Pycnarrhena tumefacta

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Pycnarrhena tumefacta

Description

Leaves with glabrous to tomentellous petioles, 1-6 cm, sometimes markedly swollen and geniculate at apex;

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; New Guinea present; Philippines (Philippines present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi present), Banguey I present, E. Java present, Halmahera present, Kaju Waru and Sipandjang Is present, Kangean Is present, Kei Is present, Luzon present, Melanesia present, Mindanao present, Mindoro present, N. Moluccas present, Obi I present, Palawan present, S. Moluccas present, Sangihe Is present, Solomons present
Melanesia (Solomons); in Malesia: New Guinea (West, ?East), S. Moluccas (Kei Is., Halmahera), N. Moluccas (Obi I.), Celebes (Sangihe Is.), Philippines (Mindanao, Mindoro, Luzon, Palawan), Borneo (incl. Banguey I.), and Kangean Is. (Kaju Waru and Sipandjang Is.) off E. Java.

Notes

Some rather distinctive forms are apparent, which may later prove to be distinct species, but with the incomplete material so far available they are regarded here as all conspecific. Specimens from the peat-swamp forests of Sarawak have large, coarsely reticulate leaves, and those from Mt Kinabalu have leaves with long petioles. In the Philippines, apart from the more typical, larger-leaved form, there is also a small-leaved plant exemplified by the synonym P. castanopsidifolia.
The extent of branching of the inflorescences depends on their position on the plant: those on younger, leafy stems are less branched than those on stems which are old and leafless. There is therefore a considerable difference between simple, short, axillary infructescences and those which are branched, elongate and ramiflorous. Herbarium specimens normally only show one or the other of these types.
The flowers are very fragrant.
The specimens cited in FORMAN (1972) from New Hebrides, New Ireland and New Britain belong to P. ozantha.

Citation

FORMAN 1972 – In: Kew Bull.: 414
Merr. 1921: En. Born.: 248
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 144
YAMAMOTO 1944 – In: J. Soc. Trop. Agric.: 34
Diels 1911 – In: Elmer, Leafl. Philip. Bot. 4: 1163
YAMAMOTO 1944 – In: J. Soc. Trop. Agric.: 32
YAMAMOTO 1944 – In: J. Soc. Trop. Agric.: 33
BECC. 1877 – In: Malesia: 159
Merr. 1921: En. Born.: 248
Diels 1910 – In: Pfl. R.: 53
MIERS 1871 – In: Contr. Bot.: 353
Merr. 1912 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: Bot. 266
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 144
Diels 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 144