Harpullia solomonensis
Content
Description
Tree, up to 18 m high, dbh up to 25 cm.
Twigs and leaf axes subglabrous, infructescences thin-puberulous.
Leaves 3-jugate, up to 75 cm long;
Inflorescences axillary to cauliflorous, densely clustered, the rachises branched at base, the axillary ones up to 4.5 cm long, those on the trunk up to 22 cm long;
Flowers without or with a strong smell, greenish- to golden-yellow;
Sepals (sub)orbicular to elliptic, (3-)4-6 by 3-5 mm, persistent.
Stamens 5.
Fruits with erect, ellipsoid lobes, (17-)23-24(-30) by (25-)28-34 mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Bismarck Archipelago (Bismarck Archipelago present)
Solomon Islands, possibly also in Malesial Bismarck Archipelago.
Notes
1. Harpullia solomonensis differs from its nearest related species, H. ramiflora, particularly in its inflorescences, which, when axillary, are short, dense clusters developing from both axillary buds, in its usually longer pedicels, and in its larger fruits with a thicker and rather woody wall.
2. Two collections from the Bismarck Archipelago, NGF 45722 from New Britain and NGF 29839 from New Ireland, may belong to this species. However, the nearly unknown H. peekeliana was described from New Ireland and seems to be closest to H. solomonensis. This problem can be solved only when more material from the Bismarck Archipelago becomes available.
2. Two collections from the Bismarck Archipelago, NGF 45722 from New Britain and NGF 29839 from New Ireland, may belong to this species. However, the nearly unknown H. peekeliana was described from New Ireland and seems to be closest to H. solomonensis. This problem can be solved only when more material from the Bismarck Archipelago becomes available.