Pavetta hymenophylla Bremek.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or bushy tree 1.5–12 m. tall; young branches glabrous or very sparsely puberulous, rarely puberulous; older branches with fawn bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades papery, elliptic to obovate, 6.5–23.5 cm. long, 2.2–10.6 cm. wide, apex acute to acuminate, base cuneate, glabrous, rarely with nerves impressed above, glabrous or occasionally puberulous on the nerves beneath, dull or slightly shiny; bacterial nodules linear, usually restricted to midrib and occasionally lateral nerves, occasionally scattered, rarely absent; domatia present; petiole 0.8–3 cm. long, glabrous or puberulous; stipule-limbs truncate, 1.5–3 mm. long, keeled, keel extending as ± triangular lobe 2–7 mm. long, glabrous or slightly puberulous outside, with silky hairs in axils.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Corymbs terminal on main and lateral leafy branches, usually lax, 3–10 cm. across; primary inflorescence-branches 1.3–4 cm. long, sparsely puberulous to puberulous; secondary and tertiary branches present; pedicels 5–9 mm. long, puberulous; bracts stipule-like.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely puberulous to finely pubescent; tube 1–2 mm. long; limb-tube 1–2 mm. long, wider than the tube, sometimes circumscissile; lobes ovate-oblong, sometimes ± square, (1–)1.5–3 mm. long, 1.5–3.5 mm. wide, truncate or rounded, slightly keeled, overlapping in bud, occasionally reflexing, glabrescent inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-tube 3–7.7 mm. long, 1–2 mm. wide at top, glabrous outside, densely bearded at the throat; lobes oblong, 6–10 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide, acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, 1 cm. in diameter, shiny, sometimes striate when dry, glabrous or occasionally puberulous; calyx-limb eventually falling.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 5–5.5 mm. wide, brown-black, with a pale ring surrounding the excavation, shiny smooth.

Habitat

Understorey of rain-forest; 600–2300 m.

Distribution

K4 T3 T6 T7 T8

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or bushy tree 1.5–12 m tall; young branches glabrous or very sparsely puberulous, rarely puberulous; older branches with fawn bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades papery, 6.5–23.5 × 2.2–10.6 cm, elliptic to obovate, apex acute to acuminate, base cuneate, glabrous, rarely with nerves impressed above, glabrous or occasionally puberulous on the nerves beneath, dull or slightly shiny; lateral nerves in 8–10 main pairs; domatia, if present, inconspicuous; bacterial nodules linear, usually restricted to midrib and occasionally lateral nerves, occasionally scattered, rarely absent; petiole 0.8–3 cm long, glabrous or puberulous; stipule limbs 1.5–3 mm long, truncate, keeled, keel extending as ± triangular lobe 2–7 mm long, glabrous or slightly puberulous outside, with silky hairs in axils.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Corymbs terminal on main and lateral leafy branches, usually lax, 3–10 cm across (excluding corollas); primary inflorescence branches 1.3–4 cm long, sparsely puberulous to puberulous; secondary and tertiary branches present; pedicels 5–9 mm long, puberulous; bracts stipule-like.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely puberulous to finely pubescent; tube 1–2 mm long; limb-tube 1–2 mm long, wider than the tube, sometimes circumscissile; lobes (1)1.5–3 × 1.5–3.5 mm, ovate-oblong, sometimes ± square, truncate or rounded, slightly keeled, overlapping in bud, occasionally reflexing, glabrescent inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 3–7.7 mm long, 1–2 mm wide at the top, glabrous outside, densely bearded at the throat; lobes 6–10 × 2–3 mm oblong, acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, 1 cm in diameter, shiny, sometimes striate when dry, glabrous or occasionally puberulous; calyx limb eventually falling.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 5–5.5 mm wide, brown-black, with a pale ring surrounding the excavation, shiny smooth.