Annickia affinis Versteegh & Sosef, Syst. & Geogr. Pl. 77 (1): 95 2007

Annickia affinis (Exell) Versteegh & Sosef, Syst. & Geogr. Pl. 77(1): 95, 2007 Figs 5, 7; Map 1B ≡ Enantia affinis Exell, J. Bot. 64, Suppl.: 9, 1926. Enantia chlorantha soyauxii = Enantia chlorantha (Oliv.) Setten & Maas var. soyauxii Engl. & Diels, Monogr. Afrik. Pflanzen.-Fam. 6: 70 1901. Type. Gabon. Estuaire, Munda, Sibange Farm, Soyaux H. 125, 21 Sep 1880: lectotype, designated by Versteegh and Sosef (2007), p. 95: B n.v.; isolectotypes: K[K001208605]; P[P00267979]. Type. Angola. Cabinda, Munze, ring at Buco Zau, Gossweiler J. 6675, 11 Sep 1916: holotype K[not seen]: isotypes: BM[BM000547034]; COI[COI00004913]; LISC[LISC000073, LISC000072, LISC000075, LISC000074]. Description. Tree, 3-30 m tall, d.b.h. 3-50 cm; stilt roots or buttresses absent, slash yellow. Indumentum of simple, bifid and fasciculate hairs; old leafless branches glabrous, young foliate branches sparsely pubescent. Leaves: petiole 2-8 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, sparsely pubescent, grooved, blade inserted on the side of the petiole; blade 3.5-26 cm long, 1.5-9.5 cm wide, elliptic to obovate, apex acuminate to acute, acumen 1 cm long, base narrowly cuneate to shortly attenuate, coriaceous to subcoriaceous, below pubescent when young and old with simple or bifid hairs pointing towards the leaf apex, above sparsely pubescent when young and old, concolorous; midrib sunken or flat, above sparsely pubescent to glabrous when young and old, below pubescent when young and old; secondary veins 8 to 13 pairs, sparsely pubescent below; tertiary venation reticulate. Individuals bisexual; inflorescences ramiflorous on old or young foliate branches, leaf opposed or extra axillary. Flowers with 6 perianth parts in 2 whorls, 1 per inflorescence; pedicel 7-14 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, pubescent; in fruit 27 mm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, pubescent; bracts 1-2, basal and one upper towards the middle of pedicel, ca. 4 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide; sepals 3, valvate, free, 7 mm long, ca. 4 mm wide, triangular, apex acute, base truncate, green, pubescent outside, glabrous inside, margins flat; petals free; outer petals absent; inner petals 3, valvate, 15-33 mm long, 5-15 mm wide, ovate to inversely Y-shaped ridged, apex acute, base broad and concave, greenish yellow, margins flat, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; stamens 110 to 175, in 5 to 6 rows, 2-4 mm long, linear; connective tongue shaped, glabrous, yellow; staminodes absent; carpels free, 35 to 70, ovary 3-4 mm long, stigma lobed, pubescent. Monocarps stipitate, stipes 10-40 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter; monocarps 3 to 34, 20-35 mm long, 9-14 mm in diameter, ellipsoid to obovoid, apex sometimes mucronate, sparsely pubescent, smooth, glossy, black when ripe; seed 1, ca. 30 mm long, ca. 10 mm in diameter, ellipsoid; aril absent. Distribution. From Nigeria (one collection) to the Republic of Congo and the extreme west of the Democratic Republic of Congo; in Cameroon known from the East, South, Littoral, Center and South-West regions. Habitat. A very common species; in lowland rain forests in primary and secondary habitats. Altitude 50-650 m a.s.l. Local and common names known in Cameroon. Bololo, Bonuke, Bunuku bolobo (dial. Duala); Bululu, Mfo, Pobalo, Ufol, Moabé (dials. Ewondo, Bulu); M’Fo, Mofo, Mpuley (dial. Mab Kwasio, Foury 113, Service Forestier du Cameroun 84, Bates 1959); N’jie (Dials. Duala, Punu); Ogowa (Punguegaloa, De Wilde 8492); Moabi jaune (French); évué (dial. Bibaya, Baka). IUCN conservation status. Least Concern (LC) (Cosiaux et al. 2019a). Uses in Cameroon. medicine: bark as a malaria prophylaxis; construction: house building, furniture; dyes and tannins: as a yellow dye (Versteegh and Sosef 2007). Notes. Annickia affinis is distinguished by having overall glabrous branches and petioles and the lower side of the leaf blades which is sparsely pubescent with simple or bifid hairs pointing in the same direction. Annickia affinis is morphologically close to A. chlorantha from which it is distinguished by having a glabrous upper midrib surface (versus