Vangueria volkensii K.Schum.

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

Morphology General Habit

Spreading shrub or small tree 2.4–9(–15) m. tall, with dark grey smooth or slightly fissured bark; shoots densely ferruginous velvety when young, later dark and lenticellate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades ovate-oblong or elliptic to ovate, 3–17(–26) cm. long, 1.5–10(–14) cm. wide, acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded or subcordate at the base, densely pubescent to velvety all over with yellowish hairs; petiole 0.5–1.3 cm. long; stipules with base 2 mm. long and filiform part 0.5–1.2 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences short, 1–4 cm. long, very densely shortly hairy; peduncle 0.6–2 cm. long, with bracts as in last species; pedicels 0.75–3 mm. long, densely shortly hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube subglobose, densely shortly hairy, 1–1.5 mm. in diameter; lobes linear or oblong, 1.5–6(–8) mm. long, densely hairy.

Morphology General Buds

Buds distinctly apiculate, often the 5 appendages very marked.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla bright green or yellow-green, greenish cream inside, sparsely to densely hairy outside, sometimes only on the lobes, the tube ± glabrous; tube 3.5–5.5 mm. long; lobes narrowly triangular, 4–4.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit eventually turning brown, subglobose, 2–2.5 cm. long or sometimes asymmetric and ellipsoid if reduced to 1 pyrene by abortion; pyrenes 4–5 normally, up to 1.6 cm. long, 7–8 mm. wide, 6 mm. thick.

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

Morphology General Habit

Spreading shrub or small tree 2.4–9(15) m tall, with dark grey, smooth or slightly fissured bark; shoots densely ferruginous-velvety when young, later dark and lenticellate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–17(26) × 1.5–10(14) cm, ovate-oblong or elliptic to ovate, acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded or subcordate at the base, densely pubescent to velvety all over with yellowish hairs; lateral nerves in 5–8 main pairs; tertiary nerves not markedly apparent; stipules with base 2 mm long and filiform part 5–12 mm long; petiole 5–13 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences short, 1–4 cm long, very densely shortly hairy; peduncle 6–20 mm long with bracts as in last species; pedicels 0.75–3 mm long, densely shortly hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 1–1.5 mm in diameter, subglobose, densely shortly hairy; calyx lobes 1.5–6(8) mm long, linear or oblong, densely hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla distinctly apiculate in bud, often the 5 appendages very marked; bright green or yellow-green, greenish-cream inside, sparsely to densely hairy outside, sometimes only on the lobes, the tube more or less glabrous; tube 3.5–5.5 mm long; lobes 4–4.5 mm long, narrowly triangular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit eventually turning brown, 2–2.5 cm long, subglobose, or sometimes asymmetric and ellipsoid if reduced to one pyrene by abortion; pyrenes 4–5 normally, up to 16 × 7–8 × 6 mm.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/62927/97224241

Conservation

LC - least concern