- Family:
- Apocynaceae Juss.
- Genus:
- Cryptolepis R.Br.
Cryptolepis oblongifolia (Meisn.) Schltr.

[FTEA]
Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012
- Morphology General Habit
- Erect, procumbent or scrambling shrub of up to 1.25 m high.
- Morphology Roots
- Roots woody, hemicryptophytic.
- Morphology Stem
- Stems reddish-brown, up to 1.5 m long, 4–7 mm diameter, scabridulous, sometimes lenticellate 1.5 mm long; pedicels 2–5 mm long
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves leathery, sessile or sub-sessile; blade linear-ovate to broadly ovate, narrowly obovate, obovate, linear elliptic or elliptic, (2–)4–9(–12) × (0.2–)1–1.5(–2.4) cm, obtuse-mucronate, acute or acuminate, base cuneate to obtuse, above dark green, beneath pale green to glaucous, glabrous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescences axillary and terminal, compact, few to many-flowered, glabrous.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
- Peduncles 1–15 mm long.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
- Bracts very narrowly ovate to very narrowly triangular, ±
- Morphology General Buds
- Buds ovoid with apex conical
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers sweet- scented
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Sepals ovate to broadly ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, 1 mm wide, green tipped purple, glabrous with margins fimbriate
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla creamy white to pale lemon-yellow inside, pale brownish-green to purplish outside, glabrous; tube campanulate, 1.5–2 mm long, with papillose spots; lobes oblong-ovate to obliquely ovate, obtuse, 2–4 × ± 1 mm, glabrous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
- Corona double: lower whorl of clavate lobes, ± 1 mm long; upper whorl of sinus pockets, pocket-rim sometimes lobed
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
- Stamens glabrous, filaments ± 0.5 mm long.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
- Anthers hastate, ± 1 mm long, acuminate
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
- Style terete, ± 0.5 mm long; style-head conical, obtuse to bifid, ± 1 mm long
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Follicles single or paired, when paired ± 45° to 135° divergent, narrowly ovoid, (4–)8–12(–16) cm long, 5–10 mm diameter, ribbed, glabrous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds dark brown, obliquely ovate, 2–4 mm long, warty; coma whitish, 3–4 cm long
- Figures
- Fig 41, p 131
- Ecology
- Open rocky miombo woodland, Uapaca woodland on grey sandy loam, riverbank woodland, grassland; 800–2300 m
- Distribution
- Flora districts: U1 U2 U3 U4 K3 K4 K5 T4 T6 T7 T8 Range: Widely distributed across tropical and southern Africa
[FTEA]
Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012
- Morphology General Habit
- Shrublet of 0.3–0.8 m high with milky latex; woodstock perennial.
- Morphology Stem
- Stems erect, spreading or decumbent, brown, 3–5 mm diameter, scabridulous, sometimes lenticellate
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves leathery; petiole 1–5 mm long, scabridulous; blade sub-globose to narrowly ovate or oblong-ovate, 2–5(–7) × (0.5–)1–2(–3) cm, obtuse-mucronate, acute or acuminate, base obtuse to cuneate, above dark green, beneath pale green, scabridulous or scabrous all over or on veins only
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescences axillary and terminal, compact or sometimes lax, up to 10-flowered, scabrous.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
- Peduncles 0.2–1(–4) cm long.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
- Pedicels 2–6 mm long.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
- Bracts acicular, ± 1 mm long
- Morphology General Buds
- Buds narrowly ovoid, apex narrowly conical
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Sepals ovate to narrowly triangular, 1.5–2 × ± 1 mm, glabrous or scabridulous, margins fimbriate
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla dull yellow or creamy yellow on inside, yellow tinged red or purplish to brownish-purple on outside, glabrous; tube campanulate, 3–4 mm long, with papillose spots below corona lobes; lobes oblong-ovate, (4–)6–8 × 1.5–2 mm
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
- Corona double, glabrous; lower whorl of clavate, ± 1 mm long lobes; upper of sinus pockets with acicular or fan-shaped lobes
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
- Stamens fused with papillose spots.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments
- Filaments 0–0.5 mm long.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
- Anthers hastate, attenuate, 1.5–2 mm long and slightly hairy
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
- Style ± 0.5 mm long, terete; style-head broadly conical, bifid, ± 1 mm diameter
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Follicles single or paired, when paired ± 45° to 180° divergent, narrowly ovoid-conical to cigar-shaped, 5–8 cm long, 1–1.3 cm diameter, ribbed, acute to blunt-acute, glabrous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds dark brown, ovate to oblongovate, 5–7 mm long, warty; coma 2–3 cm long
- Ecology
- Sandy dry grassland with scattered bushes, miombo woodland; common on disturbed ground; 1000–2400 m
- Distribution
- Flora districts: T4 T7 T8 Range: Congo-Kinshasa, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana
[FTEA]
- Use
- Chimpanzees eat this plant apparently when feeling unwell. The woody roots are used as aphrodisiac; a root decoction is drunk for coughs and tuberculosis
Native to:
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Caprivi Strip, Central African Repu, Chad, Congo, Free State, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe
- Cryptolepis angolensis Welw. ex Hiern
- Cryptolepis baumii Schltr.
