Monodora junodii
Tree or shrub to 7-8 m high; d.b.h. to 10 cm; outer bark light grey to brown, striate; young branches blackish with white lenticels, glabrous; old branches striate, grey, glabrous. Petioles 3-12 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, glabrous, leaf lamina inserted on side, broadly grooved adaxially. Leaf lamina 5-16 cm long, 2-6 cm wide, length:width ratio 2-3.3, narrowly obovate to obovate or narrowly elliptic to elliptic, base cuneate to obtuse to rounded, apex acuminate, acute or obtuse, acumen up to 9 mm long, sub-coriaceous or papyraceous, glabrous; midrib glabrous on both sides; secondary veins (7-)9-12(-17) pairs, uniformally curving upwards, glabrous. Flowers single, leaf-opposed, developing before or during leaf flush, pendulous. Flowering pedicels 5-30(-40) mm long, glabrous to sparsely covered with short appressed hairs. Upper bract inserted sub-basally to centrally on the pedicel, 9-14 mm long, 4-10 mm wide, length:width ratio 0.8-1.5, broadly ovate to ovate, base decurrent, apex rounded to obtuse, covered with short erect hairs. Sepals 5-15 mm long, 4-11 mm wide, length:width ratio 1.2-1.8, ovate to oblong, base truncate, apex acute, covered on both sides with short appressed hairs, pale green, non persistent in fruit; margins straight, densely covered with short curly hairs. Outer petals (18-)25-35(-41) mm long, 13-30 mm wide, length:width ratio 1.2-2, ovate to broadly ovate or elliptic to broadly elliptic, base narrowed, apex acute to rounded, sparsely covered with short erect hairs to glabrous on both surfaces, green with purple base when young, dark reddish-purple at anthesis; spreading horizontally then curving downwards, margins straight, densely covered with short curly hairs to glabrous. Inner petals (8-)10-21 mm long, 8-18 mm wide, length:width ratio 1.2-1.6, clawed ovate to rhomboid, base truncate or rounded to acute, apex rounded or acute to shortly acuminate, covered with short appressed hairs on both surfaces except on the proximal part of the lamina or sometimes glabrous on the outside, whitish-green with purple base, the centers of inner petal lamina pressed against each other over receptacle, with a bi-lobed gland at base of lamina; margins straight, folded outwards, covered with short erect hairs; claw curved inwards, 4-8 mm long, 2-4 mm long, claw:inner petal ratio 0.3-0.7, glabrous to sparsely covered with short erect hairs, white. Receptacle ca. 4 mm in diameter, slightly convex. Stamens in 8-10 rows, 0.7-1 mm long; connective shield 0.2 mm long, glabrous, those of inner whorl not extended over ovary wall. Ovary ca. 2 mm long, 1-1.2 mm in diameter; stigma ca. 1.5 mm in diameter, covered with short erect hairs. Fruiting pedicels 1-5 cm long, 3-5 mm in diameter. Fruits 3-5.5 cm long, 1.2-5.5 cm in diameter, length:width ratio 1-1.5, globose to broadly ovoid, wrinkled, constricted over seeds, glabrous, dark green spotted with white; pericarp 1-2 mm thick. Seeds 8-16 mm long, 5-8 mm wide, broadly ellipsoid, packed in white pulp; testa smooth, darkish brown; raphe very slightly thickened, dark brown; hilum 3-3.5 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, elliptical.
Monodora junodii is distinct from other East African species by the ovate to broadly ovate outer petals and the straight margins of the inner and outer petals. However, M. junodii is a variable species in terms of the dimensions of the leaves, petioles, and pedicels, as well as the shape of the leaves, which has led to the recognition of two varieties by Paiva (1970). Additionally, the shape of the inner petals can also vary being rounded to acuminate at apex. A continuum from one extreme to another can be observed, and thus the two varieties are no longer recognized. Moreover, as indicated above what unites this species is straight margins of the outer and inner petals as well as the inner petals being connivent by the center of the laminas, a rare character in Monodora.
This species resembles the endemic Cameroonian species M. zenkeri by the shape of the inner and outer petals but is different by the absence of two small lobes at the base of the outer petals. Monodora junodii also resembles the East African species M. hastipetala by the inner petals being connivent at the center as well as by the shape of the leaves. However, M. hastipetala has narrowly oblong outer petals and a long-acuminate inner petal apex, as well as smaller flowers.
Robson (1960) indicates that the specimen Junod 411 from Berlin has been destroyed, which is incorrect.
The seeds are strung together by the women to make necklaces (Palgrave 1977).
LC. Monodora junodii is well represented in herbaria and has been collected numerous times since 1990. It has been collected in several protected areas (forest reserves, national parks and a game reserve). Therefore, the category “least concern” seems justified.
Molecular data strongly supports the sister relationship between M. junodii and M. hastipetala.
Throughout East Africa, from Kenya to northern South Africa; in coastal riverside thicket on sand or in moist lowland forests or in moist evergreen coastal forests; at 0-900 m altitude.