Pavetta pseudoalbicaulis Bridson

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

Morphology General Habit

?Small shrub 0.8–2.5 m. tall, unbranched; young branches pubescent; older branches 0.7–1 cm. thick, covered with white to pale fawn corky, cracking bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves restricted to the apical region of the main stem, sometimes ternate; blades bullate when young, narrowly elliptic or oblong to elliptic, 15.5–26 cm. long, 4.7–11.6 cm. wide, apex acute, base cuneate to obtuse, pubescent above, densely tomentose beneath; bacterial nodules obscure, small, dot-shaped, ?mostly near the midrib; petiole 3–7.5 cm. long, densely pubescent; stipule-limbs truncate to triangular, 3–7 mm. long, pubescent outside, with silky hairs inside; arista 0.2–1.3 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence-bearing branches always entirely suppressed; fascicles compact, 2–2.3 cm. across, peduncle absent or rarely up to 1 mm. long; inflorescence-branches very reduced, ± 1 mm. long; pedicels 1–5 mm. long, tomentose; bracts ± ovate, 1.1–1.2 cm. long, pubescent outside, with dense white silky hairs inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tomentose; tube 1–1.5 mm. long; limb-tube 1–2 mm. long, slightly wider than the tube; lobes triangular, 0.25–1.25 mm. long, 1–1.25 mm. wide at base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-tube 1.5–2 cm. long, 2 mm. wide at top, glabrous outside, not bearded at throat; lobes oblong to broadly obovate, 5–6 mm. long, 2–2.5(–3.5) mm. wide, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, 8–9 mm. in diameter, shiny, sparsely pubescent; calyx-limb persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Ripe seeds not known.

Figures

Fig. 114.

Habitat

Clearings or old cultivations; 140–600 m.

Distribution

T8

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 0.8–2.5(4) m tall, sparsely-branched; young stems pubescent; older stems 0.7–1 cm thick, covered with white to pale fawn corky cracking bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves restricted to the apical region of the stems, often ternate; blades bullate when young, 15.5–26 × 4.7–11.6 cm, narrowly elliptic or oblong to elliptic, acute at the apex, cuneate to obtuse at the base, pubescent above, densely tomentose beneath; lateral nerves in 15–20 main pairs; domatia absent; bacterial nodules clearly apparent or obscure, small, dot-like, scattered or near the midrib; petiole 3–7.5 cm long; densely pubescent; stipule-limbs truncate to triangular, 3–7 mm long, pubescent outside with silky hairs inside; arista 0.2–1.3 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences compact, 2–2.3 cm across (including corollas), peduncle absent or rarely up to 1 mm long; inflorescence branches very reduced, c. 1 mm long, pedicels 1–5 mm long, tomentose; bracts 1.1–1.2 cm long, ± ovate, pubescent outside, with dense white silky hairs inside. Inflorescence-supporting branches always entirely suppressed, up to 5 pairs on a stem.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tomentose; tube 1–1.5 mm long; limb-tube 1–2 mm long, slightly wider than the tube; lobes triangular, 0.25–1.25 mm long, 1–1.25 mm wide at base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 1.5–2 cm long, 2 mm wide at the top, glabrous outside, not bearded at the throat; lobes 5–6 × 2–2.5(3.5) mm, oblong to broadly obovate, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, 8–9 mm in diameter, shiny, sparsely pubescent; calyx limb persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Ripe seeds not known.