Creochiton ledermannii Mansf.

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

7. Creochiton ledermannii Mansf. ― Map 5

Creochiton ledermannii Mansf.(1925) 135. ― Lectotype (designated here): Ledermann 12943 (holo B†; iso L), New Guinea, Sepikgebiet, Felsspitze.

Creochiton ledermannii Mansf. var. turbinatus auct. non J.F.Maxwell: J.F. Maxwell (1981) 323, quoad paratypi.

Epiphytes or climbers, 2–3 m height; branchlets terete, densely furfuraceous to floccose; nodes thickened with an interpetiolary ridge. Leaves coriaceous, obovate, apex retuse, base rounded to cuneate; glabrous above, dark green, densely tomentose below, midrib densely furfuraceous, glossy and paler green, 3.4–4 by 2.4–3 cm; nervation plinerved with 1 pair of main nerves arising from above the base; petiole densely furfuraceous, 2–6 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, up to 6 cm long, umbellate with 3 flowers; main axis terete, densely furfuraceous, 2.7 cm long; bracts elliptic, glabrous, 12 by 3 mm; bracteoles coriaceous, orbicular or ovate, concave, glabrous outside, densely furfuraceous inside, enveloping the flower buds, whitish, 4–8 by 6 mm, whitish; pedicel glabrescent to sparsely furfuraceous, 7–18 mm long. Hypanthium urceolate, sparsely to densely stellate furfuraceous, 3 by 2 mm, teeth triangular, c. 0.5 mm long; petals elliptic, 3–4.2 by 2 mm, red-purplish. Stamens 8, equal; filament flat, 2–2.5 mm long; anthers elongate, 2–3 mm long; connective with a triangular crest, 1.5 mm long; lateral appendages absent; ovary globose, 1.5–1.8 mm long, glabrous; style glabrous, c. 5 mm long; extra-ovarial chambers shallow, c. 1/5 as long as the ovary. Fruits subglobose, glabrous to puberulous, greenish white, 4–7 by 4 mm diam; seeds c. 0.5 mm long.

Distribution ― New Guinea.

Ecology & Habitat ― Rainforest on river bank 200–250 m altitude.

Vernacular name ― Apunengapok (Waskuk).

Note ― Characteristics of C. ledermannii are the retuse apex leaf, axillary umbellate 3-flowered inflorescences, bracteoles coriaceous and concave, hypanthium urceolate, calyx rim distinctly truncate, and 8 equal stamens. It differs from C. turbinatus by its dense indument and retuse leaf apex, while the latter is less pubescent with an acute leaf apex. The shape of the stamens is similar to C. pudibundus , but this differs by the sparsely puberulous leaves, glabrous petioles and bracteoles, absence of extra-ovarial chambers, and the subglobose fruits. The paratypes of C. turbinatus (Hoogland & Craven 10735, Docters van Leeuwen 10382) were regarded to belong here.

Figures

Map 5 Distribution of Creochiton ledermannii (●), Creochiton novoguineensis (■) and Creochiton turbinatus (▲).