Magnistipula multinervia 

Magnistipula multinervia is known from an area of less than 1 km² in the southern part of Korup National Park, in Cameroon, Africa, at about 100 m above sea level, in a spot with an average annual rainfall of 5,040 mm.

A Magnistipula multinervia tree, measuring 41 m high, with a trunk diameter of 52 cm (Image: RBG Kew)

Magnistipula multinervia is a tree, growing up to 41 m high, with a trunk of up to 57 cm in diameter. It has small flowers which are greenish-light brown, with small white petals. The flowers do not fall to the ground after flowering, and the tree must therefore be climbed in order to collect herbarium specimens and to study the flowers. The fruits are the size of small apples and are eaten by red Colobus monkeys, which often take fruit to a nearby tree before consuming it. The single seed is the size of a cherry and is covered with short, prickly hairs. After eating the fruit, animals discard the prickly seed onto the ground, where it then has a chance to germinate.

A leafy branch of Magnistipula multinervia. The stipules are visible at the base of the leaves (Image: RBG Kew)

Magnistipula multinervia is classified as Critically Endangered according to the rules of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)because fewer than 50 specimens are known.

The four known trees of Magnistipula multinervia are located inside Korup National Park, hence are relatively well protected. However, the animal populations in the park are poorly protected against poaching and the bush meat trade puts pressure on them, in turn affecting the plant-animal interactions driving seed predation and seed dispersal. If the seeds of M. multinervia are not dispersed by animals then its ability to regenerate will be reduced.

Fruits of Magnistipula multinervia, found on the forest floor (Image: RBG Kew)

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Description of seeds: The seeds normally start to germinate within a week after falling to the forest floor.
Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: None.
Seed storage behaviour: The seeds soon loose their viability when stored.

Preserved specimens of Magnistipula multinervia are held in the Herbarium, one of the behind-the-scenes areas of Kew. Specimens are also held in two herbaria in Cameroon, and in eight other herbaria around the world.

Search Kew's databases for more information on this species

Kew’s Wet Tropics Africa Team

Korup National Park projects