Dicranolepis usambarica Gilg

Thymelaeaceae, B. Peterson (University of Göteborg). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Slender shrub 1–4.5 m. or small tree up to 6(–15) m. high.

Morphology Branches

Young branches pilose or pubescent, later glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Petiole 2–4 mm. long, glabrous to pubescent; leaf-blade oblong or elliptic-oblong, ± irregular, 50–85(–110) mm. long, 20–38(–58) mm. wide, acuminate apex 5–10 mm. long, chartaceous, glabrous above, sparsely hairy beneath, midrib and lateral nerves prominent on both sides, light green beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white or yellowish white, solitary or paired; pedicel 1–2 mm. long, slightly pubescent like the small triangular bracts.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 20–30 mm. long, 1–2 mm. wide, almost glabrous to densely puberulous or tomentose; lobes ovate to ovate-oblong, 6–12 mm. long, 2–4.5 mm. wide, sericeous on the outside or pubescent on the margins, puberulous or almost glabrous on the inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals equal to or slightly longer than the calyx-lobes, divided almost to the base; lobes spathulate, 6–12(–14) mm. long, 1.5–4 mm. wide, almost entire to irregularly denticulate at the top.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments 0.5–2 mm. long; anthers 1–1.5 mm. long, exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary shortly stipitate, glabrous; disc 1–2 mm. high, deeply lobed; style exserted, stigma papillate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit red, 10–12 mm. long, 7–9 mm. wide.

Figures

Fig. 1, p. 3.

Habitat

Rain-forest; 600–1800 m.

Distribution

not known elsewhere K7 T3 T6