list of figures - Terry Sunderland

± concolorous with prominent transverse veinlets, margin unarmed; acanthophylls
2.5-2.8 cm long. Inflorescences, numbering 4-8 produced simultaneously in the distal
to 30 cm of stem; peduncle c.8 cm long; prophyll c.3.5 cm; rachis bracts 1.5-2 cm
long, gradually decreasing distally, tapering to form a short, triangular lobe, often
tattering, finely longitudinally striate, closely adpressed to the bract above; rachillae 8-
12 cm long, spreading, densely covered in imbricate longitudinally striate, rachillae
bracts ± 3 mm long, each with a wide opening and 1 mm-long apiculum. Flowers at
anthesis, 6-8 mm x 2-3 mm; calyx tan-cream, 4-4.5 mm long, tubular in the basal 2.5-
3 mm, with 3 longitudinally striate, 2 mm x 2-2.5 mm triangular lobes; corolla, tubular
in the basal 0.8-1 mm only, with three valvate lobes, white or pale cream,
longitudinally striate, 6-7.5 mm x 2-2.5 mm, with a broadly acuminate tip; stamen
filaments dark brown, 3 mm x 1 mm, united into 1 mm-long basal tube; anthers 3 mm
x 1 mm; ovary ± 1 mm in diameter, stigma up to 4 mm long. Fruit at maturity, ovoid,
0.8-1 cm x 0.6-0.8 cm, with 14-18 rows of vertical scales. Seed smooth, ovoid, 0.6-0.8
cm long, 0.4-0.6 cm wide, ± 0.3 cm thick, flattened on one side, with light linear
depression running from base to apex.
Distribution
L. laeve is distributed in the coastal forests from Liberia and the forest of Upper
Guinea to Cameroon and south to Cabinda (Angola). However, there is a considerable
disjunction from Ghana to Nigeria.
Habitat and ecology
This species, in common with, L. opacum is shade tolerant and is commonly found
under a forest canopy. In fact, aside from on basaltic soils the two species often
sympatric.
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