Breynia papillosa Esser & Stuppy, 2022

Esser, H. - J., Stuppy, W. H. & Welzen, P. C. van, 2022, Three new species and several typifications of Breynia (Phyllanthaceae) from Malesia, Blumea 67 (2), pp. 132-138 : 135

2. Breynia papillosa Esser & Stuppy , sp. nov. — Fig. 2

Breynia racemosa auct. non (Blume) Müll.Arg.: Gage (1917) 479.

Typical for this species are the elliptic leaves with very distinct venation at least below when dry, appearing glabrous without a lens but in fact being short papillate-pubescent, and appearing distinctly glaucous-greyish below. — Type: H. J. Lam 746 (holo L [ L 0066064 ]; iso BO, SING), Indonesia, Papua, near Pioneer Bivouac, Mamberamo , 31 July 1920 .

Shrub to treelet, to 4 m tall, very slender, sparsely branched. Indumentum: pubescent, with simple hairs 0.05–0.1(–0.2) mm long and nearly papillate, usually not visible with the naked eye. Stipules 1.5–2(–2.5) by c. 0.75 mm, glabrous or with very few hairs at base. Leaves: petiole 2 – 3 mm long, pubescent; blade elliptic to slightly ovate (very rarely ovate), (2.2–)3–6.5 by (1–) 2–3 cm, (1.7–)2.0–2.4(–3.3) times longer than wide, symmetric, membranous, base obtuse to slightly acute, margin entire, apex acute, upper surface pubescent on midvein and sideveins, otherwise glabrous, lower surface glaucous, slightly pubescent on midvein and sideveins to nearly glabrous; venation pinnate, side veins in 7–9 pairs, smaller veinlets slightly to distinctly visible. Flowers white to greenish, actinomorphic, pedicellate, erect; calyx 6-lobed, pitcher-shaped; petals, disc and pistillode absent. Staminate flowers 1–3(–4) in an axillary glomerule or in a short raceme, glabrous to slightly pubescent; pedicel up to 1.5–2 mm long; stamens 3, united into a central vertical androphore. Pistillate flowers solitary, glabrous or pubescent at base; pedicel 1.2–1.5 mm long; calyx 2.5–3 mm long, subglabrous, lobes c. 0.5 mm long; ovary glabrous; stigmas 3, free, simple. Fruits solitary, fleshy, green turning pinkish to red to blackish; pedicel 2–4 mm long, slightly pubescent to glabrous; calyx hardly accrescent, (2.5–) 3–3.5 mm diam, with free lobes 0.5–1 mm long, flat, without visible venation, glabrous; fruit (4–)5 by 5.5–7 mm, subglabrous but sometimes whitish at apex, without an apical ring, somewhat fleshy outside; stigmas 0.2–0.3 mm long, free, undivided. Seeds c. 5 by 3.5–4 mm, trigonous, smooth.

Distribution — Endemic to New Guinea (Indonesian Papua, Western Province of Papua New Guinea).

Habitat & Ecology — In secondary vegetation, open places in and margin of primary forest, on riverbanks, among tall cane grass ( Saccharum ); soil clay or gravel. Locally rather common. Altitude: sea level to 800(–1800) m. Flowers and fruits collected in January to March, July to November.

Vernacular names — Katok iya; Padogre (Kapaokoe language).

Additional collections studied (paratypes). Indonesia, West Papua, Bird’s Head Peninsula, surroundings of Ayawasi, E132°29' S1°09', 450 m, 05 Jan. 1996, W. Avé 4102 ( L); Sg.Aëndoea near Oet, 06 July 1941, Aët (exp. E. Lundquist) 437 ( A, BO-2 sheets, L, SING) ; Indonesia, Papua, P . Jappen (= Japen), Kp.Baroe,near Seroei, 30 July 1939, Aët & Idjan (exp. L. J. Van Dijk) 240 ( A, L); Irian Jaya, P . Jappen, Wasabori near Seroei, 16 Aug. 1939, Aët & Idjan (exp. L. J. Van Dijk) 478 ( L) ; Papua New Guinea, Western Province, Fly River , 1876, L. M . d’Albertis s.n. (MEL-2 sheets); Papua New Guinea, Strickland (= Bonito) River, Aug. 1885, W . Bäuerlen s.n. ( MEL); 15 km SW. of Bernhard Camp, Idenburg (= Taritatu) River, 1800 m, Jan. 1939, L. J . Brass 12300 ( A, L); Irian Jaya, 4 km SW. of Bernhard Camp, Idenburg River , E138°27' S2°54', 850 m, s.dat., L. J . Brass 13077 ( A, CANB, L); Enarotali, Lake Paniai, Wissel Lakes , S03°55' E136°15', 1800 m, 26 Mar. 1955, BW (Chr. Versteegh) 3091 ( CANB, L); Irian Jaya, Armina, Sjuga-Wagura area ,

Bomberai Peninsula, 13 May 1962, BW ( V. W. Moll) 13026 ( CANB, L); Van Rees Gebergte, Van Gelderen River , 100 m, May 1926, W . M . Docters van Leeuwen 9241 ( BO, L-2 sheets); Rouffaer River , 175 m, Aug. 1926, W . M . Docters van Leeuwen 10096 ( BO, L); Nassaugebergte , Exploration Camp, 700 m, Oct. 1926, W . M . Docters van Leeuwen 10617 (BO-2 sheets, L); Mam- berano, Camp Albatross , 60 m, Nov.1926, W . M . Docters van Leeuwen 11355 ( BO, L-2 sheets); Wissel Lake Region , van rivier naar kebonbivak Perai, 11–17 Oct. 1939, P . J . Eyma 5261 ( BO); Geelvink Bay , Nabire, 23 Feb. 1940, R . Kanehira & S . Hatusima 11445 ( A, BO); Geelvink Bay , Dalman, 45 km inward of Nabire, 400 m, 01 Mar. 1940, R . Kanehira & S . Hatusima 12029 ( BO); near Doorman-kali , 200 m, 21 Sept. 1920, H . J . Lam 1250 ( BO, L); near Doorman river , 200 m, 24 Sept. 1920, H . J . Lam 1367 ( A, BO, L); Noord river (= Lorentz river), 20 Oct. 1909, L . S. A .M. von RÖmer 679 (L).

Notes — 1. The species is part of Breynia subg. Breynia sect. Breynia because of the structure of the stamens and the short, non-divided stigmas. In particular the very short indumentum is characteristic, in connection with the leaves being glaucous below. The fruits have a small calyx and a pedicel of regular length, and are not distinctive.

2. Doubtfully here may belong: Irian Jaya,W Irian, above Sukamapura (Hollandia = Djajapura), Kostermans & Soegeng 182 (L).

Figures

Fig. 2 Breynia papillosa Esser & Stuppy. a. Habit; b. staminate flower; c. staminate flower with part of calyx removed showing androecium;d. pistil- late flower; e. pistil from side and top; f. fruit; g. seed from side and front (all: W. Avé 4102, L). — Illustration by Esmée Winkel, 2020.