Tinnea zambesiaca Baker

J. R. Timberlake, E. S. Martins (2013). Flora Zambesiaca, Vol 8: part 8. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Type

Type: Malawi, Manganja Hills, Shire R., opposite Chibisa (Chikwawa), 10.iii.1862, Kirk s.n. (K lectotype), lectotypified by Robyns & Lebrun (1930).

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or subshrub 0.5–2 m tall

Morphology Stem

Stem pubescent to sparsely sericeous with white to violet hairs, scattered sessile glands

Morphology Leaves

Leaves lanceolate to ovate, rarely elliptic, 21–60(65) × 7–25 mm, apex acute to acuminate, rarely obtuse with a point, base attenuate to cuneate, rarely truncate, scabrous above, sericeous to subglabrous beneath; petiole 2–8(10) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence (5)10–30(50) cm long, verticils 5–40 mm apart, usually secund, up to 7 flowers in axils of lower bract; bract greenish purple, 5–17(26) × 4–8(11) mm, roundish to ovate with a short mucro; bracteoles 1–6 mm long; pedicel in flower 3–7(12) mm long, 5–15 mm long in fruit, shorter than bract with joint above middle, normally close to calyx

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Flowering calyx brown to dark purple, 7–14 × 3–9 mm, sparsely to densely sericeous with white to violet hairs; fruiting calyx dark brown to dark purple, rarely light brown, coriaceous, 13–20 × 9–14(16) mm, splitting into 2 parts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 15–25 mm long, anterior lip deep reddish brown to blackish purple, protruding part pilose to subglabrous with sessile glands; tube 9–14 mm long; posterior lip 2–5 mm long, middle lobe of anterior lip 7–14 × 4–6(14) mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets 6–10 mm long, pubescent (rarely glabrous); wing 6–11 mm diameter, with primary and secondary rays.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Not known elsewhere.

Ecology

Miombo and mixed woodland, wooded grassland, streamsides and rock outcrops; 100–1500 m.

Conservation

Endemic to the Flora area. Widespread; Least Concern.

Recognition

This species is very close to Tinnea gracilis but can be distinguished by having pedicels shorter than the bracts, a bigger calyx and bigger nutlets. It can be distingushed from T. aethiopica subsp. stolzii by the coriaceous fruiting calyx, the pedicel jointed above the middle, and the differing habit.