Microcos latistipulata var. latistipulata

Chung, R. C. K. & Soepadmo, E., 2011, Taxonomic revision of the genus Microcos (Malvaceae-Grewioideae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, Blumea 56 (3), pp. 273-299 : 291

a. var. latistipulata — Fig. 10 ; Map 4

Small tree to 12 m tall, dbh to 30 cm; buttresses to 15 cm high. Outer bark smooth, greyish brown; inner bark yellowish brown, fibrous; sapwood pale yellow or white. Stipules obovate, (9 –)12 –15(–18) by (4 –)5.5–7(– 9) mm. Leaves: petioles (8 –)10 – 25(– 32) mm long, 2 –4 mm thick; blade elliptic, sometimes broader towards the apex, (14 –)17–35(– 37.2) by (7–)8 –14(–16.5) cm; base obtuse to rounded; basal pair of secondary veins reaching between 0.25 and 0.5 of blade length. Inflorescences (3 –)7.5 –11(–12) cm long; bracts obovate, 8–15(–17) by 4– 8(–9) mm.

Distribution — Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo (confined to the east coast of Sabah).

Habitat & Ecology — In mixed dipterocarp forest on brownish black, yellowish and red soil; on hillsides or ridges, at 60–150 m altitude. Flowering: January –October; fruiting: January– June, August– September, November– December.

Uses — Ripe fruits edible.

Note — After examining the specimens of var. lanceolata (i.e., Beccari 931 and Beccari 937), we concluded that both varieties have coriaceous leaves, raised midrib and secondary veins above and also distinctly raised as well as sharp midrib and secondary veins beneath, pyriform fruits with 3 shallow vertical lobes, 3 pyrenes with 2 conspicuous sterile pyrenes, and pyrenes arranged into a triangular position with the fertile pyrene larger than the sterile pyrenes. However, var. lanceolata differs from var. latistipulata by its narrowly obovate stipules measuring 2 – 3 by 1 mm (vs obovate; 9–18 by 4 –9 mm), narrowly elliptic (11– 20 by 4.5–7 cm) leaves with narrowly cuneate base (vs elliptic; obtuse to rounded), basal pair of secondary veins reaching less than 0.25 of blade length (vs reaching between 0.25 and 0.5 of blade length), 4 – 8 mm long petioles (vs 8– 32 mm long), 1.5– 2.5 cm long inflorescences (vs 3–12 cm long), and oblong or elliptic bracts measuring 5 –7 by 2– 3 mm (vs obovate; 8 –15 by 4 –9 mm).

Figures

Map 4 Distribution of Microcos globulifera (Mast.) Burret ($) and M. latistipulata (Ridl.) Burret var.latistipulata (:) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.

Fig. 10 Microcos latistipulata (Ridl.) Burret var. latistipulata. a. Flowering leafy twig; b. flower buds surrounded by involucral bracts; c. longitudinal section of flower bud; d. flower with sepals and petals removed; e. adaxial surface of sepal; f. abaxial surface of petal; g. adaxial surface of petal without gland at base; h. stigma; i. fruit; j. longitudinal section of fruit; k. cross section of fruit (a, c–h: Burkill SFN 7826; b: Teo TP 391; i–k: Hardial & Sidek 435). — Drawn by J. Pao, SAR.