Pavetta olivaceonigra K.Schum.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 2–3.5 m. tall; young branches pubescent; older branches with thin fawn corky bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades usually drying blackish, elliptic, rarely narrowly elliptic, 3.3–10.3(–14.5) cm. long, 1.2–4.7(–4.9) cm. wide, apex acute or more usually acuminate, base obtuse to acute, densely pubescent on both faces, lateral nerves usually impressed above; bacterial nodules absent; petiole 0.3–0.8 cm. long, densely covered with patent hairs; stipule-limbs brown, papery, truncate, 1.5–2.5 mm. long, pubescent outside, with fine silky hairs inside; arista usually drying blackish, 3–8 mm. long, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Corymbs terminal on lateral 3.5–11.5 cm. long branches bearing 1–3 pairs of leaves, moderately compact, (1.3–)2–4.5 cm. across; primary inflorescence-branches 0.3–1 cm. long, densely covered with patent hairs; secondary branches present; pedicels 1–3 mm. long, densely covered with patent hairs; bracts stipule-like; bracteoles inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 1.5–2 mm. long, very densely covered with white or less often rusty patent hairs; limb-tube 0.5–1 mm. long; lobes ± subulate above, wider at base, 5–11 mm. long, 0.75–1 mm. wide at base, covered with patent hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-tube 1.3–1.6 cm. long, 1.5 mm. wide at top, covered with spreading hairs outside, pubescent inside; lobes oblong, 7–9 mm. long, 1.75–2.5 mm. wide, obtuse, acute or slightly acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, 0.9–1.1 cm. in diameter, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed blackish, 5 mm. wide, convex face slightly rugulose.

Figures

Fig. 110.

Habitat

Forest, persisting on cultivated ground; 1350–1850 m.

Distribution

T3 not known elsewhere