Coccinia samburuensis Holstein

Holstein, N. & Renner, S.S. 2010. Coccinia (Cucurbitaceae) gains two new species from East Africa, three new synonyms, and one new combination. Kew Bulletin 65: 435. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-010-9229-9

Vernacular

None are known.

Note

Cocciniasamburuensis was first collected in 1958 and mentioned as Coccinia sp. A in the Flora of Tropical East Africa (Jeffrey 1967: 63), with the characters mentioned being the (5 –) 7-lobate leaves with sinuate-lobulate and glandular-toothed margins and the relatively large flowers. In addition, the species has distinct cylindrical fruits, lineal calyx teeth, and simple tendrils. Jeffrey knew only a male specimen, but female individuals have since become available, and at least five duplicates exist of the type collection (R. B. Faden & A. J. Faden 74/948; R. B. Faden, pers. comm., 7 April 2010). Unfortunately, the whereabouts of three of them remain unclear.

Type

Kenya, Rift Valley Province. Samburu Distr., on Wamba – Isiolo road, 0.7 km S of turnoff to Maralal, c. 1300 m, ♀ fl., fr., 4 July 1974, R. B. Faden & A. J. Faden 74/948 (holotypus MO; isotypus WAG).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial dioecious climber up to 5 m long

Morphology Stem

Stem subglabrous except for tiny, few-celled hairs visible under 5 – 10× magnification, when older white-speckled

Morphology Leaves

Leaves coriaceous, 6 – 14  ×  10 – 13 (– 17) cm, (5 –) 7-lobate, the lobe apices subacute to apiculate, margins serrate (to lobulate), teeth (lobule tips) with yellowish glands, upper lamina glabrous, clear or white pustulate, lower lamina glabrous, often with small blackish glands between the vein bases, nerves white-speckled, petioles glabrous and sometimes with white speckles along the base. Tendrils simple

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Probract

Probracts up to 0.4 cm long, ovoid, acute, glandular on both sides, underneath with few-cellular hairs at 5 – 10× magnification

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers solitary, pedicel 0.4 – 0.5 cm long, glabrous, the ovary narrow cylindrical, glabrous, receptacle tube c. 0.3 cm long, glabrous, calyx teeth 3 mm long, linear, the corolla 3.2 – 4 cm long and yellow-orange, the lobes 2.5 cm long, obovate, the tips acute-mucronate, the lobes abaxially with several long multi-cellular hairs Male flowers 1 – 2 solitary, pedicel up to 5 cm long, glabrous, receptacle tube glabrous, calyx teeth 0.65 cm long, linear, the corolla 3.7 cm long and brownish yellow, the lobes obovate, the tips acute-mucronate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits c- 14 cm long and 1.5 – 2 cm in diam., sausage-shaped, unripe green with lighter spots, the pulp orange

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 6.5 – 7  ×  3.5 – 4.5 mm (L/W), symmetrical, ovate in outline, and flat lenticular

Distribution

Cocciniasamburuensis is only known from the Samburu District in the Rift Yalley Province in Kenya

Ecology

Cocciniasamburuensis grows on rocky outcrops, near rivers or seepage lines, in Acacia-Commiphora deciduous bushland; 1200 – 1600 m.

Conservation

The species is only known from four collections, and we therefore cannot assess its conservation status. It is treated here as Data Deficient (DD).