Phyllanthus everettii C.B.Rob.

Verwijs, J. I. M., Bouman, R. W. & Welzen, P. C. van, 2019, A taxonomic revision of Phyllanthus subgenus Macraea (Phyllanthaceae), Blumea 64 (3), pp. 231-252 : 238-239

6. Phyllanthus everettii C.B.Rob. — Map 5

Phyllanthus everettii C.B.Rob. (1909) 80; Merr. (1923) 392. — Lectotype (designated here): FB (Everett) 4301 (K; iso NY, US), Philippines, Negros , Gimagaan river.

Shrubs, up to 3 m high, monoecious; branches terete, flattened in young branches and distal parts of older branches, pubescent; internodes 3‒4 mm long. Stipules elliptic, 2‒3 by 0.8‒1 mm, persistent or caducous, membranous, base bilaterally auriculate, margin entire, apex caudate. Leaves: petiole 0.5‒1 mm, slightly pubescent; blade elliptic to oblong, 11‒38 by 4‒11 mm, 2.1‒3.9 times longer than wide, membranous, glabrous, base obtuse to cuneate, slightly asymmetric, margin not thickened, revolute, apex acute to obtuse, mucronate; midrib slightly raised on both sides, lateral veins 7‒11 per side. Staminate flowers in fascicles of 2‒4, rarely together with a pistillate flower, c. 1.4 mm diam in bud, c. 2.5 mm diam when opened; pedicel 2‒12 mm long, glabrous; sepals 6, elliptic, slightly ovate, 1.1‒1.4 by 0.5‒0.8 mm, midrib distinct, but not thickened, apex obtuse, white; disc glands 6, circular to ovate, flat with a nonraised distinct central part, 0.3‒0.4 mm diam, height c. 0.1 mm, smooth; stamens 3, c. 0.8 mm long, filaments free, 0.6‒0.8 mm long, anthers c. 0.2 mm high, thecae rounded. Pistillate flowers solitary, rarely in pairs, c. 3 mm diam when open; pedicel 4‒24 mm long, glabrous, slender; sepals 6, elliptic to slightly ovate, 1.1‒1.5 by 0.8‒0.9 mm, midrib conspicuous, apex obtuse; disc entire, 6-lobed, lobes alternating with sepals, c. 1.5 mm diam, smooth; ovary sessile, subglobose, 6-grooved, 0.7‒1 by c. 0.8 mm, tuberculate; style absent, stigmas 3, c. 1 mm long, bifid for 2/3 of the length. Fruits subglobose, 2.5‒3 mm diam, 6-grooved, glabrous; pedicel 11‒25 mm long; columella 1‒1.5 mm long. Seeds c. 1.4 mm high, c. 1 mm wide, verrucose along longitudinal lines, brown.

Distribution — Philippines (Luzon).

Habitat & Ecology — On forested stream banks at low and medium altitude ( Merrill 1923).

Vernacular name — Miagos (Panay Bisáya) ( Merrill 1923).

Note — Similar to some of the other species in the Philippines like P. samarensis and P. lancifolius . This species is distinct by its leaf blades, which are elliptic, as opposed to ovate in P. lancifolius , and larger than those found in P. samarensis . The resemblance with P. samarensis is quite considerable and these species might possibly have to be combined.

Figures

Map 5 Distribution of Phyllanthus dumosus C.B.Rob. (●), P. everettii C.B.Rob. (▲) and P. samarensis Müll.Arg. (■) in the Philippines.