Nauclea nyasica (Hoyle) Å.Krüger & Löfstrand

Rubiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1976

Morphology General Habit

Tree (6–)12–21(–40) m. tall with rounded crown and remarkable golden-orange or greenish wood; bark grey, ± smooth, apparently flaking in small pieces; branchlets striate, puberulous or glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades ovate or broadly elliptic, 7.5–31 cm. long, 5–23 cm. wide, acute or shortly acuminate at the apex, rounded, truncate, slightly subcordate or broadly cuneate at the base, glabrous above and beneath save for sometimes a fine pubescence on the midrib beneath; petiole 2–6 cm. long, puberulous; stipules green, elliptic, oblanceolate or broadly obovate, 3–5.6 cm. long, 1.5–3.5 cm. wide, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences strongly scented, 2–4 cm. in diameter; peduncle 1.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 2–3 mm. long; lobes 3.5–4 mm. long, 2 mm. wide at their tips, greyish or fulvous tomentose and pilose, accrescent in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow; tube ± 1 cm. long, glabrous; lobes oblong, 1.55–3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, rounded, pilose inside in the middle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style glabrous, ±1.6 cm:long; stigma red with yellow base in dry state, conical with a bulbous base, 2.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits Infructescences

Fruiting heads globose, 2.5–3.5(–5) cm. in diameter; fruits red, narrowly oblong-obovoid, 5–8 mm. long, 1–2 mm. wide, striate, thin-walled, very sparsely pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds red, 20–50, ellipsoid, ± 1 mm. long.

Figures

Fig. 62.

Habitat

Evergreen forest, lowland? rain-forest, often by water, on rocky outcrops or at forest margins; 200–540 m.

Distribution

T3 T6 T8

Rubiaceae, D.M.Bridson & B.Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 5:3. 2003

Morphology General Habit

Tree (6)12–21(40) m tall with rounded crown and remarkable golden-orange or greenish wood; bark grey to purple, ± smooth, apparently flaking in small pieces; branchlets striate, puberulous or glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 7.5–31 × 5–23 cm, ovate or broadly elliptic, acute or shortly acuminate at the apex, rounded, truncate, slightly subcordate or broadly cuneate at the base, glabrous above and beneath except for sometimes a fine pubescence on the midrib beneath; petiole 2–6 cm long, puberulous; stipules green, 3–5.6 × 1.5–3.5 cm, elliptic, oblanceolate or broadly obovate, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 2–4 cm in diameter; peduncle 1.5 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers strongly scented.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 2–3 mm long; lobes 3.5–4 mm long, 2 mm wide at their tips, greyish or fulvous tomentose and pilose, accrescent in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow; tube 1–1.05 cm long, glabrous; lobes 1.55–3 × 1.5 mm, oblong, rounded, pilose inside in the middle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1.6–1.65 cm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollen presenter

Pollen presenter 2.5 mm long, red with yellow base in dry state, conical with a bulbous base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits Infructescences

Fruiting heads 2.5–3.5(5) cm in diameter, globose; individual fruits red, 5–8 × 1–2 mm, narrowly oblong- obovoid, striate, thin-walled, very sparsely pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds red, 20–50, about 1 mm long, ellipsoid.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/179453/1579242

Conservation

NT - near threatened