Lasianthus fordii var. fordii

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 : 43

a. var. fordii — Map 6

Lasianthus fordii Hance (1885) 324; T. Yamaz. (1964) 352 (excl. var. pubescens (Matsum.) T.Yamaz. ); T. S. Liu & J. M. Chao (1964) 128, f. 7; H. Zhu (1994) 72; H. J. Li & H. Y. Liu (1998) 284, pl. 126; H.S. Lo (1999) 97, pl. 25: 5–9; H. Zhu (2001b) 127; (2002) 98. —

Type: Ford 66 ( holo BM; iso K), China, Guangdong (Kwangdong), Lo Fu Shan .

Lasianthus tashiroi Matsum.(1901) 37. — Mephitidia tashiroi (Matsum.) Nakai (1922) 396. — Type: Uchiyama s.n. (n.v.).

Mephitidia tashiroi (Matsum.) Nakai var. kotoensis Nakai ex Sasaki (1928) 382, nom. nud.

Lasianthus zambalensis Elmer (1934b) 3209. — Type: Elmer 22045 (iso A, K, L, MO, NY, P, SING), Philippines, Luzon , Pampanga.

Lasianthus kamputensis Pierre ex Pit. (1924) 392, p.p. quoad syntypes Eberhardt 2050 (P), Pierre 3266 (P).

Shrubs, 1–2 m tall; branchlets terete or compressed in the youngest part, c. 2 mm diam, glabrous to thinly appressed-pubescent. Leaves: blades ovate-oblong, 6 –10 by 3 –5 cm, subcoriaceous or chartaceous, apex acuminate or cuspidate-acuminate, base acute or obtuse, glabrous above, thinly appressed-pubescent or subglabrous beneath, midrib and nerves flat above, prominent beneath, nerves 4–6 pairs, ascending at an angle of 60–70°, curved to the margin, nervules usually obscure above, distinct beneath, subparallel; petioles up to 1 cm long, subglabrous to hirsute. Stipules minute, triangular, pubescent. Cymes sessile, bracts absent. Flowers sessile; calyx campanulate, sparsely pubescent, c. 2 mm long, with 5 triangular teeth; corolla 6 –10 mm long, glabrous outside, villous inside, 5-lobed. Drupes globose or subglobose, 5 –6 mm diam, glabrous; pyrenes 5 – 6.

Distribution — India (Northeast), China, Japan (Yakusima, Kyushu, Ryukyu), Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines (Luzon to Mindanao), Indonesia ( Java, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Islands, Moluccas, Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea.

Note — Lasianthus fordii is similar to L. lucidus and are often confused in herbaria. Lasianthus lucidus has small ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaves and lanceolate calyx lobes longer than tube, while L. fordii has leaves from small ovate-lanceolate to bigger ovate-oblong and minute triangular calyx lobes shorter than tube.

Figures

Map 6 Distribution of Lasianthus fordii Hance (¡) and L. hispi­ dulus (Drake ) Pit. (●).