Mondia whitei (Hook.f.) Skeels

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

Morphology General Habit

Large liana.

Morphology Roots

Roots aromatic.

Morphology Stem

Stems up to 20 m long

Morphology Leaves

Leaves herbaceous; petiole 2–7 cm long, glabrous to puberulent; lamina ovate, broadly ovate, elliptic, broadly elliptic or sub-orbicular, (6–)12–20(–28) × (3–)6–14(–20) cm, acuminate to cuspidate, sometimes recurved, base obtuse to cordate, glabrous to sparsely puberulent or sparsely puberulent on veins only, bright green above, paler green beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 10–20-flowered, glabrous to puberulent; flower odour most unpleasant.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncles 2–4 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts ± 2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels ± 1 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals ovate to elliptic, 2–3 × 1–2 mm, acute to acuminate, outside glabrous to puberulent, margin fimbriate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla glabrous; tube 2–3 mm long; lobes 9–11 × 4–6 mm, inside violet, maroon, wine red, mauve red, glabrous, outside pale green, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes tri-segmented; lateral flaplike lobules green-yellow or creamy yellow, 1–2 × 1–2 mm; central corniculate or ligulate lobule darker coloured, 5–8 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 4–5 × 3–4 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Interstaminal nectary lobes with margins dentate, not agglutinated

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles 0.5–1 mm long; style-head ± 3 × 3 mm, acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles 8–12 cm long, 2–4 cm diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds obliquely ovate, 8–10 mm long; coma 2–2.5 cm long

Figures

Fig 46/1–6, p 144

Ecology

Moist habitats ranging from swamp forest, swampy shrubby grassland and riverine forest to disturbed forest; 0–1800 m

Distribution

Flora districts: U1 U2 U3 U4 K4 K5 K6 T2 T3 T4 T6 T7 T8 Range: Widely distributed across tropical and southern Africa

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, Mfundisweni, v.1880, White s.n. (K holotype, K).

Morphology General Habit

Large liana

Morphology Roots

Roots aromatic. Stems up to 20 m long

Morphology Leaves

Leaves herbaceous; petiole 2–7 cm long, glabrous to puberulent; lamina (6)12–20(28) × (3)6–14(20) cm, ovate, broadly ovate, elliptic, broadly elliptic or sub-orbicular, acuminate to cuspidate, sometimes recurved, base obtuse to cordate, glabrous to sparsely puberulent or sparsely puberulent on veins only, bright green above, paler green beneath, secondary veins 7–10 per side

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 10−20-flowered, glabrous to puberulent; peduncles 2–4 cm long; pedicels 1–1.5 cm long; bracts 2−5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 2–3 × 1–2 mm, ovate to elliptic, acute to acuminate, outside glabrous to puberulent, margin fimbriate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla glabrous; tube 2–3 mm long; lobes 9–11 × 4–6 mm, inside glabrous, violet, maroon, wine red, mauve red, outside glabrous, pale green

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes tri-segmented; lateral flaplike lobules 1–2 × 1–2 mm, green-yellow or creamy yellow; central corniculate or ligulate lobule 5–8 mm long, darker coloured

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 4–5 × 3–4 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Interstaminal nectary lobes with margins dentate, not agglutinated

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles 0.5–1 mm long; style-head ± 3 mm long, ± 3 mm wide, acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Follicles 8–12 × 2–4 cm Seeds 8–10 mm long, obliquely ovate, coma 2–2.5 cm long.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi.  Also in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, D.R. Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Uganda.

Ecology

Found in a variety of moist habitats ranging from swamp forest, swampy shrubby grassland and riverine forest to disturbed forest; sea coast−1800 m.

Vernacular

“citumbulo” (Malawi).

Periplocaceae, A. A. Bullock. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

A woody climber

Ecology

Of drier forest country

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Pale greenish-white or cream flowers.

Use

Flowers smell most unpleasant. The ginger-scented roots of Mondiawhitei are used to alleviate flatulence, to settle the stomach, as a tonic and as an aphrodisiac.