Brassaiopsis producta (Dunn) C.-B. Shang, 1984

Wen, Jun, Duong, Thi Hoan & Nguyen, Thanh Huong, 2002, Brassaiopsis producta (Dunn) C. - B. Shang, a new record of Araliaceae from Vietnam, Adansonia (3) 24 (1), pp. 117-119 : 118-119

Brassaiopsis producta (Dunn) C.-B. Shang

Brassaiopsis producta (Dunn) C.-B. Shang, Candollea 39: 485 (1984). Heptapleurum productum Dunn, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 35: 499 (1903). — Schefflera producta (Dunn) R. Viguier , Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., ser. 9, 9: 351 (1909).

— Type: Henry 9350, China, Yunnan, Mengtze , in mountains, 1600 m (holo-, BM; iso-, NY!).

Brassaiopsis pentalocula G. Hoo, Acta Phytotax. Sin., Addit. 1: 150 (1965).

— Type: Feng 11970, China, Yunnan, Xichou , in forest, 1500-1600 m (holo-, PE!; iso-, KUN!) .

Evergreen shrub c. 1-8 m tall; stem with conical prickles. Leaves palmately compound, with (3-)5-7 leaflets, stipulate, base of stipules slightly adnate with petiole, stipules narrowly triangular, 3-4 × 2-2.5 mm, coriaceous; leaflets oblong, elliptic to ovate, 6-13 × 3-6.5 cm, subcoriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, petiolules 1.5-3.5 cm long, apex acuminate to acute, base broadly acute to rounded, lateral veins 9-10 per side, veins and veinlets prominent on both surfaces, margin sparsely toothed at the upper 1/2-2/3, teeth somewhat recurved; petioles (3-) 10-22 cm long, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal, main axis 8- 20 cm long, densely covered with reddish brown hairs, with 20-35 paniculately arranged umbels, peduncles 1-2.5 cm long, each umbel with 15- 25 flowers, bracts boat-shaped, coriaceous, 5-6 × 4-5 mm, pubescent, bracteoles (bracts subtending the flowers) narrowly triangular, persistent, 3-4 × 2-2.5 mm; pedicels inarticulate, stellately pubescent, 3-5 mm long. Floral buds and young flowers densely pubescent; sepals triangular, 0.7- 0.9 × 0.6-0.7 mm, petals 5, ovately triangular, 2- 2.5 × 1.5-1.8 mm, stamens 5, 2- 2.5 mm long, ovaries 5- or rarely 4-locular, styles connate, floral disc projected. Fruits ovately globose, 7-9 mm long, 7-8 mm wide, 5- or rarely 4-ribbed; persistent styles c. 2 mm long, undivided.

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — VIETNAM. Ha Giang: Phuong 282, Pho Bang , 10 Aug. 1977, bud ( HN); Phuong 327, 13 Aug. 1977, bud ( HN); Russia – Vietnam Joint Medicinal Exped . Team 7032, 1400-1500 m, 4 Dec. 1966 ( HN); Russia – Vietnam Joint Medicinal Exped. Team 7057, 9 Dec. 1966 ( HN). Lang Son: Wen et al. 6192, Huu Lung Dist., Huu Lien Protected Area , Khao Kinh village, 21 o 42’15”N, 106 o 23’17”E, 400 m ( F, HN, MO); Wen et al. 6202, 21 o 42’59”N, 106 o 23’26”E, 430 m ( F, HN, MO). Son La: Ha 270, Muong Va , Song Ma , 22 Apr. 1977, fl. ( HN).

Brassaiopsis producta is distributed in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, China, and Ha Giang, Lang Son and Son La provinces, Vietnam. It occurs in dry evergreen forests on limestones at altitudes of 400-1600 m. It blooms from August to April and fruits from January to April.