Beilschmiedia kochummenii de Kok, 2016

de kok, R. P. J., 2016, A revision of Beilschmiedia (Lauraceae) of Peninsular Malaysia, Blumea 61 (2), pp. 147-164 : 155

6. Beilschmiedia kochummenii de Kok , sp. nov. — Fig. 3 ; Map 2

Beilschmiedia kochummenii de Kok ; Kochummen (1989) 122 & f. 3 (as Beilschmiedia sp. ‘A’); I.M. Turner (1995) 277.

Beilschmiedia kochummenii differs from B. lumutensis in having terminal leaf buds that are 1.2–1.8 mm long (vs 2–7 mm long) and linear with a swelling near the base (vs linear to lanceolate with no swelling near the base), and a short (< 20 mm long) infructescence (vs 20–65 mm long). Furthermore, it differs from B. glabra by having an infructescence with multiple small fruits, each 20–37 by 10–23 mm, vs solitary larger fruits, each 50–88 by 24–39 mm in B. glabra , and the mature fruit stalk is 3–4.3 mm diam vs 8.3–15 mm diam in B. glabra . — Type: Kochummen FRI 29384 ( holotype KEP; isotypes K [K001098098], SING), Peninsular Malaysia, Cameron Highlands.

Small trees 12–15 m tall, dbh 15–45 cm; bark (grey-)brown, smooth to fissured; inner bark pink; sapwood whitish. Twigs slender, 0.2–0.9 mm diam, glabrous to sparsely hairy, slightly angled, pale brown; terminal leaf buds linear, 1.2–1.8 mm long, swollen at the base, glabrous to sparsely hairy; hairs short, curly, erect to appressed, dark brown. Leaves spirally arranged to rarely opposite, blades elliptic to narrowly obovate, 8–18.5 by 3–6.5 cm, sometimes thickly leathery; apex acute, often with a distinct point; base cuneate, often asymmetric; secondary veins 6–9 pairs, curving and joining near margins; tertiary veins reticulate; upper surface glabrous, midrib raised to sunken, secondary veins raised, tertiary veins prominent; lower surface glabrous, midrib raised, secondary veins raised, tertiary veins prominent. Petiole 11–25 mm long, channelled, glabrous. Inflorescence 100 –200 mm long, glabrous to sparsely hairy, not enclosed at base by bracts; bracteoles unknown. Flowers unknown. Fruit (dried) obovoid, 20–37 by 10–23 mm, apex rounded, base rounded, surface glabrous, smooth, purplish to black when mature. Stalk when mature swollen to 4.3 mm diam, not constricted at apex.

Distribution — Endemic to Peninsular Malaysia.

Ecology — Growing scattered in montane forest and along road sides at 750–1500 m altitude.

IUCN Conservation Assessment — Critically Endangered (CR B2ab(ii,iii)). This species is only known from three collections that were made between late 1972 and 1982, from parts of Peninsular Malaysia that have seen many modifications of the landscape over the last 20 years. An analysis of the EOO and AOO both gives the assessment of Critically Endangered. Therefore it is listed as Critically Endangered here.

Phenology — Flowering time unknown; fruiting between August and January.

Notes — This species was first mentioned in print by Kochummen (1989: 123), as Beilschmiedia sp. ‘A’, based on the specimens: FRI 16580, 16612, 16641 and 29384. The specimen FRI 16612 is placed in B. roxburghiana in this revision, as it differs from B. kochummenii in having velutinous terminal leaf buds without a swelling at their base.

In recognition of his discovery of this species and of his many other contributions to the Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, I name this species after K.M. Kochummen (1931–1999).

Figures

Map 2 Distribution of Beilschmiedia glauca (●), B. insignis (▲) and B. kochummenii (▼). Map based on a map provided by d-maps.com.

Fig. 3 Plate of Beilschmiedia kochummenii de Kok. a. Habit; b. detail of midrib at base of leaf upper surface; c. detail of terminal leaf bud; d. fruit and fruit stalk (all from Kochummen FRI 16580). — Scale bars: a = 3 cm; b–d = 2 cm. — Drawings by Juliet Beentje.