Lasianthus trichophlebus var. trichophlebus

Zhu, H., Roos, M. C. & Ridsdale, C. E., 2012, A taxonomic revision of the Malesian species of Lasianthus (Rubiaceae), Blumea 57 (1), pp. 1-102 : 90

a. var. trichophlebus — Map 10

Lasianthus trichophlebus Hemsl. (1888) 388; H. Zhu (1994) 70; H.S. Lo (1999) 95; H. Zhu (2001b) 144; (2002) 92. —

Type: Ford 113 ( holo K), Guangdong, Luo Fu Shan .

Lasianthus barbellatus Ridl. (1917a) 187; (1923a) 164; Craib (1934) 208; K.M. Wong (1989) 368. — Lasianthus trichophlebus Hemsl. subsp. barbellatus (Ridl.) H. Zhu (2001b) 144. — Type: Burkill 976 (holo SING; iso K), Peninsular Malaysia, Pahang, Pulau Tiuman, Juara Bay.

Lasianthus cupreus Pierre ex Pit. (1924) 392. — Type: Harmand s.n. ( Pierre Herb. no. 6173) (lecto P, designated by Zhu 2001b), Vietnam, Condor .

Lasianthus andamanicus Hook.f. var. ciliatus Deb & M.Gangop. (1987) 458, syn. nov. — Type: Balakrishnan 654 (holo CAL; iso E, PBL), S Andaman.

Shrubs; 1–2 m high; branchlets terete, c. 2 mm diam, sparsely strigillose or glabrous but densely strigillose on nodes. Leaves: blades oblong, elliptic-oblong, 8 –15 by 3– 5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous above, strigillose or hirsute on midrib and nerves beneath, apex cuspidate or acute, base cuneate, midrib and nerves flat or slightly prominent above, prominent beneath, nerves 7–9 pairs, ascending at an angle of over 50°, curved to the margin, nervules distinct above, prominent beneath, parallel; petioles 5 – 8 mm strigillose. Stipules triangular-lanceolate, to 8 mm long, densely strigillose. Cymes sessile, bracts absent. Flowers subsessile, 4-merous; calyx campanulate, c. 2 mm long, strigillose outside, tube c. 1 mm long, with 4 triangular teeth, teeth c. 1 mm long, spreading strigillose; corolla 6 – 8 mm long, densely strigillose in the upper half outside. Drupes subglobose, 5 – 6 mm diam, verrucose, sparsely strigillose, crowned by persistent strigillose calyx lobes; pyrenes 4, verrucose on the abaxial face.

Distribution — India ( Andaman and Nicobar Islands), South China, South Vietnam, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Islands), Philippines ( Palawan, Mindoro).

Notes — Lasianthus trichophlebus was often confused with both L. chinensis and L. verticillatus . However, it differs from L. chinensis by having coriaceous leaves with 7–9 pairs of nerves and parallel veinlets; stipules triangular-lanceolate, strigillose, 5 mm long; flowers usually 4-merous as well as drupes with 4 pyrenes. It differs from L. verticillatus by having strigillose hairs on young branches and leaf nerves beneath; stipules triangular-lanceolate, strigillose, more than 5 mm long; flowers usually 4-merous; calyx with strigillose triangular lobes, and drupes with 4 pyrenes and verrucose on external surface. Lasianthus trichophlebus subsp. barbellatus was considered to be different from the typical subspecies by having relatively small and elliptic leaves. After more Malesian specimens were examined, it became clear that L. trichophlebus subsp. barbellatus cannot be separated from L. trichophlebus .

Figures

Map 10 Distribution of Lasianthus trichophlebus Hemsl.(▲) and L. trichophlebus var. latifolius (Miq.) H.Zhu (●).