Syzygium squamatum Merr. & L.M.Perry

Craven, L. A., Damas, K. Q. & Cowley, K. J., 2021, Studies in Papuasian Syzygium (Myrtaceae): 2. The furfuraceous species of subg. Syzygium, Blumea 66 (1), pp. 57-81 : 79

37. Syzygium squamatum Merr. & L.M.Perry — Map 9

Syzygium squamatum Merr. & L.M.Perry (1942) 277. — Type: Brass & Versteegh 13125 (holo A n.v.; iso BRI!, L n.v.), Indonesia, Papua Province, Idenburg River , 4 km SW of Bernhard Camp, primary rainforest of plain, alt. c. 850 m, Mar. 1939.

Tree to 28 m tall, to 53 cm dbh; outer bark red-brown, scaly. Vegetative branchlet terete, rounded, 2‒3 mm diam; bark dull, smooth, not glandular-verrucose, persistent. Leaf lamina elliptic to obovate, 4‒7 by 2‒3 cm, 2‒2.3 times as long as wide; base cuneate or obtuse; apex acute or short acuminate; acumen flat; margin flat; lamina coriaceous; primary and secondary venation distinctly different with secondaries relatively little developed and not or rarely joining the intramarginal vein; primary veins 25‒31 on each side of the midrib, in median part of lamina at a divergence angle of 60‒70° and 1‒2 mm apart; intramarginal vein present, weakly arched, 1‒2 mm from margin, secondary intramarginal vein absent. Petiole 3‒4 mm long. Reproductive seasonal growth unit with a reproductive zone only. Inflorescence leafless, on branchlets below the leaves or on, paniculate, up to 16 by 16 cm, major axis c. 2 mm thick at the midpoint, bark furfuraceous; bracts caducous; bracteoles apparently subtending each flower, caducous. Flowers and fruit not seen.

Distribution — Indonesia (Papua Province).

Habitat & Ecology — Primary rainforest on plain. Altitude 850 m.

Note — Only one collection, the type, is available for study. This is in the early stages of inflorescence development and the flower buds are too small to provide data.