Faurea rubriflora Marner

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Morphology General Habit

Tree up to 25 m in height Tree up to 25 m in height.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets ± glabrous Branchlets ± glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves glossy-green, subcoriaceous, narrowly elliptic, widest about the middle or just below, up to 15 cm long and 4 cm broad, but usually smaller, young foliage red; apex acute, cuneate at base, margins undulate; midrib prominent on the lower surface; leaves entirely glabrous; petioles pink or red, up to 1.4 cm long, glabrous Leaves glossy-green, subcoriaceous, narrowly elliptic, widest about the middle or just below, up to 15 cm long and 4 cm broad, but usually smaller, young foliage red; apex acute, cuneate at base, margins undulate; midrib prominent on the lower surface; leaves entirely glabrous; petioles pink or red, up to 1.4 cm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a robust spike-like raceme up to 16 cm long and 7 cm wide, terminal; peduncle grooved, very shortly and sparsely hairy with rusty-brown hairs; pedicels stout, 2–4 mm long, 1–1.5 mm diameter, shortly rusty-pubescent; bracts cupuliform, shortly rusty-pubescent Inflorescence a robust spike-like raceme up to 16 cm long and 7 cm wide, terminal; peduncle grooved, very shortly and sparsely hairy with rusty-brown hairs; pedicels stout, 2–4 mm long, 1–1.5 mm diameter, shortly rusty-pubescent; bracts cupuliform, shortly rusty-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower buds markedly ascending at first, later spreading almost at a right angle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth deep red, 2.5–3 cm long, rather clavate in the upper third but otherwise slender, with very short greyish appressed hairs but not densely covered, lobes grooved Perianth deep red, 2.5–3 cm long, rather clavate in the upper third but otherwise slender, with very short greyish appressed hairs but not densely covered, lobes grooved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 6–7 mm long Anthers 6–7 mm long.

Morphology General Scales

Hypogynous scales triangular, narrowly attenuated to the apex, 2–2.5 mm long Hypogynous scales triangular, narrowly attenuated to the apex, 2–2.5 mm long.

Ecology

In evergreen forest and fringing forest between 1300–2130 m.

Note

Distinguished from other species in the field by its robust racemes of bright red to crimson flowers. The flowers of F. rubriflora are twice as long as those of F. racemosa which also has pedicellate flowers. F. forficuliflora differs from F. rubriflora in being a much smaller tree (5–10 m tall) often with sessile flowers which are brownish, pink or yellowish in colour, and also differs in its leaf shape, the leaves often being oblanceolate or obovate. The flowers of F. forficuliflora however sometimes have short slender pedicels which is why F. rubriflora has been confused with it. F. forficuliflora exhibits a great deal more variation than F. rubriflora.

Morphology General Buds

Flower buds markedly ascending at first, later spreading almost at a right angle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles patent. Styles patent.