Vol. 1 part 2 - Species Plantarum Programme

CHRYSOBALANACEAE (Neocarya)
long, terete, tomentose; lamina thinly coriaceous, ovate, 8–21 × 6.6–13 cm; apex rounded to
acute or less frequently with short acumen 1–2 mm long; base cordate; glabrous above
except midrib, with stomatal cavities filled by dense arachnoid pubescence beneath; midrib
plane and tomentellous above, prominent and tomentose beneath; primary veins 14–16 pairs,
plane above, prominent beneath. Inflorescences terminal racemes of almost sessile cymules,
sometimes branching near to base; rachis and branches densely brown to ferrugineoustomentose,
to 15 cm long. Bracts and bracteoles 4–10 mm long, oblong-triangular, tomentose
on exterior, sparsely pubescent within, caducous. Receptacle asymmetric, saccate, gibbous,
tomentose on exterior, glabrous within except for throat. Sepals obovate, longer than
receptacle-tube, rounded or broadly acute, tomentose on exterior, glabrous on interior. Petals
5, white, glabrous, caducous. Stamens 12–17, slightly exceeding sepals, united at base,
unilateral, with c. 6 minute staminodes opposite. Ovary pilose. Fruit ovoid to subglobose,
4–4.5 × 3–3.5 cm; epicarp verrucose, glabrous; mesocarp fleshy, 8–12 mm thick; endocarp
hard, thick, with rough fibrous surface, with 2 basal obturators. Figs. 41 & 42.
Common in West Africa in a coastal strip, in places up to 300 km wide, from Senegal to
Liberia, and with a scattered east-west distribution in the much drier and more continental
northern half of the Sudanian region 700–1000 km inland. Cultivated in Panama. 22: GAM,
GNB, GUI, LBR, MLI, NGA, NGR, SEN, SIE. 24: SUD. 80: pan. Apparently confined to
sandy soils. Map 254.
22. GAMBIA: Abuka Natwe Reserve, Starin 129 (K). GUINEA: Tabili, C.H.O.Pobéguin 836 (P). GUINEA-
BISSAU: Pussube, Bissau, J.V.C.Espírito Santo 1154 (BR, K, WAG). LIBERIA: Paynesville, near Monrovia,
J.C.Bequaert 181 (K). MALI: Bamako, G.E.Roberty 2349 (P). NIGER: Wadi Dallol, L.P.White 59 (K).
NIGERIA: Sokoto Prov., Salongari F. R., Argungu, A.V.Fox FH I 5305 (FHO, K). SENEGAL: Mechke,
F.N.Hepper 3603 (K); Reserve de Noflaye, 30 km NE of Dakar, J.E.Lawesson 7120 (AAU, K). SIERRA
LEONE: Mano Bonjema, F.C.Deighton 5302 (K).
The fruit are edible.
Figure 42. Neocarya macrophylla. 1 /2 flower and ovary (A.V.Fox FHI 5305). Scale bar: A = 5 mm.
Drawn by Janet Dyer. Previously published in G.T.Prance & F.White, Philos. Trans. B 320:
105, 106 (1988).
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