Heteroblemma bisetosum (Bakh.f.) Cámara-Leret, Ridd.- Num. & Veldk. 2013

Cámara-Leret, R., Ridder-Numan, J. W. A. & Veldkamp, J. F., 2013, Revision of Heteroblemma gen. nov. (Dissochaeteae - Melastomataceae) from Malesia and Vietnam, Blumea 58 (3), pp. 229-240 : 235

3. Heteroblemma bisetosum (Bakh.f.) Cámara-Leret, Ridd.- Num. & Veldk. , comb. nov.

Medinilla bisetosa Bakh.f., Contr. Melastom. (1943) 177. ≡ Recueil Trav. Bot. Néerl. 40 (1946) 177. ≡ Meded. Bot. Mus. Herb. Rijks Univ. Utrecht 91 (1947) 177. — Type: Forbes 2342 (holo L; BM, BO).

Medinilla alternifolia auct. non Blume: Baker, J. Bot. 62, Suppl. 1 (1924) 40.

Innovations hirsute, hairs stipitate stellate. Branchlets striate, glabrous. Petioles terete, 3.5–6.5 cm by 1–1.5 mm, glabrous. Leaves elliptic to oblong, 8–14 by 4–7 cm, 1.9–2.6 times as long as wide, 1.7–2.8 times as long as the petioles, base acute, margin entire, glabrous, apex acuminate, texture somewhat leathery, thin (i.s.), underneath glabrous, 5-plinerved, basal acrodromous, first pair of primaries 1–5 mm away from the base, distalmost primaries 5– 20 mm away from the preceding pair, submarginal vein inconspicuous, secondary nerves inconspicuous. Bracts 1 mm long. Flowers born in dense fascicles on old branchlets, pedicels 5 mm long, with sessile stellate hairs or glabrous. Hypanthium urceolate to campanulate, 3 mm long, with sessile stellate hairs to glabrous. Sepals 1 mm long, teeth minute, less than 0.5 mm, glabrous. Petals pink. Filaments 2 mm long. Anthers 3 –4 mm, lateral appendages not recurved, 0.5–1 mm long, dorsal spur triangular, 0.5–1.5 mm long. Fruit 7 by 5 mm, surface smooth, glabrous, calyx teeth absent; pedicels in fruit 15 mm, glabrous; inside filled with jelly, seeds greater than 0.5 mm but less than 1 mm, yellow (i.s.).

Distribution — Sumatra (W coast) and Vietnam (Lao Cai, Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan and Kontum provinces).

Habitat — Notes on habitat and ecology are only available from Vietnam collections. In closed primary broadleaved moun- tain forest, between 1500–2000 m, common.

Collector’s notes — Epiphytic creeping vine up to 15 m long, cauliflorous. Petals pale pink to pink.

Notes — Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr erroneously cited Bünnemeijer 5662 as the type. This is the type of M. buennemeijeri Bakh.f. (1943, 1946, 1947: 192). The Forbes collection is cor- rectly cited in his list of collectors and the specimen itself in L is also so labelled by Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr himself. This mix-up of type citations is not covered by the Code, but we have regarded it as a bibliographic error that can be corrected, similar to Art. 33.5. In 1943 one was not required to designate a type, anyway (Art. 8) .

Inexplicable is the disjunct distribution between Vietnam and Sumatra. Previously only known from the type in Sumatra, it has also been found in Vietnam.Although we tried, the material is indistinguishable except for the stipitate stellate hairs on the innovations and the sessile and stellate hairs in the younger flower pedicels and buds, unique for Heteroblemma .

5 collections were seen.