The leaves vary from oblong and rounded at the apex to ovate-lanceolate, acute. The flowers vary also in size, but there is no correlation between flower size and leaf-shape. L. monteiroi Dyer ex Stapf is merely a large-flowered form of L. petersiana. On deep sandy soils in northern Zululand a dwarf shrub form occurs with erect sparingly branched stems sometimes only 25-30 cm high, and relatively small, often unbranched inflorescences.
Inflorescences elongate panicles, each lateral branch terminating in a dense cymose flower-cluster, axes pubescent.
Venation with lateral nerves well spaced, curving towards leaf apex.
Upper leaf surface sparsely pubescent, veins ± level, obscure; lower surface completely glabrous or pubescent on midrib and sometimes also on lateral nerves, reticulation level, very conspicuous in dried leaves.
Flowers very sweetly scented, white or creamy-white.
Young branches greyish or rufous appressed-pubescent, tardily glabrescent, older twigs spotted with conspicuous round lenticels.
Calyx 2–3 mm. long, lobes triangular or ovate, united at base, dorsally densely ferrugineous appressed-pubescent.
Leaves thinly to thickly coriaceous, often strongly discolorous when dry, becoming blackish or dark green above and pale green or brown below; petiole 3–8 mm. long, pubescent or glabrous; lamina 5–11·5(13) x 1·8–5(6·5) cm., elliptic or obovate-elliptic, the apex rounded or obtuse, sometimes slightly cuspidate near the apex to form an indistinct acumen, the base rounded to subcordate.
Corolla tube 8–12 mm. long, slender, slightly inflated just below the middle at the level of the stamens, outer surface sparsely puberulent or glabrous, inner surface pubescent between the anthers and mouth; corolla lobes c. twice as long as tube, asymmetrically elliptic with acuminate apex, long-ciliate with delicate crispate white hairs.
Stamens inserted 2–3 mm. from the base of the corolla tube, anthers subsessile, c. 1·5 mm. long.
Climbing shrub usually growing over trees and bushes, reaching 6 m. or more.
Ovary c. 1 mm. long, globose, with a dense ring of appressed pale hairs round the apex.
Style, clavuncle and stigma 1·5–2 mm. long.
Fruit c. 5 cm. in diameter, yellow or light orange when ripe, with pulpy flesh, edible and delicious.
Scandent shrub or woody climber, rarely a reduced shrublet about 25 cm high, inflorescences acting as tendrils; young branches rusty pubescent to tomentose, later glabrescent; bark reddish or greyish brown with numerous small lenticels; sap milky, rubbery. Leaves subcoriaceous, petiolate, very variable, from oblanceolate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 4-11 cm long and 1.5-4.5 cm broad, thinly pubescent on both surfaces when young, soon becoming glabrous, dark above, paler below, base obtuse, apex rounded to subacute; midrib shallowly channelled above, prominent below; secondary nerves somewhat indistinct, slightly oblique, 3-7 mm apart; petiole 6-8 mm long. Inflorescence paniculate, rarely simple, usually elongate, 5-17 cm long, bearing clusters of sessile flowers at the ends of short, spreading or recurved branches, rhachis sensitive, often acting as a tendril, rusty pubescent to glabrescent all over; bracts small, ovate-lanceolate, acute to subacute, rusty tomentose. Flowers relatively large, variable in size, white, sweetly scented. Calyx 3-4 mm long, divided almost to the base, rusty tomentose; sepals oblong-lanceolate, acute. Corolla salver-shaped; tube 10-14 mm long, subcylindric, slightly wider and staminiferous 2-3 mm above the base, then narrowing and eventually widening slightly to the throat, grey pubescent without; lobes oblong, oblique, 1.7-2.4 cm long, ciliate, apex obtuse. Stamens situated near the base of the tube; anthers ovate-oblong, acute to obtuse, 2 mm long. Ovary entire, globose, puberulous; ovules numerous; style columnar, 1 mm long; stigma situated at the base of the anthers, cylindrical from a thickened base with a conical, bifid apex. Fruit globose 4.5-6 cm in diameter. Seeds ovoid, compressed 10-15 mm long, embedded in a soft pulp; cotyledons thin; endosperm horny.
Scandent shrub or woody climber. Leaves (rarely 35-) 40-110 mm long; secondary veins slightly oblique, rather indistinct, 3-7 mm apart. Corolla tube 6-14 mm long, lobes 11-24 mm long; pubescence on corolla tube grey to pale brown. Flowers white or creamy white.
In northern Transvaal and coastal districts of Zululand, extending through tropical east Africa to Somaliland.
