Heteroblemma flagellatum (Stapf) 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 : 238

9. Heteroblemma flagellatum (Stapf) Cámara-Leret, Ridd.- Num. & Veldk. , comb. nov. — Fig. 2h

Medinilla flagellata Stapf in Hook.f., Icon. Pl. (1895) t. 2411. — Type: Haviland 68 (holo K).

Innovations glabrous. Branchlets striate, glabrous, 6–7 mm diam. Petioles narrowly winged, 5.5–19 cm by 2–4 mm, hirsutulous. Leaves elliptic to oblong, 21–28 by (8.5–) 11.5–16.5 cm, 1.7–2.1 times as long as wide, 1.9–4.4 times as long as the petioles, base decurrent, margin laxly serrulate, ciliolate, apex acuminate, pergamentaceous (i.s.), underneath paler green, hirsute, hairs purplish brown, 7-plinerved, basal acrodromous, first pair of primaries 5–15 mm away from the base, distalmost primaries 10 –30 mm away from the preceding pair, submarginal vein conspicuous, secondary nerves conspicuous, 20– 25 pairs, angle of divergence acute wide, tertiary nerves conspicuous. Bracts 1–1.5 mm long. Flowers born in fascicles on old wood, pedicels 15–20 mm, pinkish red, glabrous. Mature floral buds 9–10 by 3 mm, purplish or dark pink. Hypanthium urceolate to campanulate, 3.5 mm long, pinkish red, glabrous. Sepals 1 mm long, teeth minute, less than 0.5 mm, glabrous. Petals 6–7 mm long, pale to dark pink, outside papillose. Filaments 2 mm long, white. Anthers 4 mm long, yellow, lateral appendages not recurved, 0.2 mm long, dorsal spur triangular to lanceolate. Style 6 mm, white at the base, reddish purple upwards, stigma white. Fruit 7–8 by 7–8 mm, orange, smooth, glabrous, calyx teeth absent; pedicels in fruit 20 –40 mm long, pinkish red, glabrous; seeds up to 0.5 mm long, yellow (i.s.).

Distribution — Endemic of Sarawak (1st and 7th Div.).

Habitat — Hill dipterocarp forest, near river, limestone, dark clay soil, 150–365 m altitude.

Collector’s notes — Root climber, up to 8 m high, flowers 1–2 m above the ground. Petioles succulent, dark purplish. Leaves above green to dark green, beneath pale green with a purplish brown indument on the nerves. Pedicel pinkish red, dark pink. Flower buds dark pink, purplish. Hypanthium pinkish red, dark pink. Petals pale pink, pinkish white. Filaments white. Stamens arranged in a group so that they are parallel. Filaments white. Anthers yellow, apex and dorsal appendage slightly purplish. Top of ovary pink. Style white at base, upwards reddish purple, stigma white. Berries orange, tasteless.

Note — 5 collections were seen.

Figures

Fig. 2 Examples of some hypanthia. a. Heteroblemma barbatum (BW 8404 (Vink)); b. H. capillipes (S. 36279 (Ilias Paie)); c. H. serpens (Ridley July 1893); d. H. coronatum (SAR 25080 (Banyeng ak Nudong)); e. H. clemensiae (Clemens 3829); f. H. kemulense (Endert 4330); g. H. loratum (Haviland 1682); h. H. flagellatum (Haviland 68); i. Heteroblemma alternifolium (Soedarsono 378). — Scale bar = 1 mm.