Lasianthus sterrophyllus Merr.

Zhu, H., Roos, M. C. & Ridsdale, C. E., 2012, A taxonomic revision of the Malesian species of Lasianthus (Rubiaceae), Blumea 57 (1), pp. 1-102 : 85-86

116. Lasianthus sterrophyllus Merr.

Lasianthus sterrophyllus Merr. (1937) 299. — Type: Winkler 508 (holo HBG; iso NY), Borneo, Bukit Mulu, 950 m alt.

Shrubs or treelets, up to 3 m high; branchlets terete, 2– 3 mm diam, glabrous except sparsely hirsute at nodes. Leaves: blades oblong-lanceolate, 8 –13 by 2.5 – 3.5 cm, coriaceous, glabrous above, glabrous or sparsely hirsute hairs on midrib and nerves beneath, apex acute to caudate-acute, base acute, midrib and nerves slightly prominent above, prominent beneath, nerves 6–9 pairs, ascending at an angle of 55–70°, curved to the margin, nervules prominent on both surfaces, subparallel; petioles 5 –10 mm long, glabrous or sparsely hirsute. Stipules triangular, 3–4 mm long, coriaceous, glabrous or pubescent. Cymes sessile; bracts absent or inconspicuous. Flowers sessile calyx campanulate, subglabrous, tube c. 2 mm long, lobes 4, triangular, c. 2 mm long, sparsely hirsute; corolla not seen. Drupes subglobose, c. 4 mm diam, glabrous or sparsely hirsute, crowned by persistent triangular calyx lobes; pyrenes 5, smooth on the abaxial face.

Distribution — Malaysia ( Sarawak), Indonesia (Kalimantan).

Notes — This species is similar to L. inodorus subsp. montigenus . Lasianthus inodorus subsp. montigenus has conspicuous orbicular or ovate bracts (although they are usually caducous, you can always see some in most specimens) and is found above 1700 m altitude. Lasianthus sterrophyllus has inconspicuous bracts and has 4 ovate 2 mm long calyx lobes, and is usually found below 1700 m altitude.

An imperfect specimen in Leiden (Winkler 508) differs from the type description of L. sterrophyllus in having conspicuous ovate bracts. The label on the specimen looks quite new from the paper appearance and typing writing, and the date of collection 2/12/1925 does not agree with Merrill’s type Winkler 508. The specimen obviously is L. inodorus subsp. montigenus .