Zingiberaceae
Aframomum

Aframomum mildbraedii Loes.

First published in G.W.J.Mildbraed (ed.), Wiss. Erg. Deut. Zentr.-Afr. Exped., Bot. 2: 66 (1907-1908 publ. 1910)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is E. DR Congo to Uganda and NW. Tanzania. It is a rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/103647792/103648692

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Zingiberaceae, J.M. Lock. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1985

Morphology General Habit
Rhizome extensive, 2-5 mm. in diameter; scales membranous, brown, 2-4 cm. long.
Morphology General Shoots
Leafy shoots 70-100 cm. tall.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves narrowly elliptic, 14-23 × 2.5-4 cm., caudate-acuminate, cuneate, glabrous except for very sparse minute white hairs and scattered brown hairs on the midrib beneath; margin entire, scarious; nerves widely spaced, 15-20(-24) per 5 mm. beneath, (5-)6-8 per 5 mm. above; ligule membranous, brown, up to 2.5 cm. long, with sparse appressed small white hairs and a ciliate margin; sheaths sulcate, with sparse white appressed hairs and scattered red-brown hairs, particularly near the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences (2-)3(-4)-flowered, arising singly or up to 3 together from the base of a leafy shoot, horizontal, then abruptly ascending; peduncle 3-8(-11) cm. long; bracts broadly obovate, papery, with darker thinner ciliate margins, the uppermost ones to 3 × 2 cm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx spathaceous, 3.5 cm. long, split ± 2 cm. down one side, glabrous except for sparse appressed white hairs at the tip on the outer surface.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals pale mauve, pink or white, the posterior elliptic, 4 × 2 cm., concave, obtuse, the laterals very narrowly lanceolate, ± 3.5 × 0.5 cm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Labellum 6-7 cm. long, the free portion broadly obovate, ± 3.7-4.5 × 3.5 cm., pale mauve, pink or white, with a yellow patch at its base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Free filament ligulate, ± 1.5 cm. long; anther subterminal, 8 mm. long, the basal 5-6 mm. dehiscent; apex 3-lobed, the apical lobe triangular, 1 mm. long, the lateral lobes subulate, up to 5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary glabrous; style filiform, with scattered straight appressed hairs on the upper part; stigma trumpet-shaped, with densely ciliate margins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit fusiform, ± 6-7 cm. long when dry, including a beak ± 1 cm. long, with the remnants of the calyx often persisting at the apex, red and smooth when fresh.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds ellipsoid, ± 4 × 2 mm., dark brownish grey, shiny.
Habitat
Moist forest undergrowth, often by paths and in clearings; 900-1200 m.
Distribution
T1 U2 U4
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0