Diospyros smeathmannii E. Mestre, Meeprom, H. N. Rakouth & Lowry 2025, comb. nov.
Year: 2025
Type: other
Abstract: 4.Diospyros smeathmannii(A. DC.) E. Mestre, Meeprom, H. N. Rakouth & Lowry comb. nov. Figs 1 D, 2 D Maba smeathmannii A. DC., Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis, vol. 8: 241. 1844 (as ‘ smeathmanni ’). (Candolle 1844: 241) – Type: same as for Diospyros smeathmannii. Maba vacciniifolia Benth. (in Hooker 1849: 442) – Type: SAO TOMÉ & PRINCIPE • Sao Tomé [St. Thomas], [without precise locality]; G. Don s. n.; holotype: K! [K 000350677]; isotype: BM [BM 000925476] scan seen. Maba secundiflora Hutch. (Hutchinson 1921: 384) – Type: NIGERIA – Bauchi State • Tilde Filani; 3300 ft. [1005 m]; 24 May 1921; ♀ fl.; Lely 229; lectotype (designated here): K! [K 000350653]. Type IVORY COAST • [Without precise locality]; s. d.; Smeathman s. n.; holotype: G-DC [G 00142244, mounted on 3 sheets] scan seen; isotype: BM [BM 000925475] scan seen. Description Shrub, tree 2–10 m tall, 4–10 cm DBH. Bark pale grey, rugose, lenticels orange-brown, longitudinally elliptic. Young stems terete, dark brown to black, initially covered in dense, hispid, short, translucent pale yellow hairs <0.5 mm long and caducous, yellow-brown hairs 0.75–1.5 mm long. Leaves alternate; petiole 1.5–7 mm long, 0.5–1 mm diam., terete to nearly flat, occasionally narrowly sulcate, with short, erect, pale yellow hairs <0.5 mm long; lamina 1.5–11.5 × 0.6–4 cm, elliptic to occasionally obovate, often asymmetric and somewhat falcate, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, young leaves with a very sparse indumentum above, mature leaves glabrous above except for sparse to dense, tomentose hairs ca 0.5–1.5 mm long at the base and along the midvein below, sometimes discolourous (in sicco), dull green-brown to dark brown above, glossy, similarly coloured, occasionally glossy below (in vivo), young leaves red above, pale green below, mature leaves deep green and glossy above, paler and glaucous or glossy below, with scattered minute glands in varying numbers, primarily in the lower half of the lamina, base acute, margin flat or weakly undulated, slightly thickened and revolute, apex acuminate, acute or rarely rounded, acumen to 15 mm, rounded at the tip; venation pinnate, midrib narrowly sulcate above, raised below, secondary and tertiary venation faintly visible on both sides, concolourous with the blade to slightly lighter in colour below, raised on both sides; secondary venation emerging slightly decurrently at acute angles from the midrib, veins 7 to 9 per side, brochidodromous, forming loops sometimes close to the margin, the most apical ones smaller and more steeply angled; tertiary venation less conspicuous than the secondary, irregularly reticulate, branching, and forming further loops between the secondary veins and the margin. Male flowers in 2 - to 4 - flowered axillary cymes, axes densely covered in semi-appressed, tomentose, golden hairs ca 0.5 mm long, peduncle 0.5–2.5 mm long, pedicel 0.5–1 mm; calyx with moderate to sparse straight, appressed, golden to golden brown hairs 0.5-0.75 mm long outside, glabrous inside, basal portion cupuliform, 1.5–2.5 × 2.5–3 mm, lobes 3, broadly rounded-triangular to triangular, slightly reflexed, 1–2 × 1.5–2.5 mm, apex broadly acute; corolla glabrous outside except for a rhomboid to narrowly-rhomboid central area with dense, straight, appressed, golden