Chlorocyathus monteiroae Oliv.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climber of up to 8 m high, few-stemmed.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers numerous from lateral roots, globoid to cylindrical-ovoid, 10–30 cm long, 3–7 cm diameter.

Morphology Stem

Aerial stems woody, twining, branching lateral, pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaf petiole 1–10 mm long; blade semi-succulent, narrowly ovate, ovate, elliptic, narrowly obovate, obovate or suborbicular, 1–6 × 0.5–3 cm, acute to obtuse, base cuneate to obtuse, above dark green, glossy, sparsely pubescent, beneath pale green, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences raceme-like, 2–5-flowered, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncles 0.5–2 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts ovate, 1–3 mm long, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 0.2–1 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals ovate, 2–4 × 1–2 mm, acute, outside pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla bright green to light green, outside pubescent; tube cylindrical-campanulate, 4–6 mm long; lobes spreading, ovate to narrowly ovate, 6–10 × 3–5 mm, obtuse to acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes trisegmented; foot obtriangular, laterally fused to corolla lobes, succulent; central segment creamy white to white, filiform to subulate, 2–3 mm long; lateral segments pinkish to purplish, ± 1 mm long, corniculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal filaments filiform, 1–2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers narrowly ovate, 2–3 mm long, acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style terete, 2–4 mm long. Style-head ovoid, obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles horizontally paired, very narrowly ovoid, tapering, 7–11 cm long, 7 mm diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds narrowly ovate or rhomboid, 7 mm long; coma white, 3 cm long

Figures

Fig 44, p 139

Ecology

Succulent thicket in dry thorn bushland; 300–800 m

Note

R. monteiroae is uncommon in Kenya and Tanzania and its flowers are smaller than in the southern Africa specimens.

Distribution

Range: Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa Flora districts: K7 T3

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

Mozambique, Maputo (Delagoa Bay), 1882, Monteiro s.n. (K holotype).

Morphology General Habit

A few-stemmed perennial climber

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers numerous from lateral roots, globoid to cylindrical. ovoid, 10–30 × 3–7 cm

Morphology Stem

Aerial stems woody, twining, slender, up to 8 m long, branching lateral, pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaf petiole 1–10 mm long; blade narrowly ovate, ovate, elliptic, narrowly obovate, obovate or suborbicular, acute to obtuse, base cuneate to obtuse, 1–6 × 0.5–3 cm, semi- succulent, above dark green, glossy, sparsely pubescent, beneath pale green, pubescent, main and secondary veins visible, secondaries 6−8 per side

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences raceme-like, 2–5-flowered, pubescent; peduncles 0.5–2 cm long, pedicels 0.2–1 cm long, bracts ovate, pubescent, 1–3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals ovate, acute, 2–4 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, outside pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla bright green to light green, outside pubescent; tube cylindrical-campanulate, 4–6 mm long; lobes ovate to narrowly ovate, obtuse to acute, 6–10 × 3–5 mm, spreading

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes trisegmented; lobe base obtriangular, laterally fused to corolla lobes, succulent; central segment filiform to subulate, 2–3 mm long, creamy white to white; lateral segments corniculate, ± 1 mm long, pinkish to purplish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Staminal filaments filiform, 1–2 mm long; anthers narrowly ovate, acute, 2–3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style terete, 2–4 mm long; style-head ovoid, obtuse; translators ± 3 mm long, spoon broadly ovate, stalked

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Follicles horizontally paired, very narrowly ovoid, tapering, 7–11 × 0.7 cm Seeds narrowly ovate or rhomboid, 7 mm long, coma white, 3 cm long.

Distribution

Zimbabwe, Mozambique. Also in Angola, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania, and probably in Botswana as well.

Ecology

Found in succulent thicket and dry thorn savanna; sea coast−800 m.