pilose in A. chlorantha). In addition, A. chlorantha has few simple hairs pointing in different directions combined with smaller bifid or trifid hairs. Annickia affinis is the most common species of Annickia and is generally found as a young plant in secondary forest, or as an adult in older secondary or primary forests. For a long time (and still now) Annickia affinis was confused with A. chlorantha (or even Enantia chlorantha), but the latter name is attributed to a different and rarer species (Versteegh and Sosef 2007). Thus, most literature refers to the old name A. (Enantia) Enantia chlorantha when referring to A. affinis (the common and widespread species). Previous reports of A. chlorantha outside Nigeria and Cameroon (e.g. Gabon) refer to A. affinis. Selected specimens examined. Central Region: near Ebolbom village 3 km est of Ngoumou 2 km north west of Otélé, 3.59°N, 11.28°E, 02 May 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 426 (WAG,YA); Ottotomo Forest Reserve 3 km after reserve base near small loggers road, 3.66°N, 11.28°E, 02 May 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 437 (WAG,YA); Mefou Proposed National Park, 3.62°N, 11.57°E, 15 March 2004, Etuge M. 5139 (K,YA); Mbam Minkom, 3.96°N, 11.36°E, 19 September 2013, Kamdem N. 143 (YA); Nguila 1, 4.77°N, 11.75°E, 30 April 2017, Kamdem N. 521 (YA); Colline entre Tcherikoy et Sokelle II (30 km NW Eséka), 3.78°N, 10.96°E, 14 December 1973, Letouzey R. 12361 (P,YA). East Region: 77 km south of Yokadouma 30 km after Ngato 15 km after river ALPICAM 'base de vie’ then 40 km on forestry road starting 4 km before Maséa village, 3.15°N, 14.72°E, 05 March 2019, Couvreur T.L.P. 1203 (MPU,WAG,YA); Deng Deng, 5.21°N, 13.44°E, 19 April 2016, Kamdem N. 422 (YA); 16 km E de Dimako, 4.38°N, 13.57°E, 15 December 1965, Leeuwenberg A.J.M. 7355 (BR,K,MO,P,PHA,WAG,YA); 15 km E of Dimako, 4.38°N, 13.57°E, 08 February 1966, Leeuwenberg A.J.M. 7787 (BR,C,K,MO,P,WAG,YA); Route Mintom I (70 km E de Djoum)- Alati (100 km SE de Djoum)-PK 63, 2.83°N, 13.35°E, 01 January 1973, Letouzey R. 11751 (P,YA). Littoral Region: Ebo Wildlife Reserve Djuma permanent camp On Djuma-Djuma trail, 4.33°N, 10.24°E, 14 February 2014, Couvreur T.L.P. 621 (WAG,YA); Mambe Massif above Boga village 100 km along road from Yaoundé to Ed 3.90°N, 10.77°E, 20 June 2014, Couvreur T.L.P. 657 (WAG,YA). South Region: Ebolowa, 2.96°N, 11.28°E, 01 January 1925, Bates G.L. 1959 (BM,BR,MO); on road Lolodorf-Bipindi ca half way near Mbiguiligui village (Mbikiliki), 3.16°N, 10.53°E, 26 February 2018, Couvreur T.L.P. 1153 (P,WAG,YA); 22 km east from Lélé village, 3.26°N, 10.10°E, 07 September 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 469 (WAG,YA); ca 15 km east from Lélé village, 2.26°N, 13.29°E, 09 September 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 492 (WAG,YA); Campo Ma’an National Park 11 km on trail from Ebinanemeyong village on road 7 km from Nyabessan to Campo town, 2.47°N, 10.33°E, 11 February 2015, Couvreur T.L.P. 671 (WAG,YA); A 6 km à l’ouest de Masea (village situé à 50 km au SSW de Yokadouma), 3.14°N, 14.86°E, 05 July 1963, Letouzey R. 5412 (P,YA); Campo-Ma’an area road Nko-elon-Mvini Akok Beryat rock, 2.36°N, 10.25°E, 30 June 2001, van Andel T.R. 3784 (KRIBI,WAG,YA); Bipindi, 3.08°N, 10.42°E, 01 January 1909, Zenker G.A. 3839 (BM,BR,K,MO,P). South-West Region: Ekundu Kundu, 5.15°N, 8.883°E, 30 April 1996, Cheek M. 8297 (K,WAG,YA); Mungo river forest reserve North of Kumba-Tombel road entered ca 05 km West of Mungo bridge, 4.73°N, 9.55°E, 24 October 1998, Cheek M. 9354 (YA); Foot of Nyale Rock, 4.98°N, 9.616°E, 17 November 1998, Cheek M. 9654 (K,YA); on trail through palm oil plantation 3 km before lava flow and Seme Beach hotel when coming from Limbe, 4.05°N, 9.076°E, 18 October 2013, Couvreur T.L.P. 519 (WAG,YA); Kupe village to Loum State Forest, 4.73°N, 9.716°E, 30 May 1996, Etuge M. 2049 (K,WAG,YA); Nyale forest and rock, 5°N, 9.633°E, 15 February 1998, Etuge M. 4235 (K,YA); Edensueh forest, 5.25°N, 9.576°E, 30 November 2000, Etuge M. 4850 (K); Kumba-Mbonge road 500 m W of Meme River bridge between Bole and Mabonji, 4.55°N, 9.25°E, 07 July 1986, Thomas D.W. 6327 (MO); Baro village, 5.27°N, 9.21°E, 03 March 1988, Thomas D.W. 7494 (K,MO,P,WAG).