| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | Rare |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Herbaceous perennial growing from a globose tuber, to 1 cm diameter. Stem twining, unbranched, to 30 cm long, < 0.5 mm thick. Leaves of two types: basal leaves with petiole 2–6 mm long, margins puberulent, leaf blade ovate to suborbicular, 12–18 x 6–14 mm; upper leaves progressively smaller, base tapering to cuneate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse, lower surface very sparsely puberulent on major veins, otherwise glabrous, upper surface and margins shortly pubescent. Inflorescence extra-axillary, sessile, cyme 1-flowered. Pedicel 7–8 mm long, slender.Sepals lanceolate, c.1.7 x 0.5 mm wide, adpressed to corolla, midrib puberulent. Corolla c.10 mm, straight or slightly bent above basal inflation; tube 7–8 mm long, basal chamber subglobose, c.2 mm long, 2.5 mm wide, ± abruptly narrowed at apex, limb cylindrical, c.1 mm wide, limb widening gradually to 2 mm wide at mouth; exterior unmarked, both surfaces glabrous, interior with scattered darker spots, sinuses obtuse, narrowly auriculate; lobes 1.8–2 mm long, revolute towards apex, apices connate to form broadly ovoid to cylindrical cage,, minutely velvety papillose, with very prominent purple cilia to 7 mm long. Corona apparently sessile; outer lobes forming shallow pockets, spreading, rounded, entire, lower than anthers, pale, glabrous; inner lobes erect, narrowly linguiform to spathulate, c.1.1 mm long, dark, glabrous. Follicles and seed not known. |
| Type location: |
Zambia |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | leptotes : slender, thin, narrow |
| Habitat: | Twining up grasses growing in crevices of large rocks on mountain sides. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1500 m (approx) |
| Flowering time: | Jan - May |
| Worldwide distribution: | Only known from the type collection in northern Zambia |
| FZ divisions: | N |
| Zambian distribution (Provinces): | Mc |
| Growth form(s): | Perennial. |
| Endemic status: | Endemic |
| Red data list status: | Endangered |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Tuesday 14 March 2023 |
| Literature: |
Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Apocynaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Page 133. Protologue (Includes a picture). |