Nomenclature and typification of Staudtia pterocarpa (Myristicaceae)

Abstract

The tropical African genus Staudtia Warburg (1897a: 128) (Myristicaceae) is most often treated as consisting of two species, the widespread S. kamerunensis Warburg (1897a: 241) and the little-known S. pterocarpa Warburg (1897a: 243), the latter being endemic to the island of São Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe, Gulf of Guinea). Staudtia pterocarpa has been known by the Portuguese common name Pau-Vermelho (vermelho meaning red), and the Santomean Portuguese names Vlêmê or Pó-Vlêmê, since at least the end of the 19^th century (Negreiros 1895: 253). These common names are derived from the pressed bark that exudes a resinous red sap (Negreiros 1901: 85), this exudate being a characteristic feature of the family. The common names have also been explained as reflecting the colour of the timber. The core wood of the other species of Staudtia, S. kamerunensis, commonly known under the trade name Niove, could also take on an ochre-red colour [Phongphaew 2003: 142, as S. stipitata Warburg (1903: 384)]. At the beginning of the 20^th century the timber of S. pterocarpa was considered excellent for construction and carpentry and the leaves were used medicinally (Negreiros 1901: 85). Presently the bark of S. pterocarpa is used in traditional medicine (Figueiredo et al. 2011). The species occurs in lowland forest up to ca. 1150 m above sea level and its conservation status is listed as Vulnerable (Oldfield et al. 1998, WCMC 1998).