long, 2.9–8.3 cm. wide, apex rounded and usually shortly acuminate, base cuneate, sparsely pubescent to glabrous or scabrid above, pubescent to sparsely pubescent or rarely glabrous beneath; nerves whitish, acutely angled, prominent beneath; bacterial nodules dot-like to elongate, along the nerves and scattered, few–many; petiole 0.9–2.5 cm. long, pubescent to glabrescent; stipule-limbs usually greenish, triangular, 6–14 mm. long, cuspidate, pubescent to sparsely pubescent outside, with silky hairs inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Corymbs terminal on branches 1–18 cm. long bearing up to 3 pairs of leaves near the apex, compact to moderately lax, 2–4.7(–6) cm. across; primary inflorescence-branches 0.1–1 cm. long, pubescent; secondary and tertiary branches present or reduced; pedicels (2–)4–7 mm. long, pubescent or rarely sparsely pubescent Calyx-tube 1 mm. long, densely pubescent; limb-tube 0.5–1 mm. long, slightly wider than the tube; lobes lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 3–5(–7) mm. long, 1–1.25 mm. wide, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-tube 0.8–1.5 cm. long, 1.5 mm. wide at top, glabrous or rarely hairy outside, not bearded at throat; lobes oblanceolate-oblong, 3.5–6 mm. long, 1.25–2 mm. wide, rounded or sometimes acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 6–8 mm. in diameter, shiny, sparsely pubescent, calyx-limb persistent; pedicels accrescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds greyish, 5–6 mm. wide, slightly rugulose on convex face.

Habitat

Riverine forest; 700–1000 m.

Distribution

T4 T5 T7 T8