Trichoscypha bracteata Breteler, 2004

4. Trichoscypha bracteata Breteler View in CoL , sp. nov.

T. bijugae Engl. affinis disco glabro et inflorescentia compacta, ab ea differt bracteis grandibus persistentibus, staminibus inflexis et disco floris masculis majore, perspicue exposito, irregulatim plicato.

TYPUS. — Walker s.n., Gabon, St. Martin, ♂ fl. July 1939 (holo-, P!; iso-, WAG!) .

Medium sized tree. Branchlets appressedpubescent. Leaves 7-13-foliolate; petiole and rachis appressed-puberulous; leaflets alternate to subopposite, elliptic to lanceolate, 2-4 times as long as wide, (4-)8-15 × (1.5-) 2.5-5 cm, rounded to cuneate at base, shortly acuminate at apex, glabrous above exept for the impressed, pubescent midrib, beneath appressed-puberulous on midrib and the 9-12(-14) pairs of main lateral nerves, sparsely so to glabrous on the remaining surface. Inflorescence (sub)terminal, paniculate, compact, up to c. 5 cm long, densely bracteate until anthesis, pubescent; main bracts subtending the flower clusters boat-shaped, ± keeled, 5-10 mm long, appressed-pubescent outside, appressed-puberulous inside; secondary bracts and bracteoles much smaller. Flowers 4(-5)-merous; male flower: pedicel 2-3 mm long, pubescent; calyx c. 1 mm long, shortly lobed, appressed-puberulous outside; petals narrowly imbricate, spreading to reflexed, ovate-elliptic, c. 2.5 × 2 mm, glabrous; stamens inflexed, slightly shorter than petals, glabrous; disc well exposed, ± quadrate, 1.5-2 mm across, irregularly plicate, glabrous. Pistillode glabrous. Female flowers and fruits unknown. — Figs 1D View FIG ; 4 View FIG ; 6. View FIG

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION. — Rain forest of W Gabon. Alt. below 300 m.

NOTES. — The calyx of Trichoscypha bracteata is distinctly appressed-puberulous outside in bud, but at anthesis it is glabrous or nearly so ( Fig. 6 F View FIG ). I have never before observed this phenomenon so clearly in a single specimen (see also BRETELER 2001: 248).