Diospyros smeathmannii E. Mestre, Meeprom, H. N. Rakouth & Lowry 2025, comb. nov.
Creators: name: Mestre Serra, Edgard
name: Puglisi, Carmen
name: Linan, Alexander G.
name: Meeprom, Nattanon
name: Rakouth, Hasina N.
name: Schmidt, Heidi H.
name: Lowry II, Porter P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Ericales
Ebenaceae
Diospyros
Diospyros smeathmannii

description: 4.Diospyros smeathmannii(A. DC.) E. Mestre, Meeprom, H. N. Rakouth & Lowry comb. nov.
Figs 1 D, 2 D
Maba smeathmannii A. DC., Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis, vol. 8: 241. 1844 (as ‘ smeathmanni ’). (Candolle 1844: 241) – Type: same as for Diospyros smeathmannii.
Maba vacciniifolia Benth. (in Hooker 1849: 442) – Type: SAO TOMÉ & PRINCIPE • Sao Tomé [St. Thomas], [without precise locality]; G. Don s. n.; holotype: K! [K 000350677]; isotype: BM [BM 000925476] scan seen.
Maba secundiflora Hutch. (Hutchinson 1921: 384) – Type: NIGERIA – Bauchi State • Tilde Filani; 3300 ft. [1005 m]; 24 May 1921; ♀ fl.; Lely 229; lectotype (designated here): K! [K 000350653].
Type
IVORY COAST • [Without precise locality]; s. d.; Smeathman s. n.; holotype: G-DC [G 00142244, mounted on 3 sheets] scan seen; isotype: BM [BM 000925475] scan seen.
Description
Shrub, tree 2–10 m tall, 4–10 cm DBH. Bark pale grey, rugose, lenticels orange-brown, longitudinally elliptic. Young stems terete, dark brown to black, initially covered in dense, hispid, short, translucent pale yellow hairs <0.5 mm long and caducous, yellow-brown hairs 0.75–1.5 mm long. Leaves alternate; petiole 1.5–7 mm long, 0.5–1 mm diam., terete to nearly flat, occasionally narrowly sulcate, with short, erect, pale yellow hairs <0.5 mm long; lamina 1.5–11.5 × 0.6–4 cm, elliptic to occasionally obovate, often asymmetric and somewhat falcate, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, young leaves with a very sparse indumentum above, mature leaves glabrous above except for sparse to dense, tomentose hairs ca 0.5–1.5 mm long at the base and along the midvein below, sometimes discolourous (in sicco), dull green-brown to dark brown above, glossy, similarly coloured, occasionally glossy below (in vivo), young leaves red above, pale green below, mature leaves deep green and glossy above, paler and glaucous or glossy below, with scattered minute glands in varying numbers, primarily in the lower half of the lamina, base acute, margin flat or weakly undulated, slightly thickened and revolute, apex acuminate, acute or rarely rounded, acumen to 15 mm, rounded at the tip; venation pinnate, midrib narrowly sulcate above, raised below, secondary and tertiary venation faintly visible on both sides, concolourous with the blade to slightly lighter in colour below, raised on both sides; secondary venation emerging slightly decurrently at acute angles from the midrib, veins 7 to 9 per side, brochidodromous, forming loops sometimes close to the margin, the most apical ones smaller and more steeply angled; tertiary venation less conspicuous than the secondary, irregularly reticulate, branching, and forming further loops between the secondary veins and the margin. Male flowers in 2 - to 4 - flowered axillary cymes, axes densely covered in semi-appressed, tomentose, golden hairs ca 0.5 mm long, peduncle 0.5–2.5 mm long, pedicel 0.5–1 mm; calyx with moderate to sparse straight, appressed, golden to golden brown hairs 0.5-0.75 mm long outside, glabrous inside, basal portion cupuliform, 1.5–2.5 × 2.5–3 mm, lobes 3, broadly rounded-triangular to triangular, slightly reflexed, 1–2 × 1.5–2.5 mm, apex broadly acute; corolla glabrous outside except for a rhomboid to narrowly-rhomboid central area with dense, straight, appressed, golden to light brown hairs 1–1.25 mm long, glabrous inside, tube cupuliform, 2.5–4 × 2.5–3 mm, lobes 3, rounded-triangular, 2–3 × 2–3 mm, slightly imbricate, apex acute; stamens (3) 6 to 10 (11), inserted at the base of the corolla tube, filament 0.75–1 mm long, anther 1.5–2.5 mm long; pistillode ovoid, 1.5–2 × 1.5 mm, densely covered in erect, straight, golden hairs 0.75 mm long. Female flowers axillary, solitary, pedicel 1–2.5 mm long, densely covered in semi-appressed, sericeous, brown hairs <0.5 mm long; calyx densely covered in straight, appressed, golden hairs 0.25–0.5 mm long outside, glabrous inside, basal portion cupuliform, 2–3 × 2.5–3.5 mm, lobes 3, entire, broadly triangular, 1–1.5 × 2–3 mm, apex broadly acute; corolla glabrous except for a rhomboid central area of dense straight, appressed, golden hairs 0.75–1 mm long, glabrous inside, tube cylindrical, 2–3 × ca 2 mm, lobes ovate, slightly spreading, 2–2.5 × 1.5–2 mm, weakly imbricate, apex shortly acute; staminodes lacking; ovary ovoid, rounded-triangular in cross section, 2–2.5 × 2 mm, densely covered in straight, appressed, golden hairs ca 0.25 mm long, style ca 1 mm long, with the same indumentum as the ovary, increasingly sparse towards the stigmas. Fruits axillary, solitary, pedicel 1–1.5 mm; calyx cupuliform, 6–9 mm wide, with minute, moderately dense indumentum, sometimes glabrescent, brown (in vivo), basal portion cupuliform, 9–12 × 3.5–4 mm, lobes 3, broadly triangular, entire, 2–2.5 × 8–11 mm, apex broadly acute; fruit ellipsoid, 10–14 × 5–9 mm, orange at maturity (in vivo), surface smooth, with scattered, short, appressed, yellowish hairs, denser toward the apex, style persistent at the apex. Seeds 2, 10–11 × 4–4.5 mm, hemi-ellipsoid, surface uneven, dark grey to black, somewhat shiny.
Distribution
Senegal to NE Democratic Republic of the Congo (Fig. 4).
Habitat
Diospyros smeathmannii has been collected most often on river / stream banks and in swamps, at sites from sea level to ca 500 m, rarely up to 1250 m.
Phenology
Flowering material has been collected nearly year-round except in June and August, and fruiting material from September to April.
Preliminary IUCN conservation assessment
Diospyros smeathmannii has an Extent of Occurrence of 5,504,397 km 2 and a minimum Area of Occupancy of 280 km 2. The species is known from 87 collections, more than two-thirds of which date from prior to 1984, representing more than 50 different occurrences, some of which occur within protected areas. Targeted collecting at historic sites is needed to confirm the status of extant subpopulations. Diospyros smeathmannii is assessed as Least Concern: LC.
Additional material examined
CAMEROON – Without locality data • May – Jun. 1946; Aubréville 118 C; P [P 04595314, P 04595315]. – North Region • 60 km SW of Tcholliré; [08°23’15”N, 14°09’03”E]; 2 Feb. 1977; Fotius 2580; P [P 04595258, P 04595259].
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Bamingui-Bangoran Prefecture • Manovo-Gounda-St. Floris National Park; [08°41’00”N, 21°18’00”E]; 580 m; 19 Sep. 1983; Fay 5737; MO [MO-3853649]. – Ouaka Prefecture • Riv. Fo, 30 km ouest Moroubai; 22 Apr. 1923; R. P. Tisserant 1084; FHO [FHO-128781], P [P 04595255].
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Ituri Province • Epulu; [01°24’36”N, 28°34’48”E]; 21 Feb. 1914; Bequaert 2595; BR [BR 0000016101722, BR 0000016101739, BR 0000016101746] • Bela; [00°42’00”N, 29°15’00”E]; 400 m; s. d.; Michelson 464; BR [BR 0000016101685] • Zone de Mambasa (Ituri Forest); [01°10’00”N, 28°23’00”E]; 5 Mar. 1998; Ntumba 21; BR [BR 0000016101678], MO [MO-5659564] • Zone de Mambasa (Ituri Forest); [01°10’00”N, 28°23’00”E]; 5 Mar. 1998; Ntumba 39; BR [BR 0000016101449]. – Lomami Province • Beondo; [04°19’48”S, 20°36’00”E]; 20 Apr. 1959; Bamps 570; BR [BR 0000016101777], FHO [FHO-105509] • [Without precise locality]; 7 Feb. 1914; Bequaert 2362; BR [BR 0000016101753, BR 0000016101760], FHO [FHO-105464].
