Creochiton novoguineensis (Baker f.) Veldk. & M.P.Nayar

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

9. Creochiton novoguineensis (Baker f.) Veldk. & M.P.Nayar ― Map 5

Creochiton novoguineensis ( Baker f.) Veldk. & M.P.Nayar (Veldkamp 1978) 438. ― Dissochaeta novoguineensis Baker f. (1923) 21; Mansf. (1925) 114. ― Lectotype (Veldkamp 1978): Forbes 708 (holo BM;iso BM,E, K, L), New Guinea, Central District , Sogeri Region, Mt Wori-Wori.

Creochiton divitiflorus Mansf.(1925) 135. ― Type: Ledermann 9576 (holo B n.v.; iso L), New Guinea, East Sepik District, Etappenberg.

Creochiton schlechteri Mansf. (1925) 134. ― Type: Schlechter 19234 (holo B n.v., iso S), New Guinea, Kaiser Wilhelmsland, Jaduna.

Epiphytes or woody climbers, up to 20 m tall; branchlets terete, glabrous to furfuraceous, young ones more or less densely furfuraceous, up to 5 mm diam; nodes thickened. Leaves coriaceous, elliptic to oblong, apex acute, base cuneate; glabrous, dark green above, pale green below, midrib below brown furfuraceous, 7.2–13 by 2.4–6 cm; nervation with 1–2 pairs of main nerves arising above the base close to the margin; petiole sparsely furfuraceous, 10–13 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, umbellate to paniculate, up to 14 cm long, up to 35 flowers; main axis terete, furfuraceous; bracteoles coriaceous, obovate, glabrous outside, sparsely stellate furfuraceous inside, white or yellowish, 3–7 by 2–3 mm, enveloping the flower buds. Hypanthium campanulate, light green, sparsely stellate furfuraceous, 3–5 by 2–3 mm; calyx rim truncate, with distinct undulations, 1 mm long; petals elliptic, apex acuminate, creamy, white or pinkish, c. 9 by 6 mm. Stamens 8, equal; filament flat, 3–4 mm long; anthers elongate, purplish, 4–5 mm long; connective with a sagittate crest, 0.5–1 mm long; lateral appendages absent; ovary glabrous, top concave, 2–3 mm long; style glabrous, c. 6 mm long; extra-ovarial chambers not developed. Fruits subglobose, glabrous, 5–6 mm long, dark red turning bluish purple or black; seeds c. 0.7 mm long.

Distribution ― New Guinea.

Ecology & Habitat ― Ridge forest between 175–2000 m altitude.

Vernacular name ― Marendekan (Wagau).

Note ― Creochiton novoguineensis differs from all congeners by: petioles 10 –13 mm long, sparsely furfuraceous, leaves 7.2–13 cm long, base cuneate, underneath glabrous (but for midrib). Inflorescence paniculate, many-flowered, bracteoles completely covering the flower bud, 3 –7 mm long, fleshy, and hypanthium sparsely stellate furfuraceous. Similar to C. ledermannii in the shape of 8 equal stamens, but differs in the shape of leaves and inflorescences. Creochiton novoguineensis has oblong glabrous leaves and paniculate inflorescences, while C. ledermannii has obovate leaves underneath densely tomentose and umbellate inflorescences. Contrary to the other species in New Guinea, C. novoguineensis has no developed extra-ovarial chambers. The leaves of this species sometimes have basal lateral main nerves close to the margin of the leaf (Aet & Idjan 296).

Figures

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