Lasianthus pergamaceus King & Gamble

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 : 73

95. Lasianthus pergamaceus King & Gamble

Lasianthus pergamaceus King & Gamble (1904) 123;Ridl.(1923a) 164; K.M. Wong (1989) 369, p.p. —

Type: Wray 270 ( holo SING ; iso K), Peninsular Malaysia, Perak, 4500 ft.

Lasianthus coriaceus King & Gamble (1904) 123. — Lectotype (designated by Wong 1989): Scortechini 332 (lecto SING; isolecto K), Perak; Ridley 10217 (para, n.v.), Peninsular Malaysia, Selangor.

Lasianthus crassifolius Ridl.(1918) 85;(1923a) 165. — Lectotype (designated here): Ridley 15689 (lecto K), Peninsular Malaysia; Selangor; Maingay s.n. (para, n.v.), Peninsular Malaysia.

Treelets; branchlets terete, robust, glabrous or minutely puberulous in the youngest part, sulcate when dry. Leaves: blades oblong-elliptic, 18– 25 by 5– 8 cm, thinly coriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces except minutely puberulous in young leaves beneath, apex cuspidate-acuminate, base broadly cuneate to subrounded, slightly asymmetric, midrib and nerves distinct or slightly depressed above, strongly prominent beneath, nerves 10–12 pairs, ascending at an angle of over 70°, curved to the margin, secondary nerves from the costa between nerves conspicuous, nervules distinct on both surfaces and prominent beneath, reticulate; petioles 7–10 mm long. Stipules triangular, 3–4 mm long, glabrous. Cymes shortly pedunculate; peduncles robust, 2 –3 mm long, glabrous; bracts inconspicuous. Flowers sessile; calyx obconic-cupular, 3 – 5 mm long, with a truncate or minutely 4-toothed limb, glabrous; corolla tubular, pubescent outside, villous inside, 4-toothed; anthers 4. Drupes cupularglobose, c. 5– 6 mm diam, glabrous or minutely hairy, crowned by a truncate or minutely 4-toothed limb; pyrenes 4.

Distribution — Peninsular Malaysia, Philippines ( Palawan).

Note — This species is closely related to L. chinensis and L. repoeuensis , but it differs from both in having short robust peduncles and usually sulcate branchlets and cupulate calyx with truncate limb and drupe with 4 pyrenes. It is also similar to L. subaureus , but differs from the latter by having large leaves, sulcate branchlets, and peduncled cymes.