Apocynaceae
Cryptolepis

Cryptolepis apiculata K.Schum.

First published in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas, C: 320 (1895)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Kenya to S. Tropical Africa. It is a climbing shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit
Many-stemmed climber.
Morphology Roots
Roots unknown.
Morphology Stem
Stems twining, up to 3 m long, 2–4 mm diameter, brown, glabrous, sparsely lenticellate
Morphology Leaves
Leaves leathery; petiole 0.5–3 cm long; blade narrowly elliptic or oblong-elliptic, (5–)7–13(–17) × (2–)3–5(–7) cm, obtuse-attenuate, base obtuse to cuneate, glossy dark green above, pale green beneath, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary, open, few-flowered, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
Peduncles sturdy, primary 3–5 cm long, secondaries 3–6 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels sturdy, 0.8–1 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts narrowly ovate, ± 1 mm long
Morphology General Buds
Bud ovoid, long-apiculate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals narrowly ovate to narrowly triangular, 2–3 × 1 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white, creamy yellow or pale greenish-yellow; tube campanulate, 3–5 mm long, 2–4 mm diameter, with papillose spots; lobes linear, 12–16 × 1–2 mm, rounded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona: lower whorl of clavate or acicular lobes, ± 1 mm long; upper whorl of sinus pockets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Staminal filaments ± 1 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers pale yellow, narrowly triangular, ± 1 mm long, attenuate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style terete, ± 0.5 mm long; style-head broadly angular-deltoid, ± 1 mm long, attenuate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Follicles paired, horizontally opposite, brown, cylindricalellipsoid, 15–16 cm long, 0.8–1 cm diameter, attenuate, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds obliquely narrowly elliptic, 8 × 2 mm; coma white, 3–4 cm long
Ecology
Lowland forest and shrubby thickets in grassland; 30–350 m
Distribution
Range: Also recorded from Congo-Kinshasa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe Flora districts: K7 T3
[FTEA]

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]

Goyder, D. J., Gilbert, M. G. & Venter, H. J. T. (2020). Apocynaceae (part 2). In: M. A. García (ed.), Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 7(3). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Type
Tanzania, Amboni, vi.1893, Holst 2564 (B† holotype, M lectotype, K, COI), lectotypified by Venter in F.T.E.A., Apocynaceae (part 2): 128 (2012).
Morphology General Habit
Many-stemmed climber
Morphology Roots
Roots unknown
Morphology Stem
Stems twining, up to 3 m × 2–4 mm, brown, glabrous, sparsely lenticulate
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, leathery, glabrous; petiole 0.5–3 cm long; blade narrowly elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse-attenuate, base obtuse to cuneate, (5)7–13(17) × (2)3–5(7) cm, glossy dark green above, pale green beneath, main and secondary veins visible, secondary veins arched and looped, 7−12 per side
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary, open, few-flowered, glabrous; peduncles sturdy, primary 3–5 cm long, secondaries 3–6 cm long; pedicels sturdy, 0.8–1 cm long; bracts narrowly ovate, ± 1 mm long
Morphology General Buds
Bud ovoid, long apiculate, full-turn helically twisted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals narrowly ovate to narrowly triangular, 2–3 × 1 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white, creamy yellow or pale greenish-yellow; tube campanulate, 3–5 mm long, with papillose spots; lobes linear, rounded, 12–16 × 1–2 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona: lower whorl of clavate or acicular lobes, ± 1 mm long; upper whorl of sinus pockets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens: filaments ± 1 mm long; anthers narrowly triangular, attenuate, ± 1 mm long, pale yellow, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style ± 0.5 mm long; style-head broadly angular-deltoid, ± 1 mm long, attenuate, translator narrowly elliptic. Follicles paired, horizontally opposite, cylindrical-ellipsoid, attenuate, 15–16 × 0.8–1.0 cm, brown, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds obliquely narrowly elliptic, 8 mm long, 2 mm wide, coma white, 3–4 cm long.
Distribution
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. Also in Kenya, Tanzania and D.R. Congo.
Ecology
Lowland forest and shrubby thickets in grassland; 30–350 m.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • 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/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. 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 2026. 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