Culcasia linearifolia
Plant terrestrial, stem upright, 12 – 18 cm long and 0.3 – 0.4 cm in diam., with several very strong, straight, wire-like roots orientated downwards, 10 – 15 cm long and c. 2 mm in diam., divided after reaching the forest floor into ± horizontally oriented roots of second order c. 1 mm in diam., and further thinner third order roots. Internodes 2 – 3 cm long. Leaves several, 7 – 8; petiole 2 – 3 cm long and 1.2 – 1.5 mm in diam., above the sheath 0.5 – 1(– 1.4) cm long, sheath 2 – 2.5 × 3 – 3.5 mm, ending in a free, acute apex of 3 – 4 mm length; leaf blade very narrowly oblong to linear, sometimes slightly oblique, leathery, dull dark green above and much paler green underneath (after the collector’s notes), (14 –)16 – 24 × (1.2 –)1.8 – 3 cm, base cuneate, apex acute and often slightly curved; venation reticulate, midvein strong, primary lateral veins 3 – 4 on each side and running towards the apex, second order veins thinner, reticulate, third order veins very thin and inconspicuous. Inflorescence unknown. Infructescence ± flat with only a few fruits, without any spathe remnants; peduncle c. 3 cm long and 1 – 1.2(– 1.5) mm in diam.; berries few, only 2 – 4, globose to depressedglobose, orange, 0.8 – 1.2 cm in diam., with persistent stigma remnant of c. 1.5 mm in diam., stigma sessile; seeds 1 – 3 in each berry, ellipsoid to ovoid, 6 – 7 mm long and c. 5 mm in diam., testa scabrous and dark coloured.
Planta terrestris non scandens, erecta, radicibus rigidis; petioli breves (2 – 2.5 cm longi), vagina apice acuta; lamina foliorum linearis interdum subobliqua, 16 – 24 cm longa et 1.8 – 3 cm lata, basi cuneata, apice acuta; baccae depresse globulatae; semina ovoidea vel ellipsoidea, testa scabra. Culcasia linearifolia differt a speciebus ceteris generis lamina foliorum lineari.
The species is known so far from NW Gabon and SW Cameroon.
Further specimens seen. —
Gabon: Cristal Mountains, about 3 km along the road from Tschimbélé to Kinguélé, alt. c. 550 m, herb growing on forest floor in old secondary forest, fruits orange, globose, flattened above, 13 ×16 mm, leaves thick leathery, dull dark green above, beneath dull, much paler green, 14.12.1989 (fruiting), J. J. de Wilde & al. 10051 (WAG). Cameroon: Colline Ongogo près Mbanga, km 81 route Kribi–Nkolbewa, prés sous-préfecture Akom, fruits, Avril, Letouzey 9480 (P, YA).