Rubiaceae
Psychotria laurentii
- Dried stipule.
- Young stipule covering terminal bud.
- Midrib and venation, leaf lower surface.
- Dried fruit.
- Dried seed.
- Immature fruit.
General Information
Like Psychotria djumaensis this is one of the few species of Psychotria taller than 2 m in this area. It has a similar inrolled leaf margin but differs in leaf shape and the presence of tufts of hairs in the axil of the veins and the midrib on the underside of the leaves. These domatia are sometimes used by insects to build their nests and when this happens the domatia become more obvious and can be seen clearly with the naked eye. This species also sheds its stipules rather quickly but they are more elongated than the stipules of P. djumaensis and they often persist as dried black remains clasping the stem. The fruit are bright red when ripe, obovoid in shape and can be up to 2 cm long.
Ecology
Like P. jumaensis this species occurs in wet places, especially seasonally flooded forest. It also is clearly adapted to this seasonality by producing its flowers in the dry season when the water level is lower.
Distribution
Distribution: Cameroon to DRC.