Psychotria polycarpa (Miq.) Hooker (1880: 165)

Turner, I. M. & Kumar, V. S., 2018, Flora of Singapore precursors, 4. A summary of scandent Psychotria (Rubiaceae) in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia, Phytotaxa 361 (2), pp. 183-197 : 191

12. Psychotria polycarpa (Miq.) Hooker (1880: 165) .

≡ Grumilea polycarpa Miquel (1857: 295) ≡ Uragoga polycarpa (Miq.) Kuntze (1891: 962) ≡ Psychotria obovata Wall. ex Ridley (1923: 129) , nom. illeg., non P. obovata Ruiz & Pavon (1799: 58) , nec (Oerst.) Hemsley (1881: 50); nom. illeg., superfl.

Type (lectotype, designated here):— INDONESIA. Sumatra: Padang, Apenberg, F. W. Junghuhn s.n. ( L barcode L 0001230).

Specimens examined: — PENINSULAR MALAYSIA. Kedah: Inchong Estate, 3 May 1941, G. H. Spare SFN 37350 ( K). Pahang: Endau , Labong , Aug 1917, I. H. N. Evans s.n. ( K) ; Rompin River, Leban Chongdong, Jul 1917, I. H. N. Evans s.n. ( K). Selangor: Klang , Telok Reserve , 7 Oct 1937, Md Nur SFN 34026 ( K) ; Sepang, 21 Jun 1939, R. E. Holttum SFN 36554 ( K) ; Klang, 6 m. s. Banting Road , 29 May 1968, L. E. Teo & G. Pachiappan 89 [ KL 2689 ] ( K). Negri Sembilan: Tebang, 19 Jun 1917, H. N. Ridley s.n. ( K) ; Kampung Jawa, Serting Tengah, 3 Sep 1976, K. M. Kochummen KEP 18419 ( K). Malacca: 6 May 1868, A. C. Maingay 1250 A [ KDN 924 ] ( K) ; 6 Nov 1867, A. C. Maingay 1250 B [ KDN 924 ] ( K) ; Ayer Panas, s.dat., W. Griffith s.n. [ HEIC 3042 ] ( K). Johore: Kangka Sedilie Kechil, 19 Jun 1934, E. J. H. Corner SFN 28608 ( K) ; Mawai, 21 May 1934, E. J. H. Corner SFN 28439 ( K) ; Sungai Tukong, 23 Jul 1930, G. Spare 824 ( K). SINGAPORE. Bukit Mandai Road, 1891, H. N. Ridley s.n. ( BM, SING barcode SING0207015 ) ; s.dat., R. W. Hullett 402 ( K) ; s.dat., R. W. Hullett 227 ( SING barcode SING0030538 ) ; s.dat., R. W. Hullett 170 ( SING barcode SING0030537 ) ; Chan Chu Kang, 1893, H. N. Ridley 5669 ( BM, SING barcode 0030535) ; Gelang, 1896, H. N. Ridley s.n. ( SING barcode SING0030534 ) ; Chua Chu Kang , 9 Nov 1899, H. N. Ridley s.n. ( SING barcode SING0030533 ) ; Reservoir, s.dat., R. E. Holttum & M. R. Henderson s.n. ( SING barcode SING0030573 ) ; Alexandra Road, 1893, H. N. Ridley 5746 ( BM, SING barcode SING0030532 ) ; Changi, 1890, H. N. Ridley 2029 ( SING barcode SING0030536 ) ; Mandai Road, 18 Oct 1921, I. H. Burkill & M. R. Henderson SFN 6813 ( SING barcode SING0030539 ) ; Changi Beach, 1893, H. N. Ridley s.n. ( BM) .

Notes: —There has been confusion in the recognition and naming of this species. Reflecting the typically obovate leaves, Wallich called it Psychotria obovata but a description was not associated with the name until Ridley (1923) did so. As he cited Psychotria polycarpa in synonymy, the name, while validated, was a superfluous renaming as well as an illegitimate later homonym. The species undoubtedly comes close to the widespread Psychotria sarmentosa , but differs in the typically obovate leaves, generally broader inflorescences and relatively long-stalked fruits. Ridley (1923) did note the presence of this species (as P. obovata ) in Singapore, but it was subsumed into P. sarmentosa by Chong et al. (2009).