Family:
Apocynaceae Juss.
Genus:
Cryptolepis R.Br.

Cryptolepis obtusa N.E.Br.

This species is accepted, and its native range is Tanzania to S. Africa.

[FTEA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Climber with white latex.
Morphology Roots
Roots unknown.
Morphology Stem
Stems slender, twining, brown, 3–5 m long, 2–4 mm diameter, glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves herbaceous; petioles 4–10 mm long; blade oblong-elliptic, oblong-obovate, elliptic or obovate, 3–7(–9) × 0.2–0.4 cm, obtusemucronate, mucro 1–2 mm long, base truncate, bright green above, pale green beneath, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary, lax to sub-compact, with 3–7 monochasia, few to many-flowered, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
Peduncles frail, primary 5–15 mm long, secondaries 5–10 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels 2–4 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts acicular, ± 1 mm long
Morphology General Buds
Buds ovoid to ellipsoid, apiculate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals broadly ovate, 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla creamy yellow; tube campanulate, 1.5–2 mm long, with papillose spots; lobes linear to linear-ovate, 6–8 × ± 1 mm, obtuse
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona double; lower whorl of clavate lobes, ± 1 mm long; upper whorl of sinus pockets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens sub-sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers hastate, ± 0.8 mm long, attenuate, puberulous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style terete, ± 0.5 mm long; style-head broadly conical, 0.5–1 mm diameter
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Follicles horizontally opposite, cylindricalovoid, 8–15 cm long, 4–7 mm diameter
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds dark brown, obliquely narrowly ovate, 5–7 mm long; coma 30–40 mm long
Figures
Fig 42, p 133
Ecology
Open savanna, grassland, wasteland and low shrubby vegetation; 0–500 m
Distribution
Range: Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa Flora districts: T6 T7 T8

[FTEA]
Use
Medicinal plant

Native to:

KwaZulu-Natal, Malawi, Mozambique, Northern Provinces, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Cryptolepis obtusa N.E.Br. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Jan 1, 1999 Kirk, J. [s.n.], Mozambique K000234067 lectotype Yes
Monteiro, J.J. [s.n.], Mozambique K000234068 Unknown type material No
Speke [12], Mozambique K000234069 Unknown type material Yes
Kirk [s.n.], Mozambique K000234070 Unknown type material Yes
Kirk [38], Mozambique K000234071 Unknown type material No
Meller, C.J. [s.n.], Mozambique K000234072 Unknown type material No

First published in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1895: 110 (1895)

Accepted by

  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa an annotated checklist Strelitzia 14: 1-1231. 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.

Not accepted by

  • Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne. [Cited as Cryptolepis obtusa.]

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Goyder, S., Harris, T., Masinde, S., Meve, U. & Venter, J. (2012). Flora of Tropical East Africa, Apocynaceae(2): 1-530.

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • F.T.A. 4(1): 246 (1902)
  • Fl. Cap. 4(1): 528 (1907)
  • K.B. 1895: 110 (Apr./May 1895)
  • K.T.S.L.: 491 (1994).

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    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 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

  • 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