Vangueria madagascariensis J.F.Gmel.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 1.5–15 m. tall, often multi-stemmed and sometimes with a spreading crown; stems glabrous, longitudinally ridged, with pale to dark bark, mostly smooth and unpeeling but peeling or powdery in one variant.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades narrowly to broadly elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 8–28 cm. long, 3.2–15 cm. wide, acute to shortly acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded or less often ± subcordate at the base, entirely glabrous or sometimes very young leaves pilose beneath and adult ones sparsely pubescent; petiole 0.8–1.8 cm. long; stipules with broad base 3–5 mm. long, and narrow apex 0.4–1.8 cm. long, glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence pubescent; branches 1–4.5 cm. long, 7–10-flowered; main peduncles ± 1 cm. long; pedicels ± 2 mm. long, save those of central flower of inflorescence which measure 4 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 1.2–3 mm. long; lobes triangular-oblong to narrowly oblong, 0.5–1.5 mm. long, ± pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla greenish yellow, yellow or cream, glabrous or rarely with few hairs; tube 3–4.5 mm. long; lobes 3.5–4.5 mm. long, with appendages up to 0.5 mm. long; buds slightly to usually markedly acuminate or apiculate due to the corolla lobe-appendages.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style 7–8 mm. long; stigmatic club cylindrical, yellow, 1.2–1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits green to brownish, subglobose, 2.5–5 cm. in diameter, with 4–5 pyrenes, each ± 2 cm. long, 1.2 cm. wide, 8 mm. thick, with thick woody walls 1–2 mm. thick.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ±1.6 cm. long, 6 mm. wide, 4.5 mm. thick, narrowed at one end.

Figures

Figs. 131/22, p. 752; 132/15, p. 754 & 150.

Habitat

Evergreen forest, riverine forest and woodland, bushland, grassland with scattered trees, sometimes on rock outcrops and termite mounds; 0–2130 m.

Distribution

K1 K3 K4 K6 P T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 also cultivated in Madagascar, Mascarenes, Zaire, India, Singapore, N. Australia, Ghana and Trinidad

Rubiaceae, D. Bridson. Flora Zambesiaca 5:2. 1998

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 1.5–15 m tall, often multi-stemmed and sometimes with a spreading crown; stems mostly robust, glabrous, longitudinally ridged, with pale to mid-brown bark, mostly smooth and unpeeling (but peeling or powdery in one southern Tanzanian variant).Leaf blades 8–28 × 3.2–15 cm, narrowly to broadly elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, acute to shortly acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded or less often ± subcordate at the base, entirely glabrous or sometimes very young leaves pilose beneath and adult ones sparsely pubescent; lateral nerves in (7)8–10 main pairs; tertiary nerves finely reticulate, often drying distinctly dark below and pale above; petiole 0.3–1.8 cm long, often drying cream-coloured; stipules with a broad base 3–5 mm long, and a narrow apex 0.4–1.8 cm long; glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence c. 30-flowered, pubescent; branches 1–4.5 cm long, 7–10-flowered; main peduncle c. 10 mm long; pedicels about 2 mm long, save those of the central flower of the inflorescence which measures 4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 1.2–3 mm long; lobes 0.5–1.5 mm long, triangular-oblong to narrowly oblong, ± pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla slightly to usually markedly acuminate in bud, or apiculate due to the corolla lobe appendages; greenish-yellow, yellow or cream, glabrous or rarely with a few hairs; tube 3–4.5 mm long; lobes 3.5–4.5 mm long with appendages up to 0.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 7–8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollen presenter

Pollen presenter yellow, 1.2–1.5 mm long, cylindrical.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits green to brownish, 2.5–5 cm diameter, subglobose; pyrenes 4–5, each c. 20 × 12 × 8 mm with thick woody walls 1–2 mm thick.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 16 × 6 × 4.5 mm, narrowed at one end.