Pavetta decumbens K.Schum. & K.Krause

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect little-branched rhizomatous suffrutex 20–40(50) cm tall or shrub 1.2 m tall; young branches pubescent; older branches 2–3(4) mm thick, covered with buff flaking bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves at flowering time immature and restricted to the apex of the main stem; immature blades 3.5–6.5 × 0.9–4.5 cm, narrowly to broadly elliptic, ± acute at the apex, cuneate at the base, pubescent above, densely tomentose beneath; petiole 3–6 mm long; mature leaves drying greyish-black, 9.8–16.5 × 2.5–4.8 cm, very narrowly elliptic to elliptic, acute to acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, densely scabrid-pubescent above, tomentose beneath; lateral nerves in 8–10 main pairs; domatia absent; bacterial nodules dot-like, raised beneath; petiole 0.3–1 cm long; stipule-limbs triangular, 2–6 mm long, pubescent outside, with silky hairs inside; arista 2–8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences compact to ± lax, 1.1–2.2 cm across (excluding corollas); primary inflorescence branches usually suppressed, so that at least some pedicels arise directly from the node; secondary and tertiary branches 1–4 mm long; pedicels 2–7 mm long, pubescent; bracts ± ovate, 3–9 mm long, pubescent outside, with dense silky hairs inside. Inflorescence-supporting branches abbreviated, up to 2.1 cm long, or virtually suppressed, leafless, up to 7 pairs per stem.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx densely pubescent; tube 0.75–1 mm long; limb-tube 0.5–1 mm long, slightly wider than the tube; lobes triangular, 0.25–1 mm long, 0.5–0.75 mm wide at base, tapered at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 0.85–1.7 cm long, c. 1.25 mm wide at the top, glabrous outside, not bearded at the throat; lobes 4–5 × 1.25–1.5 mm, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit and seed not known.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect little-branched suffrutex 20–40 cm. tall or shrub 1.2 m. tall; young branches pubescent; older branches 2–3(–4) mm. thick covered with buff flaking bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves at flowering time immature and restricted to the apex of the main stem; immature blades narrowly to broadly elliptic, 3.5–6.5 cm. long, 0.9–4.5 cm. wide, apex ± acute, base cuneate, pubescent above, densely tomentose beneath; petiole 3–6 mm. long; mature leaves drying greyish-black, very narrowly elliptic to elliptic, 9.8–16.4 cm. long, 2.5–4.8 cm. wide, acute to acuminate at apex, cuneate at base, densely scabrid-pubescent above, tomentose beneath; bacterial nodules dot-shaped, raised beneath; petiole 0.3–1 cm. long; stipule-limbs triangular, 2–6 mm. long, pubescent outside, with silky hairs inside; arista 2–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Fascicles terminal on abbreviated or virtually entirely suppressed leafless lateral branches up to 2.1 cm. long, compact to ± lax, 1.1–2.2 cm. across; primary inflorescence-branches usually suppressed, so that at least some pedicels arise directly from the node; secondary and tertiary branches 1–4 mm. long; pedicels 2–7 mm. long, pubescent; bracts ± ovate, 3–9 mm. long, pubescent outside, with dense silky hairs inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx densely pubescent; tube 0.75–1 mm. long; limb-tube 0.5–1 mm. long, slightly wider than the tube; lobes triangular, 0.25–1 mm. long, 0.5–0.75 mm. wide at base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-tube 0.85–1.7 cm. long, ± 1.25 mm. wide at top, glabrous outside, not bearded at throat; lobes oblong-lanceolate, 4–5 mm. long, 1.25–1.5 mm. wide, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit and seed not known.

Habitat

Brachystegia woodland; 100–750 m.

Distribution

T6 T8