- Cryptolepis baumii N.E.Br.
- Cryptolepis brazzaei Baill.
- Cryptolepis buxifolia Chiov.
- Cryptolepis debeerstii De Wild.
- Cryptolepis elliotii Schltr.
- Cryptolepis hensii N.E.Br.
- Cryptolepis linearis N.E.Br.
- Cryptolepis longiflora Van Houtte ex Bosse
- Cryptolepis nigritana (Benth.) N.E.Br.
- Cryptolepis producta N.E.Br.
- Cryptolepis sizenandii Rolfe
- Cryptolepis suffruticosa (K.Schum.) N.E.Br.
- Cryptolepis welwitschii (Baill.) Schltr.
- Ectadiopsis acutifolia (Sond.) Benth. ex B.D.Jacks.
- Ectadiopsis buettneri K.Schum.
- Ectadiopsis lanceolata Baill.
- Ectadiopsis myrtifolia Baill.
- Ectadiopsis nigritana Benth.
- Ectadiopsis oblongifolia (Meisn.) Benth. ex B.D.Jacks.
- Ectadiopsis producta (N.E.Br.) Bullock
- Ectadiopsis scandens K.Schum.
- Ectadiopsis suffruticosa K.Schum.
- Ectadiopsis welwitschii Baill.
- Ectadium oblongifolium Meisn.
- Secamone acutifolia Sond.
Cryptolepis oblongifolia (Meisn.) Schltr. appears in other Kew resources:
Date | Reference | Identified As | Barcode | Type Status | Has image? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 1, 2007 | Luke [11609], Tanzania | K000469048 | No | ||
Apr 1, 2005 | Houngnon, P. [6183], Benin | K000239857 | No | ||
Apr 1, 2005 | Adjakidjé, V. [1750], Benin | K000239858 | No | ||
Apr 1, 2005 | Sinsin, B. [3163], Benin | K000239860 | No | ||
Oct 1, 2004 | Darbyshire, I. [416], Cameroon | K000518581 | No | ||
Jan 1, 1999 | Krauss [132], South Africa | K000234043 | isotype | No | |
Jan 1, 1999 | Krauss [132], South Africa | K000234044 | lectotype | No | |
Nov 14, 1979 | Hakki, M. [231], Togo | K000239856 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1973 | Mbenkum, T. [TFM 395], Cameroon | K000028259 | No | ||
Jan 1, 1966 | Morton, J.K. [2003], Ghana | K000239861 | No | ||
Jul 19, 1958 | Abiai, A.N. [7039], Nigeria | K000239888 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Burke [322], South Africa | K000234041 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Burke [322], South Africa | K000234042 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Welwitsch [4205], Angola | K000234059 | Unknown type material | No | |
Nov 1, 1954 | Lely, H.V. [152], Nigeria | K000239880 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Lely, H.V. [216], Nigeria | K000239882 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Keay, R.W.J. [FHI 22939], Nigeria | K000239886 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Kitson, A. [742], Ghana | K000239863 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Dent, J. [174], Nigeria | K000239883 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Keay, R.W.J. [FHI 22509], Nigeria | K000239891 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Vigne, G. [3828], Ghana | K000239870 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Pobéguin, M. [352], Guinea | K000239855 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Vigne, G. [4536], Ghana | K000239869 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Dalziel, J.M. [7], Nigeria | K000239885 | Yes | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Lely, H.V. [63], Nigeria | K000239879 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Dalziel, J.M. [46], Ghana | K000239871 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Lely, H.V. [153], Nigeria | K000239881 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Kennedy, J.D. [7273], Nigeria | K000239887 | No | ||
Nov 1, 1954 | Ujor, E.U. [FHI 30096], Cameroon | K000028261 | No | ||
May 13, 1953 | Morton, J.K. [7349], Ghana | K000239868 | No | ||
Sep 1, 1946 | Scott Elliot, G.F. [8372], Burundi | K000234085 | Unknown type material | Yes | |
Sep 1, 1946 | Buttner [404], Togo | K000234090 | Unknown type material | No | |
Sep 1, 1946 | Barter [1324], Nigeria | K000234091 | Unknown type material | Yes | |
Andrews, F.W. [1975], Sudan | 6738.000 | No | |||
Zeyher [1188], South Africa | K000234045 | No | |||
Zeyher [1182], South Africa | K000234046 | Unknown type material | No | ||
Welwitsch [4203], Angola | K000234060 | Yes | |||
Marques [15], Angola | K000234061 | No | |||
Welwitsch [4206], Angola | K000234062 | Unknown type material | Yes | ||
Welwitsch [4197], Angola | K000234063 | Unknown type material | Yes | ||
Baum, H. [577], Angola | K000234064 | Unknown type material | Yes | ||
Welwitsch [4204], Angola | K000234065 | Unknown type material | Yes | ||
Hens [227], Congo, DRC | K000234086 | Unknown type material | Yes | ||
Akoegninou, A. [1604], Benin | K000239859 | No | |||
Hall, J.B. [1424], Ghana | K000239867 | No | |||
Latilo, M.G. [FHI 64762], Nigeria | K000239877 | No | |||
Keay, R.W.J. [FHI 25841], Nigeria | K000239884 | No | |||
Jones, E.W. [42234], Nigeria | K000239889 | No | |||
