Trichosanthes wawrae f. wawrae
Content
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Borneo present (Sabah present); Jawa (Jawa present); Laos (Laos present); Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present, Singapore present); Sumatera (Sumatera present); Thailand (Thailand present), Central and East Kalimantan present, Kinabalu area present
Malesia: Thailand and Laos; in Malesia: Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo (Central and East Kalimantan; Sabah (Kinabalu area, only sterile specimens seen)), and Java.
Taxonomy
1 In Peninsular Malaysia two groups of specimens can be recognized, viz. lowland specimens, from Singapore and lowland Malaya, with large male bracts (c. 20 mm long), deeply and finely laciniate, and montane specimens with small male bracts (c. 10 mm long or less), which are more shallowly laciniate. The taxonomic significance of these differences is still unclear.
2 All specimens from Java are from (lower) montane area in the western part and differ from the remainder of the material by a slender habit (stem 1-2 mm diam.), thin leaves, mostly with rather distinct serrate-dentate margin. The male bracts are 10-15 mm long, deeply and slenderly incised, and approach the larger (stouter) deeply incised bracts as found in lowland specimens from Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia, which match the type-collection. In Java the sepals seem to be frequently ± lobed. All Javan specimens have truly 3-foliolate leaves, apparently simple leaves never have been found there.
Some collections from lowland Sabah, discussed under T. longispicata, with short male bracts, come close to specimens at present treated under T. wawrae from montane area in Peninsular Malaysia.
Lack of material from all areas prevents a satisfactory further subdivision of T. wawrae. 3 The type specimens of T. azurea (incl. varieties) agree with T. wawrae; the bluish or red and white colours of the fruit are possibly due to some infection.
Some collections from lowland Sabah, discussed under T. longispicata, with short male bracts, come close to specimens at present treated under T. wawrae from montane area in Peninsular Malaysia.
Lack of material from all areas prevents a satisfactory further subdivision of T. wawrae. 3 The type specimens of T. azurea (incl. varieties) agree with T. wawrae; the bluish or red and white colours of the fruit are possibly due to some infection.