GABON – Estuaire Province • Ovang, E of Libreville; [00°29’00”N, 09°31’00”E]; 23 Jul. 1985; Bos 10766; BR [BR 0000016101647], K, MO [MO-4310171], P [P 04595303], WAG [WAG.1778709, WAG.1778710] • Same locality; 1 m; 15 Oct. 2000; Breteler 15653; BR [BR 0000016101463], MO [MO-6857195], WAG [WAG.1778711, WAG.1778712] • Same locality; 15 Feb. 1985; Louis 1715; BR [BR 0000016101456], MO [MO-6480264], WAG [WAG.1778698] • 1 km N of the landing stage of Ovang; [00°29’00”N, 09°31’00”E]; 15 Feb. 1985; Reitsma 830; MO [MO-4285103], WAG [WAG.1778708].
GHANA – Kada Region • Kada Agric. Research Station; [06°08’24”N, 00°53’24”W]; 17 Mar. 1972; Enti Sp 645; MO [MO-2094474].
GUINEA – Without locality data • Apr. 1905; Chevalier 13278; P [P 04595245] • Apr. 1905; Chevalier 13320; P [P 04595265] • Apr. 1905; Chevalier 13336; P [P 04595246]; Chevalier 13339; FHO [FHO-131146], P [P 04595266, P 04595267] • Apr. 1905; Chevalier 13607; P [P 04595268] • 1903; Pobéguin 851; P [P 04595271]. – Boké Region • Bel-Air, vers Drameya; [10°13’35”N, 14°27’30”W]; 2 m; 21 Oct. 2016; Bidault 2498; BRLU, HNG, MO [MO-3061991], P [P 01192530]. – Kankan Region • Dabola, chutes du Tinkisso; [10°43’42”N, 11°10’17”W]; 19 Apr. 1949; Adam 4535; MO [MO-2109761], P [P 04595270] • Dabola, towards Mamou; [10°43’12”N, 11°24’00”W]; 20 Apr. 1949; Adam 4551; MO [MO-2109758], P [P 04595269]. – Kindia Region • 4 km E of the village Taban; 09°53’32”N, 10°01’50”W; 450 m; 21 Apr. 2017; van der Burgt 2122; K [K 001286269]. – Labe Region • 10 km après Misside; [12°05’15”N, 12°19’23”W]; 12 Feb. 1979; Lisowski 51718; BR [BR 0000016101388, BR 0000016101395] • Mont Loura; [12°04’17”N, 12°05’04”W]; 17 Feb. 1979; Lisowski 51749; BR [BR 0000016101371].
GUINEA-BISSAU – Bissau Region • Bissalanca; [11°53’21”N, 14°55’32”W]; 10 Jan. 1945; Espirito Santo 1633; FHO [FHO-95112], K. – Cacheu Region • Canchungo; [12°03’36”N, 16°01’48”W]; 19 Apr. 1945; Espirito Santo 1937; FHO [FHO-95110], K, MO [MO-2427334], WAG [WAG.1777963]. – Oio Region • Farim, Begene; [12°26’24”N, 15°32’24”W]; 23 May 1947; Espirito Santo 2386; K [K 001561017], MO [MO-2427339], WAG [WAG.1777962].
IVORY COAST – Bas Sassandra District • Entre Tabou et Bériby [= Béréby]; 17 Aug. 1907; Chevalier 19961 bis; P [P 04595329]. – Lagunes District • Réserve de Lamto; [06°13’12”N, 05°01’12”W]; 80 m; 1 Dec. 1986; D. & L. Gautier-Béguin 446; G, MO [MO-5742662] • Réserve de Lamto; 6 Sep. 1987; D. & L. Gautier-Béguin 577; G, MO [MO-5725340]. – Sassandra-Marahoué District • Parc National de la Marahoue; [07°04’00”N, 05°55’00”W]; 300 m; 9 Feb. 1998; Jongkind 4327; BR [BR 0000016101333], FHO, MO [MO-6379106], WAG [WAG.1777952]. – Vallee du Bandama District • Farakoro; [09°26’24”N, 07°06’36”W]; 21 Apr. 1972; Aké Assi 11752; G, MO [MO-04912340].
