Stephanostema stenocarpum K.Schum.

Apocynaceae, E.A. Omino. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Erect shrub 0.25–2 m high, with white latex; bark rough, dark brown with pale lenticels, glabrous, branchlets red to brown, terete, often sulcate when dry, sparsely and minutely pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate; blade ovate, obovate or elliptic, 4.8–9.5 cm long, 1.7–3.7 cm wide, acuminate at the apex, rounded or cuneate at the base, glabrous; petiole 2–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence lax, 1.5–2 cm long, glabrous on all parts; bracts up to 2 mm long, acute, with colleters within; peduncle 2.5–3 mm long; pedicels 5–9 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers with sepals ovate, 0.8–1.5 mm long, acute, glabrous; corolla tube yellow, 3–4 mm long; lobes 4.2–5 mm long, 2.5–2.8 mm wide, rounded; corona white, 3 mm long, undulate; pistil 4–4.5 mm long; style filiform, 2.2 mm long, glabrous; ovules about 18 in each carpel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit pale green to pale grey, 10–15 cm long, 3–5 mm wide; seeds 9–10 mm long; coma 18–20 mm.

Figures

Fig. 26 (p. 74).

Habitat

Relic wooded patch; 0–60 m

Distribution

not known elsewhere T6