Vitex patula E.A.Bruce

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol 8, Pt 7. Avicenniaceae, R. Fernandes. Nesogenaceae, M.A. Diniz. Verbenaceae, R. Fernandes. Lamiaceae, R. Fernandes. 2005.

Type

Type from South Africa (Limpopo Province).

Morphology General

Many-stemmed, spreading shrub (1)2.5–4(5) m tall; bark fissured, grey to greyish-brown; young branches orange-tawny tomentellous to shortly lanate on new growth

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary globose, rounded and pubescent at the apex; not gland-dotted; style 3.5–4.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit an ellipsoid-spherical drupe, 0.9–1.3 × 0.7–0.9 cm, apex rounded, the lower c. 1/3 enclosed in the enlarged calyx, black at maturity; fruiting calyx cup-shaped, pubescent, not gland-dotted. Fruit an ellipsoid-spherical drupe, 0.9–1.3 × 0.7–0.9 cm, apex rounded, the lower c. 1/3 enclosed in the enlarged calyx, black at maturity; fruiting calyx cup-shaped, pubescent, not gland-dotted.

Ecology

Deciduous woodland with Erythroxylon and Rinorea , and scrub, on sandy soil and often on rocky hillsides at low altitudes, and in coastal bush with Carissa and Mimusops sp. ; 20–400 m.

Note

V. patula has characteristically patent peduncles and small clusters of flowers, although this feature is not always clear in pressed specimens.  This species can be distinguished from specimens of V. mombassae with 3-foliolate leaves by the colour of the third degree veins on the leaflet lower surface (×50 magnification required): the veins are darker than the epidermis in V. patula but are concolorous with epidermis in V. mombassae .  5-foliolate specimens of V. patula , e.g. Pope, Biegel & Russell 1513 from Chiredzi in Zimbabwe (BR; K; SRGH), may be distinguished from V. ferruginea by having leaflets cuneate at the base, shorter petiolules and smaller flowers.

Distribution

Mozambique District code: ZIM E, ZIM S, MOZ Z, MOZ GI, MOZ M. Zimbabwe Also in South Africa (Limpopo Province).

Morphology General Habit

Many-stemmed, spreading shrub (1)2.5–4(5) m tall; bark fissured, grey to greyish-brown; young branches orange-tawny tomentellous to shortly lanate on new growth.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3- sometimes 5-foliolate; petiole (1)3–7 cm long, terete; median petiolule 0.2–1.0 cm long; leaflets (1.5)3–9 × (1)1.5–4 cm, oblong-elliptic to narrow obovate, rounded-obtuse or in apical leaves shortly acuminate to acute at the apex, occasionally emarginate, cuneate at the base, entire or sometimes margin ± crenate in upper half, somewhat chartaceous, drying a dark olive-green, paler beneath, ± scabridulous above with minute bristles, sparsely puberulous to shortly lanate in young leaves beneath with hairs mainly on the nerves, gland-dotted, nerves not or slightly raised above, raised beneath, the blade flat not bullate. Leaves 3- sometimes 5-foliolate; petiole (1)3–7 cm long, terete; median petiolule 0.2–1.0 cm long; leaflets (1.5)3–9 × (1)1.5–4 cm, oblong-elliptic to narrow obovate, rounded-obtuse or in apical leaves shortly acuminate to acute at the apex, occasionally emarginate, cuneate at the base, entire or sometimes margin ± crenate in upper half, somewhat chartaceous, drying a dark olive-green, paler beneath, ± scabridulous above with minute bristles, sparsely puberulous to shortly lanate in young leaves beneath with hairs mainly on the nerves, gland-dotted, nerves not or slightly raised above, raised beneath, the blade flat not bullate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, patent spreading, of ± sturdy densely-flowered compound dichasia, 3–10 cm long, orange-tawny tomentose; bracteoles 0.5–1.5 cm long, usually linear. Inflorescences axillary, patent spreading, of ± sturdy densely-flowered compound dichasia, 3–10 cm long, orange-tawny tomentose; bracteoles 0.5–1.5 cm long, usually linear

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx obconical, 5-lobed, gland-dotted, lanate outside with shortly tangled pilose hairs, accrescent in fruit; tube 2–3 mm long; lobes 0.5–1.3(2) mm long, erect. Calyx obconical, 5-lobed, gland-dotted, lanate outside with shortly tangled pilose hairs, accrescent in fruit; tube 2–3 mm long; lobes 0.5–1.3(2) mm long, erect

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla c. 8 mm long, shortly lanate outside, not gland-dotted; tube creamy-white, 4–5 mm long, curved; lobes mauve, at an obtuse angle to the tube, middle lower lobe 2–2.3 × 2–2.3 mm. Corolla c. 8 mm long, shortly lanate outside, not gland-dotted; tube creamy-white, 4–5 mm long, curved; lobes mauve, at an obtuse angle to the tube, middle lower lobe 2–2.3 × 2–2.3 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens not exserted from the corolla tube; filaments with glandular hairs. Stamens not exserted from the corolla tube; filaments with glandular hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary globose, rounded and pubescent at the apex; not gland-dotted; style 3.5–4.5 mm long.