Aspidostemon reticulatum, Van der Werff, 2006

Werff, Henk Van Der, 2006, A revision of the Malagasy endemic genus Aspidostemon Rohwer & Richter (Lauraceae), Adansonia (3) 28 (1), pp. 7-44 : 40-41

25. Aspidostemon reticulatum

Van der Werff, sp. nov. ( Fig. 16A )

A congeneris inflorescentiis glabris, nervis subtus prominulis reticulatis, staminibus tribus tepaloideis distinguenda.

TYPUS. — Madagascar. Massif de la Montagne d’Ambre, restes des forêts un peu en dessous de Joffreville, [12°30’S, 49°12’30”E], 17.XI.1958, fl., Service Forestier 20011 (holo-, P; iso-, MO, P, TEF) .

DESCRIPTION

Tree, 10 m. Twigs terete, glabrous, scars of bracts visible at the beginning of the seasonal growth; terminal buds glabrous. Leaves opposite, 6.5-10 × 2.5- 3.5 cm, glabrous, subcoriaceous, elliptic, the upper surface shiny, the base acute to obtuse, apex acute or shortly acuminate, reticulation immersed on the upper surface, raised on lower surface; lateral veins difficult to discern, c. 10 on each side, petioles c. 5 mm long, flat or shallowly canaliculate.Inflorescences to 3 cm long, paniculate, glabrous, pedicels 1-2 mm long. Flowers 2.5 mm in diam., 2 mm high, glabrous, tepals about as wide as long, erect, stamens 3, tepaloid, the locelli introrse, staminodia II smaller than the stamens, tightly pressed against the staminodia III; staminodia III free, their apices peltate, but not forming a shield-like structure; base of staminodia glabrous. Fruit ellipsoid, 1.8 × 1 cm.

REMARKS

Aspidostemon reticulatum is easily recognized by the raised reticulation on the lower leaf surface combined with the glabrous inflorescences and the tepaloid stamens. It is the northernmost representative of the genus ( Fig. 17 ) and is only known from the type collection. No altitudinal data or vernacular name have been recorded.

PHENOLOGY

Flowers and fruits: November.

Figures

FIG. 16. — Species of Aspidostemon Rohwer & Richter: A, A. reticulatum Van der Werff; B, A. synandra Rohwer; C, A. trianthera (Kosterm.) Rohwer;D, A. trichandra Van der Werff. A, Service Forestier 20011, MO; B, Service Forestier 15610, P; C, Service Forestier 12064, MO; D, Ranirison 528, MO.

FIG. 17. — Distribution of Aspidostemon Rohwer & Richter in Madagascar: ■, A. reticulatum Van der Werff; ▲, A. synandra Rohwer; ▲, A. trianthera (Kosterm.) Rohwer; Ϙ, A. trichandra Van der Werff.