Faurea wentzeliana Engl.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Morphology General Habit

Tree up to 35 m high; bole up to c. 90 cm d.b.h Tree up to 35 m high; bole up to c. 90 cm d.b.h.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 1–1.5 mm long Anthers 1–1.5 mm long.

Morphology General Scales

Hypogynous scales small, triangular, narrowly attenuated to the apex, 1–2 mm long. Hypogynous scales small, triangular, narrowly attenuated to the apex, 1–2 mm long.

Ecology

In montane rain-forest between (1100)1400–3000 m.

Note

In the living plant the bright green glossy leaves with undulate margins and conspicuous red venation, plus the rather slender whitish flower buds in short dense axillary spikes distinguish it from other species with which it may be confused.

Distribution

Mozambique Zimbabwe MAL N, ZIM E, MOZ MS Malawi Endemic to the Nyanga (Inyanga), Vumba and Chimanimani Mountain ranges of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Also in Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Dem. Rep. Congo.

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets reddish and rusty-pubescent, becoming brown and glabrous. Young branchlets reddish and rusty-pubescent, becoming brown and glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves bright glossy-green, concolorous, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, up to 15(20) cm long, 4 cm broad, apex mucronate, ± cuneate at base, margins undulate; young leaves with red midrib and red secondary venation, older leaves with yellow midrib prominent beneath; leaves entirely glabrous except for a few grey hairs near the base when young; petioles (0.5)1–1.5 cm long, semiterete, with grey appressed hairs when young, glabrescent. Leaves bright glossy-green, concolorous, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, up to 15(20) cm long, 4 cm broad, apex mucronate, ± cuneate at base, margins undulate; young leaves with red midrib and red secondary venation, older leaves with yellow midrib prominent beneath; leaves entirely glabrous except for a few grey hairs near the base when young; petioles (0.5)1–1.5 cm long, semiterete, with grey appressed hairs when young, glabrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Spikes up to 13 cm long, terminal or in the axils of the upper leaves; peduncle densely rusty pubescent; bracts cupuliform, very small, rusty pubescent. Spikes up to 13 cm long, terminal or in the axils of the upper leaves; peduncle densely rusty pubescent; bracts cupuliform, very small, rusty pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth white or yellowish, 1–1.1 cm long, rather clavate below, becoming slender towards the middle and then becoming slightly clavate again near the tip, densely rusty pubescent in bud, retaining short rusty or golden appressed hairs when expanded but not densely covered. Perianth white or yellowish, 1–1.1 cm long, rather clavate below, becoming slender towards the middle and then becoming slightly clavate again near the tip, densely rusty pubescent in bud, retaining short rusty or golden appressed hairs when expanded but not densely covered