Polyceratocarpus scheffleri Engl. & Diels

Species

Angiosperms > Magnoliales > Annonaceae > Polyceratocarpus

Characteristics

Tall tree with grey bark; young branchlets finely ferruginous pubescent, soon glabrous, blackish rugulose, probably with glaucous appearance.. Leaf-blades elliptic-oblong or obovate-elliptic, 16–30 cm. long, 5–10 cm. wide, bluntly acuminate at the apex, narrowly rounded at the base, not very coriaceous, with scattered adpressed ferruginous hairs beneath, particularly on the midrib when very young, but soon glabrous; lateral nerves 9–15; venation not very conspicuous; petiole 6–8 mm. long, thick, rugulose.. Flowers borne on older shoots; peduncles ±1.5 cm. long, ferruginous pubescent; buds densely ferruginous pubescent outside.. Calyx circular, the sepals entirely joined, ± 1 cm. in diameter, rugulose, ferruginous pubescent outside.. Petals elliptic to ovate-elliptic, bluntly subacute at the apex, narrowed or slightly clawed at the base, ferruginous tomentose on both sides or the inner mostly glabrescent within; outer 2.2–3.5 cm. long, 1.3–1.7 cm. wide; inner 2–3 cm. long, 1–1.4 cm. wide.. Stamens ± 3.5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, the connective-appendage tuberculate.. Carpels 4–5 mm. long, densely hairy.. Monocarps at least 20, cylindrical, strongly curved, 15–20 cm. long, 2.3–2.7 cm. wide, many-seeded (probably 25 or so), somewhat constricted between the seeds.. Seeds compressed oblong-ellipsoid, thickened one side, 1.6–1.8 cm. long, 1.1–1.3 cm. wide; testa striped with purplish-brown.. Fig. 8.
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A tall tree. The bark is grey. The young branches have rusty coloured hairs. The leaves are alternate and large and oblong. They are 16-30 cm long. It has a pointed tip. The leaves are shiny above and with rusty hairs underneath. The edges are wavy. The flowers are on older shoots. They have 6 petals in 2 rings. The flower stalk is thick and curved. They are 1.5 cm long. The fruit are about 20 cylinder shaped carpels twisted together. These are 15-20 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. There are about 25 seeds 1.8 cm long. They are striped purple-brown.
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Sexuality hermaphrodite
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Environment

It is a tropical plant. In Tanzania it grows in the rainforest between 800-1,000 m above sea level. It suits humid locations.
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Rainforests at elevations from 800-1,000 metres. Lowland and montane forest.
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Usage

The inner bark is dried, pounded and sieved. This powder is used as a spice in soup or tea.
Uses environmental use food fuel medicinal spice tea wood
Edible barks
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Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds.
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Conservation status

Polyceratocarpus scheffleri threat status: Endangered

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:74769-1
WFO ID wfo-0001066194
COL ID 4L3W2
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Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Dielsina schefferi Polyceratocarpus scheffleri