Pavetta kyimbilensis Bremek.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 1–8.4 m. tall; young branches puberulous or less often pubescent-puberulous, older branches covered with buff flaky bark, often gnarled.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades black or green when dry, oblanceolate or sometimes narrowly elliptic, (4–)5–13 cm. long, 1.3–4.1 cm. wide, apex acute to slightly acuminate, base cuneate, subcoriaceous, glabrous or rarely very sparsely hairy above, often shiny, sometimes with sparse white hairs on nerves beneath, rarely ciliate; bacterial nodules elliptic to linear along the midrib; petiole 0.6–1.3 cm. long, glabrous or less often puberulous above, with few white hairs beneath; stipules ovate-triangular, 3.5–8 mm. long, obtuse, sometimes mucronulate, puberulous or pubescent outside, with white silky hairs inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Corymbs terminal on lateral branches 1–8 cm. long leafless or bearing 1 pair of leaves at the apex, not markedly lax, 1.2–4 cm. across; primary inflorescence-branches (1–)2.5–8 mm. long, puberulous to ± glabrous or less often pubescent-puberulous; secondary branches present; pedicels 1.5–6 mm. long, puberulous to sparsely puberulous or pubescent-puberulous, occasionally glabrous; bracts brown, papery, 4–8 mm. long, pubescent to puberulous outside, with dense silky hairs inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 1–1.25 (–2) mm. long, glabrous or sparsely puberulous; limb 1–1.25 mm. long, ± 1 1/2 times wider than the tube, glabrous or occasionally sparsely puberulous, truncate, slightly undulate or with lobes not exceeding 0.25 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-tube 1.2–1.5 cm. long, 2 mm. wide at top, glabrous outside, not bearded at throat; lobes ± oblong, 6–9 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide, obtuse to slightly acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 3–4.7 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit spherical or compressed lengthwise, 0.8–1.2 cm. wide, glabrous, calyx-limb persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± 5 mm. across.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/62895/169378113

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 1–8.4 m tall; young branches puberulous or less often pubescent-puberulous, older branches covered with buff flaky bark, often gnarled.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades black or green when dry, (4)5–13 × 1.3–4 cm, oblanceolate or sometimes narrowly elliptic, acute to slightly acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, subcoriaceous, glabrous or rarely very sparsely hairy above, often shiny, sometimes with sparse white hairs on nerves beneath, rarely ciliate; lateral nerves in c. 6 main pairs; domatia absent; bacterial nodules elliptic to linear along the midrib; petiole 0.6–1.3 cm long, glabrous or less often puberulous above, with few white hairs beneath; stipules 3.5–8 mm long, ovate-triangular, obtuse, sometimes mucronulate, puberulous or pubescent outside, with white silky hairs inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences not markedly lax, 1.2–4 cm across (excluding corollas); primary inflorescence branches (1)2.5–8 mm long, puberulous to ± glabrous or less often pubescent-puberulous; secondary branches present; pedicels 1.5–6 mm long, puberulous to sparsely puberulous or pubescent-puberulous, occasionally glabrous; bracts brown, papery, 4–8 mm long, pubescent to puberulous outside, with dense silky hairs inside. Inflorescence-supporting branches 1–10 cm long, leafless or bearing 1 pair of leaves at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 1–1.25(2) mm long, glabrous or sparsely puberulous; limb-tube 1–1.25 mm long, c. 1½ times wider than the tube, glabrous or occasionally sparsely puberulous, truncate, slightly undulate or with lobes not exceeding 0.25 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 1.2–1.5 cm long, 2 mm wide at the top, glabrous outside, not bearded at the throat; lobes 6–9 × 2–3 mm, ± oblong, obtuse to slightly acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 3–4.7 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit spherical or compressed lengthwise, 0.8–1.2 cm wide, glabrous, calyx limb persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 5 mm across.