Spiraeopsis brassii
Content
Description
Shrub or small to large tree, up to 30 m tall.
Leaves 1-2-jugate, occasionally some on the same plant unifoliolate.
Stipules broadly ovate or reniform, 8-12 by 10-15 mm, sessile or with a very short stalk, apex rounded, margin ± deeply dentate, surface densely hirsute.
Inflorescence thryrsiform, up to c. 40 by 20 cm; usually one subunit per axil, at distal or subdistal nodes;
Flowers shortly pedicellate, the pedicel up to 1.2 mm long, densely hairy.
Sepals 1-1.6 by 0.8-1.5 mm, densely stellate-hirsute below.
Petals narrowly obovate or oblanceolate, 1.1-1.5 by 0.4-0.5 mm.
Stamens with filaments c. 1.8 mm long and an-thers 0.3 by 0.3 by 0.2 mm.
Ovary 2-carpellate, 0.7-1.3 by 0.5-1.1 mm, densely stellate-hirsute, often with rounded glands;
Fruit with valves 3.5-6 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, with several seeds.
Seeds including wings c. 1.8 mm long, surface papillose.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, eastern half of New Guinea present
Malesia: thus far only known from the eastern half of New Guinea.
Notes
1 The plant is often very distinctive because of the dense, rusty brown indumentum on the axes and lower sides of the leaves.
3. Used for construction (Vaii NGF 17157).
2. The flowers are generally olive-brown, the sepals rusty brown outside and purple-red inside, the petals are pink to white but fugacious, the filaments are purple, the anthers white or yellow, the disc deep purple, and the styles purple. Young fruits are pale green to pale brown.