MALI – Bamoko Region • Bamako; [12°33’36”N, 08°10’48”W]; 438 m; 4 Dec. 2003; Birnbaum 699; IFAN, P [P 05218584] • West of Djikoroni; [12°36’00”N, 08°02’00”W]; 31 Jan. 1973; N’Golo 1275; MO [MO-3325018], WAG [WAG.1777969] • Forêt de la Faya; [12°37’36”N, 07°33’17”W]; 7 Dec. 1978; Floret 1385; P [P 04539852] • Djikoroni; [12°39’41”N, 07°54’26”W]; 31 Jan. 1973; Cissé 493 C; WAG [WAG.1777967, WAG.1777968]. – Kayes Region • Cercle de Kita, Séta-Oulé (Bohké), Galerie du Dabara; 12 Apr. 1939; Dubois 154 bis; P [P 00531015] • Kenieba Cercle, Falea Rockgate Mine; [12°17’42”N, 11°18’50”W]; 410 m; 27 Oct. 2012; Luke 15983; K [K 001561018]. – Kita Region • Faille de Dabarako; [12°21’00”N, 09°54’36”W]; 362 m; 12 Feb. 2007; Birnbaum 1164; IFAN, P [P 05217987] • Faille de Dabarako; [12°21’00”N, 09°54’36”W]; 355 m; 12 Feb. 2007; Birnbaum 1175; IFAN, P [P 05218587] • Galerie du Bale; [12°04’12”N, 09°54’00”W]; 351 m; 13 Feb. 2007; Birnbaum 1183; IFAN, P [P 05218427]. – Koulikoro Region • Famansa; [12°14’07”N, 08°45’17”W]; 18 May 1975; Aberlin 603; P [P 04589934] • Vallée du Soulou; [12°38’39”N, 08°29’53”W]; 4 Apr. 1934; Dubois 154; P [P 00531014, P 00531015]. – Sikasso Region • Ninedoni; [10°55’12”N, 05°42’00”W]; 0 m; 27 Jan. 2005; Birnbaum 864; IFAN, K, P [P 05218583] • Ninedoni; [10°55’12”N, 05°42’00”W]; 0 m; 27 Jan. 2005; Birnbaum 865; IFAN, K, P [P 05218586]. – Unknown Region • Lido, Marigat; 23 Mar. 1976; Aberlin 603 bis; P [P 04589935].
NIGERIA – Without locality data • 30 Jan. 1970; Schweinfurth 2902; K [K 001561028] • 14 Nov. 1968 – 16 Aug. 1969; van Meer 1076; BR [BR 0000016101470], K, MO [MO-6857182]. – Anambra State • Mamu Forest Reserve; [06°10’12”N, 07°10’12”E]; Jan. 1945; Burtt 21; K [K 001561009]. – Bauchi State • Katagum District; [12°15’36”N, 10°21’22”E]; s. d.; Dalziel 413; FHO, K [K 000350652] • Bauchi Plateau; [09°59’39”N, 09°29’12”E]; May 1928; Lely 266; FHO [FHO-32271], K [K 001561008]. – Cross River State • Iyamojong F. R.; [05°58’10”N, 08°21’30”E]; 14 Apr. 1959; Binuyo 41231; BR [BR 0000016101531], FHO [FHO-108729], K [K 001561004], WAG [WAG.1777981]. – Kaduna State • Kaduna; [10°32’05”N, 07°33’09”E]; 9 Dec. 1949; Meikle 786; BR [BR 0000016101524], K, P [P 04595261, P 04595263]. – Ondo State • Akure Forest Reserve, Aponmu; [07°18’09”N, 05°01’46”E]; 19 Oct. 1946; Keay 21556; FHO [FHO-74111, FHO-74112], K [K 001561023] • Akure Forest Reserve, Owena; [07°18’33”N, 05°01’48”E]; 11 Dec. 1957; Keay 37273; K [K 001561025] • Aponmu Pilot Sawmill Area; [07°14’26”N, 05°03’37”E]; 18 Oct. 1946; Onochie 20234; FHO [FHO-73743, FHO-73849, FHO-81184], K [K 001561024]. – Oyo State • Ibadan south Reserve; [07°13’59”N, 03°58’01”E]; 22 Sep. 1948; Chizea 19480; BR [BR 0000016101548]. – Plateau State • Vom; [09°44’11”N, 08°47’47”E]; 20 Apr. 1972; Gbile 1075; BR [BR 0000016101517], K • Kogigiri, near reservoir above Jos; [09°54’09”N, 08°50’34”E]; 1250 m; 17 Oct. 1957; Hepper 1061; BR [BR 0000016101555], K, P [P 04595262] • Heipang; [09°38’44”N, 08°52’55”E]; 11 Apr. 1958; Keay 37603; FHO, K [K 001561007] • Valley on Plateau; [09°53’22”N, 08°50’56”E]; 1219 m; 14 Nov. 1980; Sharland 1527; K [K 001561006] • Jos, Heipan Kurmi, near Heipan Tapu; [09°03’32”N, 08°50’13”E]; 9 Nov. 1963; White 8287; FHO [FHO-114635, FHO-114671, FHO-115487, FHO-115505] • Jos plateau, Kogon Giri Forest Reserve; [09°03’32”N, 08°50’13”E]; 9 Feb. 1963; White 8304; FHO [FHO-115478]. – Taraba State • Gangumi near the bank of River Sulli; [07°21’53”N, 11°29’24”E]; 16 Dec. 1954; Latilo 28911; FHO, K [K 001560122].
