Beilschmiedia insignis Gamble

de kok, R. P. J., 2016, A revision of Beilschmiedia (Lauraceae) of Peninsular Malaysia, Blumea 61 (2), pp. 147-164 : 153-155

5. Beilschmiedia insignis Gamble — Map 2

Beilschmiedia insignis Gamble (1910) 147; Ridl. (1924) 82;Kosterm. (1964) 131; Kochummen (1989) 119; I.M. Turner (1995) 276. — Type (selected here): King’s Collector 8479 (lectotype K [K000768664]), [Peninsular Malaysia], Perak, Taiping.

Trees (3–) 10–34 m tall, dbh 5–23 cm; bark smooth to faintly fissured, grey to dark grey or dark brown; inner bark pale to dark brown or pinkish red; sapwood pale yellow to white, very fragrant. Twigs stout, 4.8–6.7 mm diam, slightly striated, with prominent leaf scars, sparsely hairy; terminal leaf buds lanceolate, glabrous, margins ciliate, 8–14 mm long. Leaves (sub)- opposite to alternate, blades elliptic to lanceolate or oblong, 11–34(–60) by 5–11.6(–18) cm, leathery; apex rounded to acute; base cuneate; margins flat to recurved; secondary veins 7–12(–20) pairs, tertiary veins reticulate; upper surface glabrous, glossy, dark to bright green, sparsely hairy on midrib, midrib flattened to sunken, secondary veins slightly sunken to raised, tertiary veins faint; lower surface sparsely hairy, pale green, midrib raised, secondary veins faintly raised, tertiary veins raised. Petiole 15–48 mm long, slender, channelled. Inflorescence 70–170 mm long, glabrous to sparsely hairy, not enclosed at base by bracts; bracteoles orbicular, 1–1.4 mm long, glabrous, margins ciliate. Flowers glabrous, pale green to white or orange yellow; perianth tube not distinct; perianth lobes ovate, 3–3.3 by 1–1.2 mm, apices acute, glabrous, margins ciliate. Stamens 9, 1.8–2 mm long. Ovary c. 1 mm diam, glabrous; style c. 1.2 mm long. Fruit (dried) globose to ellipsoid, 25–55 by 20–40 mm, apex rounded to short beak, base rounded, surface glabrous, smooth, reddish brown. Stalk when mature swollen to 4 mm diam, with a constricted apex.

Distribution — Endemic to Peninsular Malaysia.

Ecology — Primary and secondary forest from lowlands to mountains, at 30–350(–1860) m altitude.

IUCN Conservation Assessment — Endangered (EN B2ab (ii,iii)). This species is known from 12 collections which were made between 1886 and 2009, and is reported to be scattered through the forests of various states ( Kochummen 1989: 119). An analysis of the EOO gives a conservation assessment of Near Threatened, but an analysis of the AOO gives the assessment of Endangered. Given the small AOO and the intensive logging and landscape modification that has occurred in the last 50 years, it must be considered to be Endangered.

Phenology — Flowering: February to April; fruiting: August and September.

Note — In the original description, two collections were mentioned: Perak, Sept. 1886, King’s Collector 6615 ( BM, K, SING) and Perak, Taiping , Feb. 1886, King’s Collector 8479 ( K 2 sheets). The first collection has mature fruits, while the later one has mature flowers. As bracteoles are important in this genus, and they are more likely to be present in flowering specimens than fruiting, the later collection is chosen here as the lectotype .

Figures

Map 2 Distribution of Beilschmiedia glauca (●), B. insignis (▲) and B. kochummenii (▼). Map based on a map provided by d-maps.com.