to light brown hairs 1–1.25 mm long, glabrous inside, tube cupuliform, 2.5–4 × 2.5–3 mm, lobes 3, rounded-triangular, 2–3 × 2–3 mm, slightly imbricate, apex acute; stamens (3) 6 to 10 (11), inserted at the base of the corolla tube, filament 0.75–1 mm long, anther 1.5–2.5 mm long; pistillode ovoid, 1.5–2 × 1.5 mm, densely covered in erect, straight, golden hairs 0.75 mm long. Female flowers axillary, solitary, pedicel 1–2.5 mm long, densely covered in semi-appressed, sericeous, brown hairs <0.5 mm long; calyx densely covered in straight, appressed, golden hairs 0.25–0.5 mm long outside, glabrous inside, basal portion cupuliform, 2–3 × 2.5–3.5 mm, lobes 3, entire, broadly triangular, 1–1.5 × 2–3 mm, apex broadly acute; corolla glabrous except for a rhomboid central area of dense straight, appressed, golden hairs 0.75–1 mm long, glabrous inside, tube cylindrical, 2–3 × ca 2 mm, lobes ovate, slightly spreading, 2–2.5 × 1.5–2 mm, weakly imbricate, apex shortly acute; staminodes lacking; ovary ovoid, rounded-triangular in cross section, 2–2.5 × 2 mm, densely covered in straight, appressed, golden hairs ca 0.25 mm long, style ca 1 mm long, with the same indumentum as the ovary, increasingly sparse towards the stigmas. Fruits axillary, solitary, pedicel 1–1.5 mm; calyx cupuliform, 6–9 mm wide, with minute, moderately dense indumentum, sometimes glabrescent, brown (in vivo), basal portion cupuliform, 9–12 × 3.5–4 mm, lobes 3, broadly triangular, entire, 2–2.5 × 8–11 mm, apex broadly acute; fruit ellipsoid, 10–14 × 5–9 mm, orange at maturity (in vivo), surface smooth, with scattered, short, appressed, yellowish hairs, denser toward the apex, style persistent at the apex. Seeds 2, 10–11 × 4–4.5 mm, hemi-ellipsoid, surface uneven, dark grey to black, somewhat shiny. Distribution Senegal to NE Democratic Republic of the Congo (Fig. 4). Habitat Diospyros smeathmannii has been collected most often on river / stream banks and in swamps, at sites from sea level to ca 500 m, rarely up to 1250 m. Phenology Flowering material has been collected nearly year-round except in June and August, and fruiting material from September to April. Preliminary IUCN conservation assessment Diospyros smeathmannii has an Extent of Occurrence of 5,504,397 km 2 and a minimum Area of Occupancy of 280 km 2. The species is known from 87 collections, more than two-thirds of which date from prior to 1984, representing more than 50 different occurrences, some of which occur within protected areas. Targeted collecting at historic sites is needed to confirm the status of extant subpopulations. Diospyros smeathmannii is assessed as Least Concern: LC. Additional material examined CAMEROON – Without locality data • May – Jun. 1946; Aubréville 118 C; P [P 04595314, P 04595315]. – North Region • 60 km SW of Tcholliré; [08°23’15”N, 14°09’03”E]; 2 Feb. 1977; Fotius 2580; P [P 04595258, P 04595259]. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Bamingui-Bangoran Prefecture • Manovo-Gounda-St. Floris National Park; [08°41’00”N, 21°18’00”E]; 580 m; 19 Sep. 1983; Fay 5737; MO [MO-3853649]. – Ouaka Prefecture • Riv. Fo, 30 km ouest Moroubai; 22 Apr. 1923; R. P. Tisserant 1084; FHO [FHO-128781], P [P 04595255]. