Creochiton monticola (Ridl.) Veldk.

Kartonegoro, A. & Veldkamp, J. F., 2013, Revision of Creochiton (Melastomataceae), Blumea 58 (3), pp. 217-227 : 223-225

8. Creochiton monticola (Ridl.) Veldk. ― Map 4

Creochiton monticola (Ridl.) Veldk. (1978) 433; Veldk. & M.P. Nayar (1978) 438. ― Anplectrum monticola Ridl.(1946) 31. ― Eisocreochiton monticola (Ridl.) M.P. Nayar (1970) 89, pl. 2. ― Type: Brooks 50 (holo K n.v.; iso BO), Borneo, Sarawak, Mt Ben Kajan.

Creochiton kinabaluensis Heine (1953) 214. ― Lectotype (designated here): Clemens 32646 = 33951 (holo M; iso A n.v., BM, BO, K, L), Borneo , Mt Kinabalu, Mt Nungkok.

Climbers, often epiphytic, up to 30 m tall; branchlets angular becoming terete, furfuraceous. Leaves coriaceous, elliptic, apex acute to retuse, base cuneate; glabrous on both sides, 2–4.5 by 1.4–2.6 cm; with 1–2 pairs of main nerves arising from above the base; petiole glabrous to furfuraceous, 3–5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, up to 3.5 cm long, paniculate, 4–10-flow- ered; main axis angular, stellate furfuraceous, 1.5–2.5 cm long; bracts ovate, glabrous, veined, 5–7 by 4 mm; bracteoles thin, pale, obovate, glabrous to sparsely furfuraceous on both sides, veined, 3–7 by 3.4 mm, enveloping the flower buds; pedicel furfuraceous, 2 mm long. Hypanthium campanulate, glabrous to sparsely furfuraceous, green, pink, 2–2.5 by 2 mm; calyx rim truncate with 4 shallow undulations; petals oblong to lanceolate, apex acute, c. 4 by 2.5 mm, cream to pink or reddish. Stamens 8, unequal, the alternipetalous ones: filaments flat, 2–2.5 mm long; anther elongate, red, c. 2.5 mm long; connective with a triangular crest, 1–1.5 mm long; lateral appendages paired, c. 0.5 mm long; the oppositipetalous ones: filament flat, 1.5 mm long; anthers c. 1.5 mm long, bent; connective with spur-like crest, 0.5 mm long; lateral appendages ligulate, c. 0.75 mm long or absent; ovary globose, glabrous, 1–1.5 mm long; style glabrous, c. 5 mm long; extra-ovarial chambers shallow, about 1/5 as long as the ovary. Fruits subglobose, glabrous, whitish, yellowish green, or purple when mature, 2–5 by 1–5 mm diam; seeds 0.75 mm long.

Distribution ― Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak).

Ecology & Habitat ― Mountain forest between 820–2000 m altitude.

Note ― Creochiton monticola is easily recognized by its small leaves (<4.5 cm long), glabrous underneath, axillary paniculate inflorescences and obovate bracteoles. Morphologi- cally it cannot be mistaken for C. anomalus which has densely tomentose leaves, acute base, terminal inflorescences with thin bracteoles which partially cover the flower bud, and long extra-ovarial chambers (about half as long as the ovary). The stamens differ by the oppositipetalous ones having lateral appendages c. 1–1.5 mm long while they are 0.5–0.75 mm long or absent in the latter.

Figures

Map 4 Distribution of Creochiton furfuraceus (■) and C. monticola (●).