SENEGAL – Without locality data • 20 Mar. 1964; Berhaut 7253; BR [BR 0000016101821], P [P 04595250]. – Dakar Region • Sangalkam; [14°46’38”N, 17°13’36”W]; Dec. 1950; Berhaut 1030; BR [BR 0000016101845], P [P 04595248] • Mbao; [14°43’46”N, 17°19’26”W]; 24 Apr. 1957; Berhaut 5570; P [P 04595313]. – Kédougou Region • Nepin; [12°23’24”N, 12°33’00”W]; 8 Mar. 1962; Adam 18868; MO [MO-2109623] • Cirque de Díndefelo; [12°22’02”N, 12°19’18”W]; 15 Nov. 1964; Adam 19961; K [K 001561005] • Nikolo-Koba; [13°03’15”N, 12°53’59”W]; Apr. 1951; Berhaut 2927; BR [BR 0000016101838], P [P 04595249] • Cascade de Dindefello; [12°21’59”N, 12°19’24”W]; 21 m; 21 May 1993; Goudiaby 72; BR [BR 0000016101814] • Parc National du Niokolo Koba, Mount Assirik; [12°53’00”N, 12°46’00”W]; 150 m; 5 Apr. 1993; Madsen 1490; MO [MO-5651778] • Same locality; 150 m; 5 Apr. 1993; Madsen 1498; MO [MO-5651777] • Mount Assirik; [12°53’01”N, 12°45’18”W]; 200–300 m; 11 May 1976; Tutin 38; K [K 001561019]. – Kolda Region • [Without precise locality]; May 1946 – Jun. 1946; Aubréville 109 C; P [P 04595316]. – Sangalkam Region • Sangalkam; [14°46’12”N, 17°13’12”W]; 22 Jul. 1948; Adam 1615; MO [MO-2109624], P [P 04595312]. – Ziguinchor Region • Oussouye; [12°26’57”N, 16°33’42”W]; 6 Sep. 1968; Berhaut 7384; P [P 04595311] • Cap Skirring; [12°21’12”N, 16°43’34”W]; 4 m; 12 Dec. 1977; Vanden Berghen 2243; BR [BR 0000016101807, BR 0000016101234] • Cap Skirring; [12°21’23”N, 16°43’32”W]; 10 m; 17 Sep. 1981; Vanden Berghen 4558; BR [BR 0000016101197] • Cap Skirring; [12°21’12”N, 16°43’34”W]; 10 m; 19 Sep. 1981; Vanden Berghen 4599; BR [BR 0000016101180] • Cap Skirring; [12°21’12”N, 16°43’34”W]; 10 m; 21 May 1982; Vanden Berghen 5040; BR [BR 0000016101258] • Cap Skirring; [12°21’12”N, 16°43’34”W]; 10 m; 25 May 1982; Vanden Berghen 5103; BR [BR 0000016101425] • Cap Skirring; [12°23’00”N, 16°45’00”W]; 10 m; 26 May 1982; Vanden Berghen 5110; BR [BR 0000016101319], WAG [WAG.1777960] • Cap Skirring; [12°21’15”N, 16°43’41”W]; 3 m; 27 Sep. 1984; Vanden Berghen 6672; BR [BR 0000016101326].
SIERRA LEONE – Western Province • John Obey Peninsula; [08°14’00”N, 13°10’00”W]; 4 Mar. 1964; Morton 901; FHO, K, WAG [WAG.1777964] • Same locality; 12 Apr. 1964; Morton SL 1201; K [K 001561016], MO [MO-2865964, MO-3038711], WAG [WAG.1777965].
Notes
Hutchinson (1921) cited two collections deposited at Kew in his description of Maba secundiflora Hutch., from which we have selected the flowering specimen (Lely 229) as the lectotype because it comprises more complete material and is accompanied by more detailed locality information than the other syntype (Dalziel 413, K 000350652!).
description: Published as part of Mestre Serra, Edgard, Puglisi, Carmen, Linan, Alexander G., Meeprom, Nattanon, Rakouth, Hasina N., Schmidt, Heidi H. & Lowry II, Porter P., 2025, A taxonomic revision of the continental African material previously included in Diospyros ferrea (Ebenaceae), pp. 82-99 in Plant Ecology and Evolution 158 (1) on pages 82-99, DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.140561