s.coll. [40734], Nigeria | K000239890 | No | |||
Hambler, D.J. [450], Nigeria | K000239893 | No | |||
Latilo, M.G. [FHI 47434], Nigeria | K000239895 | No | |||
Morton, J.K. [3499], Ghana | K000239865 | No | |||
Sutho [2791], Guinea-Bissau | K000239875 | No | |||
Oche, M. [803], Nigeria | K000239876 | No | |||
Latilo, M.G. [FHI 43385], Nigeria | K000239892 | No | |||
Adams, C.D. [4526], Ghana | K000239866 | No | |||
Garnier, P. [149], Côte d'Ivoire | K000239854 | No | |||
Morton, J.K. [9417], Ghana | K000239862 | No | |||
Adams, C.D. [1873], Ghana | K000239864 | No | |||
Morton, J.K. [9417], Ghana | K000239872 | No | |||
Okafor, J.C. [47543], Nigeria | K000239894 | No | |||
Garnier, P. [s.n.], Côte d'Ivoire | K000239853 | No | |||
Olurunfemi, J. [55719], Nigeria | K000239878 | No | |||
Hepper, F.N. [2330], Ghana | K000239873 | No | |||
Aug 2, 2001 | Baum, H. [457], Angola | Cryptolepis producta | K000234058 | Unknown type material | Yes |
Milne-Redhead, E. [7745], Tanzania | Ectadiopsis producta | 1054.000 | No | ||
Wild, H. [44467], Zimbabwe | Ectadiopsis producta | 1939.000 | No | ||
Milne-Redhead, E. [8125], Tanzania | Ectadiopsis producta | 5108.000 | No | ||
Goyder, D.J. [3823], Tanzania | Ectadiopsis producta | 59799.000 | No | ||
May 3, 2005 | Wellman [1785], Angola | Cryptolepis linearis | K000234066 | Unknown type material | Yes |
First published in J. Bot. 34: 315 (1896)
Accepted by
- Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
- Bruyns, P.V. (2014). The Apocynaceae of Namibia. Strelitzia 34: 1-158. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
- Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola. Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
- Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14: 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
- Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
- Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Flora Zambesiaca 7(3): 1-375. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Goyder, S., Harris, T., Masinde, S., Meve, U. & Venter, J. (2012). Flora of Tropical East Africa, Apocynaceae(2): 1-530.
- Retief, E. & Meyer, N.L. (2017). Plants of the Free State inventory and identification guide. Strelitzia 38: 1-1236. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Literature
Kew Backbone Distributions
- Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
- Berhaut, J. (1971). Flore illustrée du Sénégal 1: 1-626. Gouvernement du Sénégal, Ministère du développement rural direction des eaux et forêta, Dakar.
- Boudet, G., Lebrun, J.P. & Demange, R. (1986). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali: 1-465. Etudes d'Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux.
- Boulvert, Y. (1977). Catalogue de la Flore de Centrafrique 2(1): 1-85. ORSTOM, Bangui.
- Bruyns, P.V. (2014). The Apocynaceae of Namibia. Strelitzia 34: 1-158. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
- Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola. Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
- Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Flora Zambesiaca 7(3): 1-375. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Goyder, S., Harris, T., Masinde, S., Meve, U. & Venter, J. (2012). Flora of Tropical East Africa, Apocynaceae(2): 1-530.
- Hepper, F.N. (ed.) (1963). Flora of West Tropical Africa, ed. 2, 2: 1-544.
- Jones, M. (1991). A checklist of Gambian plants: 1-33. Michael Jones, The Gambia College.
- Lebrun, J.-P., Audru, J., Gaston, A. & Mosnier, M. (1972). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Tchad Méridional: 1-289. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
- Lebrun, J.P., Toutain, B., Gaston, A. & Boudet, G. (1991). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Burkina Faso: 1-341. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
- Retief, E. & Meyer, N.L. (2017). Plants of the Free State inventory and identification guide. Strelitzia 38: 1-1236. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
- Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.
Flora of Tropical East Africa
- F.P.S. 2: 406 (1952)
- F.T.A. 4(1): 248 (1902)
- Fl. Cap. 4(1): 529 (1907)
- Fl. Rwanda 3: 97 (1985)
- J.B. 34: 315 (1896)
- Pl. Nyika Plateau: 70 (2005).
- T.T.C.L.: 64 (1949)
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Flora of Tropical East Africa
Flora of Tropical East Africa
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
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Herbarium Catalogue Specimens
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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Kew Backbone Distributions
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0