Creochiton furfuraceus (M.P.Nayar) Veldk.

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

6. Creochiton furfuraceus (M.P.Nayar) Veldk. ― Map 4

Creochiton furfuraceus (M.P.Nayar) Veldk. (1978) 438. ― Eisocreochiton furfuraceus M.P. Nayar (1970) 88, pl. 1 (‘ furfuracea ’). ― Type: Jacobs 5293 (holo K n.v.; iso L; also in B, CANB, G, S, SAR, US, n.v.), Borneo ,Sarawak, 3rd Div., Kapit District , Belaga Subdistrict, Rejang River .

Woody climbers; branchlets angular, becoming terete, densely puberulous with brown hairs; nodes thickened with an interpetiolary ridge. Leaves coriaceous, ovate to elliptic, apex acuminate, base rounded; glabrous above with stellate hairs on the midrib, below densely stellate furfuraceous, 4.5–7 by 2.5–3 cm; nervation plinerved with 1 pair of main nerves arising above the base; petiole densely covered with brown puberulous hairs, 8–11 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, thyrsoid, 3 –10 cm long, with 10–35 flowers; main axis terete, densely stellate puberulous, 2–6 cm long; pedicel densely furfuraceous, 4–5 mm long; bracteoles coriaceous, ovate, concave, apex rounded, 5–6 by 3–4 mm, stellate furfuraceous on both sides, enveloping the flower buds. Hypanthium campanulate, 2.5 by 2 mm, stellate furfuraceous, pale brownish; calyx rim truncate; petals ovate, apex acute, base truncate, c. 2.5 by 2 mm, sor- didly pink margined, centre white. Stamens 4, equal; filament flat, white, 1.5 mm long; anthers elongate, curved, 2 mm long, pale green; connective with a triangular crest, c. 0.75 mm long, lateral appendages paired, c. 0.7 mm long; ovary c. 2 mm long, glabrous, 4-ridged at the top; style glabrous, pinkish, 2–2.5 mm long; extra-ovarial chambers shallow, 1/5 as long as the ovary. Fruits globose, stellate furfuraceous, 5 by 5 mm diam; seeds 0.7–0.8 mm long.

Distribution ― Borneo ( Sarawak).

Ecology & Habitat ― Primary forest on sandstone substra- tum hills at below 500 m altitude.

Note ― Creochiton furfuraceus can be distinguished by its dense furfuraceous indument in most parts, axillary thyrsoid inflorescences with 10 –35 flowers, coriaceous bracteoles and 4 equal stamens. It is similar to C. bracteatus by having 4 equal stamens and the shape of the anthers but differs by a less dense indument on most parts, smaller inflorescences with only c. 5 flowers, large and thin bracteoles and deep extra-ovarial chambers.

Figures

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