Monanthotaxis foliosa
Monanthotaxis foliosa (Engl. & Diels) Verdc.
Monanthotaxis foliosa (Engl. & Diels) Verdc., a member of the Annonaceae family, is a shrub or liana found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Zaïre. It grows up to 4 meters tall. Young branches are reddish to yellowish brown and densely hairy, while older branches are hairless. The leaves are elliptic to oblong, 8.8–20 cm long, with a sparsely to densely pubescent underside when young, becoming glabrous with age. The midrib is densely pubescent, and secondary veins number 7–10 pairs. Flowers are bisexual, with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, and are borne in axillary inflorescences on old leafless branches. Pedicels are densely hairy and elongate in fruit.
Description
Monanthotaxis foliosa is a member of the Annonaceae family, occurring in several West and Central African countries. It is described as a shrub or liana, reaching up to 4 meters in height. Young branches are reddish to yellowish brown and densely covered with erect reddish brown hairs, while older branches are glabrous. The leaves have a petiole 5–7 mm long and a blade 8.8–20 cm long, elliptic to oblong in shape, with an acute to obtuse apex and a rounded to narrowly cuneate base. The leaf surface is subcoriaceous, with a whitish underside when young, becoming glabrous with age. The midrib is densely pubescent, and secondary veins number 7–10 pairs. The flowers are bisexual, with 9 perianth parts in 3 whorls, and are borne in axillary inflorescences on old leafless branches. The pedicel is densely hairy and elongates to 7–15 mm in fruit. The sepals are ovate, valvate, and densely pubescent outside.
Distribution
Cameroon · Equatorial Guinea · Gabon · Ghana · Ivory Coast · Nigeria · Zaïre
Synonyms
Monanthotaxis foliosa var. ferrugineaEnneastemon ferrugineusEnneastemon foliosusEnneastemon foliosus var. ferrugineusPopowia foliosa
