Cercestis kamerunianus (Araceae)
Plant climbing to 1.5-5 m above the ground; Anchor roots 2.5-5 cm, twisted in the terminal portion of the stem which bears the the leaves and inflorescences, a few leaves scattered on the internodes; Stem 2-2.5 mm thick when dry, becoming more vigourous, 4-5 mm at the terminal extremity bearing the inflorescences; Internodes long, 8-10 cm. LEAVES: Petiole 1/3-1/2 blade length, (2.5-) 7.5-10.5 cm, occasionally almost as long; sheath confined to the extreme base of the petiole, 0.5 cm; Blade (6.5-) 16-23.5 x (4-) 7.5-9.5 cm, oblong-elliptic, narrowed towards the base, base very shortly cordiform to subtruncate, apex acute or shortly acuminate; Primary veins 5-6 pairs, reunited by a network of secondary veins, dotted when dry; rarely translucent dashes in the parenchyma, visible enough on the Type; some sparse miniscule circular excressences on the lower surface of the blade. INFLORESCENCES terminal, 1-2, surrounded by bracts almost as long as spathe ± peduncle; Peduncles shorter than the petiole, 3-6.5 cm; spathe apex obtuse, 3.5-4.5 cm; spadix often exserted; Female zone ca. 1/3 length of male zone; ovary circular; stigma small in comparison with ovary; Ovule miniscule. INFRUCTESCENCE: Berries subglobose.
It seems logical to put into synonymy the two species Cercestis kamerunianus and Cercestis gabunensis, because the two taxa show many characters in common: 1. blade oblong-elliptic, narrowing towards base; 2.base shortly cordate, the posterior lobes reaching less than 1 cm long; 3.apex of blade acute to shortly acuminate; 4. primary veins somewhat prominent; 5.petioles 1/3 - 1/2 the length of the blade; The distinction between these two species, according to Engler, lies in the angle of separation made by the posterior lobes and and the longer and more acuminate blade in Cercestis gabunensis; meanwhile the Paris Isotype of Klaine of Cercestis gabunensis, on observing the leaves, sometimes the posterior lobes are spreading, sometimes they are almost overlapping; Also observed is, always on the same specimen, blades with a slightly acuminate apex, but with the posterior lobes noticably spreading.
Nigeria, Gabon and Cameroun where it is frequent in the region of Limbe (=Victoria)-Buea-Kumba and to a lesser degree in the regions of Douala, Eséka, Ebolowa.
In the understorey of swamp forest or on slopes.