Neostenanthera myristicifolia

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Neostenanthera myristicifolia is a plant species in the Annonaceae family. It grows as a shrub or small tree up to about 13 meters tall. The leaves are elliptical to oblong, 8.5–25.5 cm long and 3.7–9 cm wide, tapering to a point with blunt to rounded bases. The upper surface is green to brown and may be hairless or slightly hairy; the lower surface is yellow-green to waxy blue and slightly hairy, with 10–18 pairs of veins. Petioles are about 4–12 mm long.

Flowers appear in small clusters of 2–4 along the stems, often opposite the leaves. They are on pedicels about 12–38 mm long, attached to small peduncles. Sepals are three, triangular to oval, 0.8–4.2 × 1.2–2.6 mm. The flowers have six petals in two rows: outer petals are 6.5–29 mm long in total, with a spoon-shaped base, and inner petals are 3.4–10.9 mm long. Each flower has many stamens (about 135–156) and many pistils (about 67–109).

Reproductive biology: in related species, pollen can be shed as permanent tetrads.

Habitat and distribution: Neostenanthera myristicifolia is native to Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo. It grows in swampy areas, near rivers, in primary or secondary forests and gallery forests, at elevations of 300–1,000 meters.

Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, 2019).

Synonyms: Neostenanthera pluriflora; Oxymitra myristicifolia; Stenanthera pluriflora.