''Korupodendron'' is a

monotypic genus In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

of flowering plants in the family

Vochysiaceae Vochysiaceae is a plant family belonging to the order of Myrtales. Description Trees or shrubs with opposite leaves; flowers are zygomorph 1-(3)-5 merous; ovary inferior or superior; one fertile stamen; fruits samara or capsules. Biogeograp ...

. The genus is represented by the single species ''Korupodendron songweanum''. It was first discovered in

Korup National Park Korup National Park is in the Southwest Province of Cameroon and extends over 1,260 km2 of mostly undisturbed primary forest. It is reputedly one of Africa’s oldest and richest tropical forests in terms of floral and faunal diversity. It is ...

in northwestern

Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...

and named in honor of Dr N. Songwe. ''Korupodendron'' differs from the other African genus '' Erismadelphus'' by having three conspicuous and petaloid sepals and two inconspicuous sepals.

Description

''Korupodendron songweanum'' is a tall canopy tree species, with opposite simple leaves; the leaf shape is elliptic to ovate, with an entire margin, acute to obtuse base and an acuminate

apex The apex is the highest point of something. The word may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * Apex (comics), a teenaged super villainess in the Marvel Universe * Ape-X, a super-intelligent ape in the Squadron Supreme universe *Apex ...

, chartaceous, glabrous (dimensions: 8–12.5 x 4–6 cm).The sessile flowers are zygomorph with five white sepals fused at the base, and five free petals readily deciduous; the upper sepal forms a sac-like spur over the unilocular ovary;the only fertile stamen and the style are strait to slightly curved; fruits indehiscent with three large wings and two smaller ones.

Ecology

The species' natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

is wet upland tropical

rain forest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainforest ...

Distribution

Since its discovery in Cameroon, more populations of the tree have been found in

Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea ( es, Guinea Ecuatorial; french: Guinée équatoriale; pt, Guiné Equatorial), officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea ( es, link=no, República de Guinea Ecuatorial, french: link=no, République de Guinée équatoria ...

and

Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north ...

. Senterre, B., & Obiang, D. (2005)
Nouvelles decouvertes a propos des Vochysiaceae africaines: ''Erismadelphus'' Mildbr. et ''Korupodendron'' Litt & Cheek.
''Taxonomania'', (17), 3-18.

References

Vochysiaceae Monotypic Myrtales genera Flora of Cameroon Flora of Gabon Plants described in 2002 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa named by Martin Cheek {{Myrtales-stub