Cryptolepis oblongifolia (Meisn.) Schltr.

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

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Umgeni, xi.1839, Krauss 132 (K-Bentham lectotype, K-Hooker, BM, MO), lectotypified by Venter in F.T.E.A., Apocynaceae (part 2): 130 (2012).

Morphology General Habit

Erect, procumbent or scrambling shrub of up to 0.3–1.25 m high

Morphology Roots

Roots woody, rootstock perennial-Stems up to 1.5 m × 4–7 mm, reddish-brown, scaberulous, sometimes lenticulate

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, leathery, glabrous, sessile, sub-sessile or petiole up to 5 mm long; blade linear- ovate to broadly ovate, narrowly obovate, obovate, linear elliptic or elliptic, obtuse-mucronate, acute or acuminate, base cuneate to obtuse, (2)4–9(12) × (0.2)1–2(3) cm, above dark green, beneath pale green to glaucous, glabrous, scabredulous or scabrous, main and secondary veins visible, secondary veins arched to divaricate and looped, 5–17 per side

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary and terminal, usually compact, few to many-flowered, glabrous or scabrous; peduncles 0.2–4 cm long, pedicels 2–6 mm long, bracts very narrowly ovate to very narrowly triangular, ± 1.5 mm long

Morphology General Buds

Buds ovoid with apex deltoid, half-turn helically twisted

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers sweet-scented

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals narrowly triangular to ovate to broadly ovate, 1.5–2.5 × 1 mm, green tipped purple, glabrous or scabredulous, with margins fimbriate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla creamy white, yellow or pale lemon-yellow inside, pale yellow tinged red or pale brownish-green to purplish outside, glabrous; tube campanulate, 1.5–4 mm long, with papillose spots below corona lobes; lobes oblong-ovate to obliquely ovate, obtuse, 2–8 × 1–2 mm, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona double: lower whorl of clavate lobes, ± 1 mm long; upper whorl of sinus pockets, pocket-rim lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens glabrous, filaments ± 0.5 mm long; anthers hastate, acuminate, ± 1 mm long, sometimes slightly hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style terete, ± 0.5 mm long; style-head conical to broadly conical, obtuse to bifid, ± 1 mm long, translators narrowly elliptic. Follicles single or paired, when paired ± 30° divergent, narrowly ovoid, acute to blunt acute, ribbed, glabrous, (4)8–12(16) × 0.5–1.3 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds obliquely ovate to oblong-ovate, 2–7 mm long, warty, dark brown; coma 3–4 cm long, whitish.

Distribution

Caprivi, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Also found in Angola, Benin, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, D.R. Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda.

Ecology

In open rocky miombo woodland, Uapaca woodland on grey sandy loam, riverbank woodland, grassland, common in disturbed ground; 800–2400 m.

Vernacular

“Nyashinda” in the Chimanimani Region.

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

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

Use

Chimpanzees eat this species apparently when feeling unwell. The woody roots are used as aphrodisiac. Roots are boiled for 15–20 minutes and the extract is drunk for coughs and tuberculosis.