Lasianthus fordii var. microphyllus, (Elmer) H. Zhu

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 : 45

b. var. microphyllus (Elmer) H.Zhu , stat. & comb. nov.

Lasianthus microphyllus Elmer,Leafl.Philipp.Bot. 5 (1913) 1870;Merr.(1923) 566. —

Typus: Elmer 13790 ( iso A, CAS, E, K, L, MO, U, US), Philippines, Mindanao, Mt Urdaneta , 6500 ft, mossy forest .

Shrubs, branchlets subglabrous to glabrous. Leaves relatively small, ovate, apex caudate. Calyx glabrous. Drupes globose, crowned by minute calyx teeth.

Distribution — The Philippines.

Note — Lasianthus microphyllus is very closely related to L. fordii . It differs from L. fordii only by having usually much small ovate leaves with a caudate apex which is too weak to recognize it as a separate species. We here sink it to a variety of L. fordii .