Psychotria alsophila K.Schum.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub (0.9–)1.2–3 m. tall or rarely a small tree up to 6 m. tall; stems glabrous, narrowly 2-ribbed in the dry state.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades drying blackish, narrowly elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 2–12 cm. long, 0.6–4.5 cm. wide, subacute or narrowly rounded at the apex, cuneate at the base, glabrous on both surfaces, rather coriaceous; lateral nerves usually inconspicuous but midrib very prominent beneath; nodules conspicuous and raised, 0.5–1(–3) mm. long, scattered in the lamina but particularly along the midrib; petiole 0.1–0.5(–1.5) cm. long, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules red-brown with 2 acuminate lobes; base ovate-triangular, 3–4 mm. long, the lobes linear 1–4 mm. long, the base glabrous or hairy with chestnut-coloured hairs on the margins or ± erose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers heterostylous, 5-merous, in 2–3-branched panicles, each branch congested and subcapitate, 8 mm. long; peduncles 1–4 cm. long and secondary branches 3–8 mm. long, both glabrous, sometimes ± ribbed; bracts small; pedicels 0–3(–5 in fruit) mm. long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous; tube ovoid, ± 1 mm. long; limb cupuliform, ± 0.75 mm. long, the margin subtruncate or ± dentate, the teeth minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, glabrous outside and inside; tube 4–7 mm. long; lobes ovate-elliptic, 2.75–3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with filaments 1.75–4.5 mm. long in short-styled flowers, ± 0.5 mm. long in long-styled flowers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style 5–7.5 mm. long in long-styled flowers, 2–3.5 mm. long in short-styled flowers; stigma-lobes 0.3–0.7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupes red, with 2 pyrenes, subglobose, 6.5–7.5 mm. diameter, glabrous; pyrenes 5 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide, 3.2 mm. thick.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds blackish, subglobose, 4.5 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide, 2.7 mm. thick, with a median fissure on the ventral face; endosperm slightly or scarcely ruminate.

Habitat

Rather dry evergreen forest and derived pastures, cultivations, etc; 1050–1950 m.

Distribution

K7 T2 T3 not known elsewhere