Phytocrene bracteata Wall.

Fig. 21.9–21.16

Material examined

Specimen used for endocarp and fruit description

MALAYSIA • s.d.; W.S. Kurz s.n.; P [MNHN-P-P00868411].

Other material

MALAYSIA • “ British North Borneo, Elphinstone Province ”, Tawao; Oct. 1922 – Mar. 1923; A.D.E. Elmer 21444; P [MNHN-P-P04513389] .

Description

FRUIT. Ovoid with a symmetrical and elongate apex, yellow-brown when mature. Epicarp with clusters of yellow hairs. Mesocarp thin, but thick at the accrescent part when dry. Calyx not persistent. Length 45–80 mm, width 15–23 mm, thickness 10.0– 11.6 mm.

ENDOCARP. Brown, ovoid in lateral view, lenticular in transverse section, length 30.5–40.0 mm, width 16.4–20.0 mm, thickness 11–15 mm. No clear keel surrounding the endocarp in the plane of symmetry, but thin trace of keel present in the upper part. Apex slightly asymmetrical and emarginated in lateral view; base rounded, symmetrical. Outer surface of the endocarp pitted and faintly ridged. Pits circular, occasionally elongate, relatively thin, 0.3–0.6 mm in diameter, randomly arranged with ca 11–12 pits longitudinally and 5–7 pits transversally (ca 60–65 pits per face). Pits narrow, without tubercles. Ridges faintly apparent, rounded, delimiting a pseudo-reticulum enclosing numerous areoles on the endocarp surface. Endocarp wall 615–684 µm thick (ridges height insignificant, ca 250 µm including pits). Endocarp wall (excluding pits) with three cell layers: outermost layer with 10–11 rows of anticlinally oriented cells, 22.0–38.0 µm in length, followed by a layer with 17–18 rows of periclinally oriented cells, cells 11.7–21.9 µm in width; innermost layer with one row of periclinally oriented cells, cells 4.3–7.3 µm in width, lining the locule surface with inflated cells. Locule with rounded protuberances due to the thickening of the wall under the pits.