Pavetta refractifolia K.Schum.

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

Morphology General Habit

Small shrub 1–4(5) m tall; young branches pubescent; older branches covered with greyish or sometimes buff thin cracking bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades 4–11.6(12.5) × 2–5.8(7.5) cm, elliptic to obovate, usually shortly acuminate, occasionally rounded to acute at the apex, cuneate at the base, sparsely pubescent to pubescent, somewhat scabrid above, pubescent to densely pubescent beneath; lateral nerves in 8–10 main pairs; bacterial nodules pinprick-sized to small and dot-like, mostly along or on the midrib and lateral nerves plus a few scattered, numerous or less often few; domatia absent or occasionally patches of hairs present in nerve axils; petiole 0.4–1.5 cm long, densely pubescent; stipules 0.4–1 cm long, triangular, acuminate, pubescent outside, lacking conspicuous hairs on inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences compact, hemispherical, 2–4.5 cm across (excluding corollas); primary inflorescence branches 0–3(5) mm long; secondary branches present or reduced; pedicels 0.5–3(5) mm long, densely pubescent. Inflorescence-supporting branches 2.3–15.3 cm long, bearing 1–2(3) pairs of leaves at apex or rarely leafless.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 1–1.25 mm long, densely pubescent; limb-tube up to 0.5 mm long, scarcely wider than tube; lobes (4)5–8 × (0.75)1–1.5 mm, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate or occasionally linear, pubescent to densely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 0.9–1.7 cm long, 1–2 mm wide at the top, pubescent outside or rarely glabrous, not bearded at the throat; lobes 4–7 × (1)1.5–2 mm, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent or very rarely glabrous outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, 7–8 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent; calyx limb persistent; pedicels thickening and slightly accrescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Mature seeds not known.

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

Morphology General Habit

Small shrub 1–11.5 m. tall; young branches pubescent; older branches covered with buff, thin cracking bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades elliptic to obovate, 4–11.6 cm. long, 2–5.8 cm. wide, apex usually shortly acuminate, occasionally rounded to acute, base cuneate, scabrid to pubescent above, pubescent to densely pubescent beneath; bacterial nodules, small dot-like, mostly along the lateral nerves plus a few scattered, numerous or few; petiole 0.4–1.5 cm. long, densely pubescent; stipules triangular, 0.4–1 cm. long, acuminate, pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Corymbs terminal on lateral branches 2.3–15.3 cm. long bearing 1–2 pairs of leaves at the apex or rarely leafless, compact, 2–4.4 cm. across; primary inflorescence-branches 0–3 mm. long; secondary branches present or reduced; pedicels 0.5–3 mm. long, densely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 1–1.25 mm. long, densely pubescent; limb-tube 0–0.5 mm. long, scarcely wider than the tube; lobes linear-lanceolate to lanceolate or occasionally linear, 5–8 mm. long, (0.75–)1–1.5 mm. wide, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-tube 0.9–1.7 cm. long, 1–2 mm. wide at top, pubescent outside or rarely glabrous, not bearded at throat; lobes oblong-lanceolate, 4–7 mm. long, (1–)1.5–2 mm. wide, acuminate, pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit black, 7–8 mm. in diameter, sparsely pubescent; calyx-limb persistent; pedicels thickening and slightly accrescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Mature seeds not known.

Figures

Fig. 106/12.

Habitat

Wooded grassland, riverine thicket and forest; 150–1320 m.

Distribution

T3 T5 T6 T8 not known elsewhere