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Ituri Province • Epulu; [01°24’36”N, 28°34’48”E]; 21 Feb. 1914; Bequaert 2595; BR [BR 0000016101722, BR 0000016101739, BR 0000016101746] • Bela; [00°42’00”N, 29°15’00”E]; 400 m; s. d.; Michelson 464; BR [BR 0000016101685] • Zone de Mambasa (Ituri Forest); [01°10’00”N, 28°23’00”E]; 5 Mar. 1998; Ntumba 21; BR [BR 0000016101678], MO [MO-5659564] • Zone de Mambasa (Ituri Forest); [01°10’00”N, 28°23’00”E]; 5 Mar. 1998; Ntumba 39; BR [BR 0000016101449]. – Lomami Province • Beondo; [04°19’48”S, 20°36’00”E]; 20 Apr. 1959; Bamps 570; BR [BR 0000016101777], FHO [FHO-105509] • [Without precise locality]; 7 Feb. 1914; Bequaert 2362; BR [BR 0000016101753, BR 0000016101760], FHO [FHO-105464]. GABON – Estuaire Province • Ovang, E of Libreville; [00°29’00”N, 09°31’00”E]; 23 Jul. 1985; Bos 10766; BR [BR 0000016101647], K, MO [MO-4310171], P [P 04595303], WAG [WAG.1778709, WAG.1778710] • Same locality; 1 m; 15 Oct. 2000; Breteler 15653; BR [BR 0000016101463], MO [MO-6857195], WAG [WAG.1778711, WAG.1778712] • Same locality; 15 Feb. 1985; Louis 1715; BR [BR 0000016101456], MO [MO-6480264], WAG [WAG.1778698] • 1 km N of the landing stage of Ovang; [00°29’00”N, 09°31’00”E]; 15 Feb. 1985; Reitsma 830; MO [MO-4285103], WAG [WAG.1778708]. GHANA – Kada Region • Kada Agric. Research Station; [06°08’24”N, 00°53’24”W]; 17 Mar. 1972; Enti Sp 645; MO [MO-2094474]. GUINEA – Without locality data • Apr. 1905; Chevalier 13278; P [P 04595245] • Apr. 1905; Chevalier 13320; P [P 04595265] • Apr. 1905; Chevalier 13336; P [P 04595246]; Chevalier 13339; FHO [FHO-131146], P [P 04595266, P 04595267] • Apr. 1905; Chevalier 13607; P [P 04595268] • 1903; Pobéguin 851; P [P 04595271]. – Boké Region • Bel-Air, vers Drameya; [10°13’35”N, 14°27’30”W]; 2 m; 21 Oct. 2016; Bidault 2498; BRLU, HNG, MO [MO-3061991], P [P 01192530]. – Kankan Region • Dabola, chutes du Tinkisso; [10°43’42”N, 11°10’17”W]; 19 Apr. 1949; Adam 4535; MO [MO-2109761], P [P 04595270] • Dabola, towards Mamou; [10°43’12”N, 11°24’00”W]; 20 Apr. 1949; Adam 4551; MO [MO-2109758], P [P 04595269]. – Kindia Region • 4 km E of the village Taban; 09°53’32”N, 10°01’50”W; 450 m; 21 Apr. 2017; van der Burgt 2122; K [K 001286269]. – Labe Region • 10 km après Misside; [12°05’15”N, 12°19’23”W]; 12 Feb. 1979; Lisowski 51718; BR [BR 0000016101388, BR 0000016101395] • Mont Loura; [12°04’17”N, 12°05’04”W]; 17 Feb. 1979; Lisowski 51749; BR [BR 0000016101371]. GUINEA-BISSAU – Bissau Region • Bissalanca; [11°53’21”N, 14°55’32”W]; 10 Jan. 1945; Espirito Santo 1633; FHO [FHO-95112], K. – Cacheu Region • Canchungo; [12°03’36”N, 16°01’48”W]; 19 Apr. 1945; Espirito Santo 1937; FHO [FHO-95110], K, MO [MO-2427334], WAG [WAG.1777963]. – Oio Region • Farim, Begene; [12°26’24”N, 15°32’24”W]; 23 May 1947; Espirito Santo 2386; K [K 001561017], MO [MO-2427339], WAG [WAG.1777962]. IVORY COAST – Bas Sassandra District • Entre Tabou et Bériby [= Béréby]; 17 Aug. 1907; Chevalier 19961 bis; P [P 04595329]. – Lagunes District • Réserve de Lamto; [06°13’12”N, 05°01’12”W]; 80 m; 1 Dec. 1986; D. & L. Gautier-Béguin 446; G, MO [MO-5742662] • Réserve de Lamto; 6 Sep. 1987; D. & L. Gautier-Béguin 577; G, MO [MO-5725340]. – Sassandra-Marahoué District • Parc National de la Marahoue; [07°04’00”N, 05°55’00”W]; 300 m; 9 Feb. 1998; Jongkind 4327; BR [BR 0000016101333], FHO, MO [MO-6379106], WAG [WAG.1777952]. – Vallee du Bandama District • Farakoro; [09°26’24”N, 07°06’36”W]; 21 Apr. 1972; Aké Assi 11752; G, MO [MO-04912340]. MALI – Bamoko
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6949597955
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