Creochiton turbinatus (J.F.Maxwell) Karton.

Kartonegoro, A. & Veldkamp, J. F., 2013, Revision of Creochiton (Melastomataceae), Blumea 58 (3), pp. 217-227 : 226

12. Creochiton turbinatus (J.F.Maxwell) Karton. , comb. & stat. nov. ― Map 5

Creochiton ledermannii Mansf. var. turbinatus J.F.Maxwell, Gard. Bull. Singapore 33 (1981) 323, t. 7, quoad typus. ― Type : BW 12260 (Schram) (holo L; iso BO; also in A, BRI, CANB, K, LAE, MAN n.v.), New Guinea, E of Sorong , Warsamson Valley, Asbakin.

Epiphytes; branchlets terete, glabrescent, innovations densely furfuraceous; nodes thickened with an interpetiolary ridge. Leaves coriaceous, ovate, apex acute, base rounded, above glabrous, light green, below glabrescent midrib densely furfuraceous, 4–6 by 2.2–3.1 cm; nervation plinerved with 1 pair of main nerves arising from above the base; petiole densely furfuraceous, 3–5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, up to 5 cm long, umbellate, 2–5-flowered; main axis terete, densely furfuraceous; bracts ovate, glabrescent, c. 2 by 1 mm; bracteoles coriaceous, orbicular, concave, glabrous, enveloping the flower buds, yellowish green, 5–7 by 3–4 mm; pedicel densely furfuraceous, 5–10 mm long. Hypanthium campanulate, glabrescent, 2–3 by 2 mm, calyx rim truncate; petals elliptic, 2–3 by 2 mm. Stamens 8, equal; filament flat, c. 2 mm long; anthers elongate, 2–3 mm long; connective with a triangular crest, 1 mm long; lateral appendages absent; ovary globose, 1–1.4 mm long, glabrous; style glabrous, c. 4 mm long; extra-ovarial chambers shallow, c. 1/5 as long as the ovary. Fruits globose, glabrous, green, 4–6 by 3–4 mm diam, turbinate with 8 distinct lines; seeds c. 0.5 mm long.

Distribution ― New Guinea (Vogelkop).

Ecology & Habitat ― Primary forest on humid sandy clay inundated in the wet season, riverbank, between 50–150 m altitude.

Vernacular name ― Apunengapok (Waskuk).

Note ― Creochiton turbinatus differs from all congeners by: petioles 3–5 mm long, leaves ovate, 2.2–3.1 cm wide, base rounded, apex acute, underneath glabrescent (but for midrib). The inflorescences are umbellate with orbicular bracteoles which completely cover the flower bud, 5 –7 mm long, fleshy, glabrous. It differs from C. ledermannii by having glabrescent leaves with an acute apex, and the turbinate fruits. The umbellate inflorescences of C. turbinatus are not 3-, but 5-flowered. This species is only known from the type collected near Sorong in Indonesian New Guinea. The paratypes (Hoogland & Craven 10735, Docters van Leeuwen 10382) belong to C. ledermannii , because the leaves are densely tomentose and have a retuse apex.

Figures

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