Bischofia

van Welzen, P. C., 2016, Bischofia and Hymenocardia (Phyllanthaceae) in Malesia, Blumea 61 (3), pp. 272-279 : 272-273

BISCHOFIA

Bischofia is typified by the generally 3-foliolate leaves, flowers lacking petals and a disc, and drupaceous fruits. Bischofia was named by Blume (1826 –1827) after G.W.T.G. Bischoff, a botanist from Heidelberg, Germany (1797-1854). Because of the double ‘f’ at the end of Bischoff’s name and the use of a single ‘f’ by Blume, confusion arose about the correct spelling. Especially the earliest publications after Blume ‘corrected’ the name to Bischoffia .

The genus contains two species, B. javensis Blume, widespread in Asia, Australia and the Pacific; and from China B. polycarpa (H.Lév.) Airy Shaw (1972b , based on Celtis polycarpa H.Lév. , Ulmaceae ), including the synonym B. racemosa W.C.Cheng & C.D.Chu ex Yi F.Duan & X.R.Wang ( Duan et al. 2016) . Bischofia polycarpa , not treated here, differs from B. javensis in having thinner, more densely veined leaflets (vs more coriaceous, less densely veined in B. javensis ) that are generally broadly elliptic to almost suborbicular (vs elliptic to oblong in B. javensis ), deli- cate, (unbranched) racemose pistillate inflorescences (vs more sturdy and paniculate in B. javensis ), and smaller fruits (bigger in B. javensis ) ( Airy Shaw 1972b). Some of the characters are difficult to interpret. Both species are deciduous with the leaves appearing during flowering. These young leaves are thin in both species, thus the texture can only be measured when they are in fruit.Also the size of the fruits is difficult, because the maturity of the fruits is not easy to assess from herbarium specimens. Likewise, the branching of the inflorescence is variable in B. javanica , more northern specimens often also have unbranched inflorescences. Character differences mentioned in the Flora of China (Li & Gilbert 2008) are partly also not applica- ble, both species are deciduous, also B. javanica , and the sole specimen of B. polycarpa in L does not really have a rounded leaf blade base. It seems that B. polycarpa is often 2-locular (vs 3-locular) and the Leiden specimen has an ovate (instead of elliptic) leaflet blade and the fruits have on top a short style (absent in B. javanica ) and shorter stigmas than B. javanica .

One character not mentioned for Bischofia so far, is the presence of domatia on the lower leaf surface between midrib and secondary veins and/or in axils of secondary and tertiary veins. These are holes or more or less sac-like (walled and sometimes with roof).

Bischofia javanica , a pioneer species, is invasive in the Bonin Islands ( Japan) due to its rapid germination in open places ( Hata et al. 2006) and adaptability to dry periods via leaf shed- ding (Yazaki et al. 2015).