Sparattanthelium aruakorum
Content
Description
Liana. Stem dark green. Short-shoots up to 2 cm long, recurved, hook-formed, compressed at base, striate, without leaves, glabrous, when young laxly pubescent. Leaves: petiole 1-3.5 cm long, glabrous; blade slightly coriaceous, narrowly oblong to ovate, 6-12(-13) x 2.5-4.5 cm, margin flat, apex 0.5-1 cm acuminate, base rounded or obtuse, when dry olive-green to dark green above, slightly shining, glabrous, below somewhat paler olive or grey, glabrous; at base 3-veined, appearing to be pinnately veined, secondary veins 4-6 pairs, in a right angle with main vein, all veins above and below glabrous or laxly pubescent, on both sides prominulous. Inflorescence axillary or pseudo-terminal, 8-10 times branched, up to 13.5 cm long; peduncle 4.5-6(-7) cm long, dark, glabrous, branchlets loosely minutely pubescent; pedicels thin, greyish white pubescent. Flowers: perianth lobes 5, rarely 4, narrowly obovate/ovate/oblong to ligulate, 1.5-1.8 x 0.8-1 mm, more or less hooded; stamens 4, filaments 0.5 mm long, anthers ca. 1 mm long; style 0.6-0.8 mm long. Infructescence up to 22 cm long, nodose, dark brown to black; fruit pedicel 4.5-5.5 cm long. Drupe dark brown or black, ellipsoid, 1.7-1.8 x 0.6-0.7 cm, compressed, inconspicuously 6-ribbed.