Psychotria eminiana (Kuntze) E.M.A.Petit

Rubiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 5:1. 1989

Morphology General Habit

Subshrub or small tree, with woody or herbaceous stems 0.15–2.4(5) m. tall from a woody rhizome; stems glabrous to densely pubescent, sparsely branched.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate; lamina variable, 3–25 x 2–13 cm., ovate, oblong, obovate or elliptic to almost round or oblate, emarginate to acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base, glabrous to scabrid-puberulous or pubescent above, glabrous to densely pubescent beneath, often strongly discolorous, pale beneath, often with a characteristic pattern of dark veinlets beneath on drying, thin to ± coriaceous; nodules absent but domatia present; petiole 0.3–3(3.5) cm. long, glabrous to densely pubescent; stipules triangular or ovate-triangular, 0.4–1.1 cm. long, acute to acuminate at the apex, obscurely 2-toothed or ± awned, glabrous or pubescent, deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers heterostylous, (4)5(6)-merous, in usually trichotomous or much-branched inflorescences, each panicle rather dense and many-flowered; peduncle (1)4–13 cm. long, glabrous to densely pubescent; secondary branches 0.5–4 cm. long; pedicels obsolete or 0.5 mm. long; 2 inferior bracts sometimes developed, others and bracteoles minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube ± 1 cm. long, obconic; limb 0.75–1 mm. long, cupuliform, glabrous or pubescent with unequal triangular lobes 0.5–1.75 mm. long, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow, cream or greenish yellow, glabrous, puberulous or in a variety velvety-tomentose outside; tube 3.5–5 mm. long; lobes 1.7–2.5 x 1–1.2 mm. thickened at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with filaments 1.5–2.5 mm. long in short-styled flowers, 0.25 mm. long in long-styled flowers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style 1–2.5 mm. long in short-styled flowers, 6 mm. long in long-styled flowers; stigma lobes 0.5–1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupes red, with 2 pyrenes, didymously subglobose, 5–6(7) x 7–8(10) mm., glabrous or puberulous or shortly pubescent; pyrenes subglobose, 5 x 5 x 4 mm.; dorsal face entire, not folded, sometimes so coated with rhaphides as to appear silvery.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, subglobose, 4.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 mm.; ventral face flat, dorsal face not ribbed; endosperm with ventral face deeply and dorsal face slightly ruminate.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/148938276/148938278

Conservation

LC - least concern