Flora Zambesiaca
Taxon Detail
FZ volume:2 part:1 (1963) Ochnaceae by N. K. B. Robson
(Search other Kew databases for: Ochna kirkii)
Ochna kirkii Oliv.
F.T.A. 1: 317 (1868). — Sim, For. Fl. Port. E. Afr.: 28 (1909). — Brenan, T.T.C.L.: 384 (1949). Type: Mozambique (or Tanganyika), R. Rovuma, 36 km. from coast, Kirk (K, holotype).
Synonyms:
Ochna carvalhi Engl.
Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C.: 273 (1895). — Gilg in Engl., Bot. Jahrb.33: 236 (1903). — Brenan, op. cit.: 383 (1949). Type: Mozambique, Mussoril and Cabeceira, Carvalho (B†, holotype; COI).
Polythecium carvalhi (Engl.) Van Tiegh.
loc. cit.
Polythecium kirkii (Oliv.) Van Tiegh.
in Ann. Sci. Nat., Ser. 8, Bot. 16: 368 (1902). Type as for Ochna kirkii.
Distribution:
Mozambique
N: Quissanga, near Meluco, fl. & fr. 2.x.1948, Barbosa 2319 (LISC; LMJ).
Z: Mocuba, fl. 1943, Torre (LISC).
Range:
Eastern districts of Kenya; Tanganyika;
Habitat:
In the shrub layer of evergreen forest and in evergreen scrub 0–600 m.
Description:
Shrub or small tree (1) 2–5 (6) m. high, evergreen, with bark rather rough, greyish-white; branches slender or rather stout, ± spreading, reddish-purple or brownish with prominent lenticels at first, becoming greyish-white. Leaves petiolate; lamina (5) 6·5–11·2 × 2·6–5·1 cm. (up to 21 × 7 cm. in E. Africa), elliptic or oblong-elliptic to narrowly obovate, obtuse to rounded and mucronate at the apex, with margin entire or slightly undulate, usually beset with numerous equal dark-tipped cilia, cuneate to cordate at the base, ± coriaceous, with main lateral nerves more prominent than subsidiary ones and densely reticulate tertiary venation prominent above but almost plane below; petiole 4–5 (6) mm. long, slender to stoutish, sometimes rather swollen. Flowers 3-c. 20 in ± condensed panicles terminating short lateral shoots; pedicels 1–2·5 cm. long in fruit, articulated about 1/4 the distance from the base. Sepals 10–14 mm. long in flower, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, rounded, becoming red, 12–16 mm. long, flat and spreading in fruit. Petals bright yellow, sometimes dark-veined, 15–25 × 10–18 mm., obovate to broadly elliptic, unguiculate. Stamens with anthers 4–5 mm. long, equalling or half as long as the filaments, frequently incurved, dehiscing by apical pores. Carpels (8) 10–12, with styles free at the apex and spreading; stigmas capitate. Drupelets 9–10 × 5·5–8 mm., flattened-cylindric, inserted near the base; embryo straight.
Notes:
O. kirkii has been confused (e.g. by Gilg in Engl., Hot. Jahrb. 33: 245 (1903)) with the E. African O. thomasiana, a plant of coastal forests in which the leaves are usually smaller and auriculate at the base with long basal cilia and the flowers usually smaller and fewer in each inflorescence.
