Dicliptera latibracteata I.Darbysh.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/48153856/48154565

Conservation

VU - vulnerable

Darbyshire, I. (2008). Notes on the genus Dicliptera (Acanthaceae) in Eastern Africa. Kew Bulletin 63: 361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-008-9053-7

Type

Kenya, near Moiben R., upper Nzoia, Brodhurst Hill 666 (holotypus K!; isotypus EA!).

Morphology General Habit

Scrambling, rarely erect, perennial herb or subshrub, 90 – 150 (– 300) cm tall, laxly branched

Morphology Stem

Stems 6-angular, ± prominently pale-ridged, sparsely to densely appressed pale-pubescent, hairs ascending

Morphology Leaves

Leaves often few at flowering; petiole 4 – 20 (– 32) mm long, pubescent particularly above; blade 2 – 6.5 cm long, 1 – 2.5 cm wide, ovate, base rounded to acute, apex acute or shortly attenuate, apiculate, surfaces sparsely to rather densely pubescent, sometimes additionally pilose on the nerves beneath; lateral nerves 4 – 6 (– 7) pairs, pale and conspicuous beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymules subsessile or peduncle to 5 mm long, antrorse- to spreading-pubescent, rarely with short glandular hairs; bract pairs highly unequal, the larger (8 –) 10.5 – 21 mm long, (4 –) 5 – 10.5 mm wide, broadly obovate, apex rounded, obtuse or rarely acute, mucronate, surfaces sometimes tinged purplish or brown towards apex, paler towards base, indumentum as main axis bracts but often more densely ciliate towards base, sometimes with more glandular hairs, midrib prominent, lateral nerves rather inconspicuous; bracteoles (7 –) 9 – 13 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, apex subattenuate, surfaces with glandular hairs particularly towards the apex and with scattered long eglandular hairs mainly on margin Inflorescences axillary, 1 – 2 (– 3) umbels of (2 –) 3 – 5 (– 7) cymules per axil; primary peduncle (2.5 –) 5 – 40 mm long, antrorse-pubescent; main axis bracts (6 –) 7.5 – 19 mm long, 1.5 – 11 mm wide, broadly, more rarely narrowly, elliptic (-lanceolate) or obovate, apex attenuate, mucronulate, pubescent particularly on the margin and midrib, with or without scattered glandular hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes (5.5 –) 6.5 – 8.5 mm long, lanceolate, glandular-puberulent outside, margin ± sparsely long-ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla (19 –) 21 – 27 mm long, magenta, palate and throat to upper lip whitish and purple-streaked, retrorse-pubescent outside with sparse short-stalked glands particularly on limb, basal 4.5 – 7.5 mm glabrous; tube (7 –) 8.5 – 11 mm long; lip held in upper position 10.5 – 16.5 mm long, 3 – 5.5 mm wide, oblong, apex shortly 3-lobed, palate puberulous at mouth; lip held in lower position 9.5 – 15 mm long, 6 – 10.5 mm wide, broadly ovate-elliptic. Stamens with filaments 8 – 11.5 mm long, sparsely pubescent mainly on upper side; anther thecae (0.7 –) 1 – 1.3 mm long, superposed and becoming separated by up to 0.5 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous or sparsely puberulous towards apex; style sparsely strigulose or largely glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule (6.5 –) 8 – 8.5 mm long, eglandular-pubescent, hairs mainly retrorse, with short glandular hairs towards apex; placental base elastic. Seeds ± 2.3 mm in diameter, tuberculate, tubercles squat and unhooked.

Distribution

S Sudan, Kenya (K 1, 2, 3, 5).

Ecology

Montane forest at 1950 – 2750 m alt., most commonly associated with Juniperus- and Podocarpus-dominated forests in the understorey and particularly in marginal thickets. For example, it has been recorded within an open scrub-like assemblage of Juniperus, Olea, Cussonia, Vepris and montane shrubby elements such as Erica, Clutia, Berberis and Heteromorpha (fide Polhill 440). It can be locally common, and was recorded as “forming the forest undergrowth” at N Tinderet (fide Dale 1735). Its apparent absence from suitable locations in northern Uganda is noteworthy.

Conservation

Near Threatened (NT). Although locally abundant and tolerant of some disturbance, habitat within its limited range is threatened by widespread forest clearance and the planting of exotic timbers such as Pinus and Cupressus.

Note

“Dicliptera sp. (= Puff & Ensermu K. 821212 – 6/11)” of Ensermu (2006), known from three collections in Sidamo and Shewa, Ethiopia, is also allied to D. latibracteata but differs in having a smaller, more slender habit, retrorsely-pubescent stems and peduncles, smaller flowers and fruits and in lacking long pilose hairs on the cymule bracts. It also differs in habitat, being recorded from deciduous woodland at 1600 – 1800 m alt. Specimens from the NW part of the range (Imatong Mts of Sudan and Turkana Distr., Kenya) have cymule bracts with a more acute apex than in the core range. A second collection from the Imatong Mts (Friis & Vollesen 921; C, K!) is close to Dicliptera latibracteata but has subsessile inflorescences and narrower cymule bracts. It is possible that this material represents an extreme variant of this species; further collections, including fruiting material, are desirable from this region. Dicliptera latibracteata appears most closely allied to the widespread and sympatric D. maculata Nees. It is most readily separated by its proportionally broader, strongly obovate cymule bracts and broad main axis bracts