Chloranthus erectus
Content
Description
Shrubby herb, subshrub or small shrub, 0.3-3 m, rarely epiphytic, ± aromatic when crushed;
Leaves bright green, glossy above in life, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic- or ovate-oblong, 8-29 by 3-13 cm, usually long-acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, rather thin, the margin rather finely shallowly (rarely more coarsely) glandular-serrate, with c. 9 pairs of nerves, sometimes purple beneath;
Inflorescences scented, with 5-13 spikes 2.5-5 cm long;
Ovary enclosed by the male part.
Fruit white, cream or rarely tinged violet or pinkish, the tip sometimes dark violet-purple, succulent, glossy, 5-7 mm ø.
Seed yellowish white.
Distribution
Andaman Is present, Asia-Temperate: China South-Central (Yunnan present), Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, Continental SE. Asia present, Nepal present, New Britain present, New Ireland present
Continental SE. Asia from Nepal to Yunnan and Andaman Is., and throughout Malesia to New Guinea (incl. New Britain and New Ireland).
Taxonomy
The epithet elatior has come into wide usage but there is no BROWN specimen at the BM or any LINK specimen now extant at B, so it is not possible to be certain what was actually intended, since the description given by LINK is fragmentary, his type being sterile. I agree with VAN STEENIS (in litt.) that the name is better discarded in favour of one which is unambiguous and of which the type is available.
BUCHANAN-HAMILTON'S faulty drawing and description have misled authors as to the identity of Cryphaea erecta, but the examination of the type (E) left no doubt.
BUCHANAN-HAMILTON'S faulty drawing and description have misled authors as to the identity of Cryphaea erecta, but the examination of the type (E) left no doubt.
Notes
Judging by dried material specimens from New Ireland have larger fruits but the constancy of this needs checking in the field. Sterile material of Chloranthus erectus (= officinalis) with more toothed leaves than usual can be difficult to distinguish, but Sarcandra glabra usually dries with more reddish brown coloured foliage.
Citation
BURK.& 1923 – In: HoLTT. Gard. Bull. S. S.: 69
HEND. 1951: p. 443. – In: Mal. Nat. J.: f. 400
GIBBS 1914 – In: J. Linn. Soc. Bot.: 129
SOLMS-LAUB. 1869 – In: DC., Prod. 16: 474
RENDLE 1925: J. Bot.: 85
C.Y. Wu 1977: p. 18. – In: Fl. Yunnanica: f. 5/1-3
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 21
BURK.& HEND. 1925 – In: Gard. Bull. S. S.: 411
MALM 1934 – In: Fedde, Rep. 34: 270
MEIJER 1968 – In: Bot. Bull. Herb. For. Dept. Sandakan: 32
LECOMTE 1910 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C.: 94
BURK. 1935: Diet.: 535
Ridl. 1923 – In: J. Mal. Br. R. As. Soc.: 89
HARA 1971 – In: Fl. East. Himal.: 14
CORDEMOY 1863 – In: Adansonia: 298
KENG 1969: Orders & Fam. Mal. Seed Pl: 122: f. 73
LINK 1821 – In: En. Pl. Berol.: 140
BARTLETT 1926 – In: Pap. Mich. Ac. Sc. Arts Lett.: 48
HEND. 1928 – In: Gard. Bull. S. S.: 308
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 40
R. 1978: Orders & Fam. Mal. Seed Pl., ed. 2: f. 74
Wall. 1832: Cat: 230: n. 6881
Bl. 1905: Nachtr.: 241
HARA 1966 – In: Fl. East. Himal.: 44
QIN& SHA 1981: p. 138. – In: Fang, Fl. Sichuanica 1: f. 58
METCALF 1942 – In: Fl. Fukien: 39
BACK. & BAKH. f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java: 175
PULLE 1911 – In: Nova Guinea: 623
GAMBLE 1912 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 33
FORBES & HEMSLEY 1891 – In: J. Linn. Soc. Bot.: 369
Fl. Jav. 1829: Chloranthaceae: 10: t. 1
K. SCH. & LAUT. 1900: Fl. Deut. Schutzgeb. Südsee: 263
HOOK. f. 1886 – In: Fl. Br. India: 100
CORDEMOY 1863 – In: Adansonia: 299
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 52
Ridl. 1926: Kew Bull.: 78
PEI 1935: p. 667. – In: Sinensia: f. 1
Wu KUO-FANG 1982: p. 84. – In: Fl. Reipubl. Pop. Sin.: t. 26/6-10