Capitularina involucrata
Content
Description
Leaf-blades 0-5, gradually narrowed into a very acute to almost filiform scabrous point, scaberulous on the margins and the nerves on the under side at least in the upper part, glaucescent, 60-125 by 1-2 cm.
Flowers 5-11 mm long;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, Canu Camp present, Mt Carstensz present, Noord River near Alkmaar present, Palmer River, W. Distr. in Kuinga Subdistr present, Papua present, Steenkool present, Tembuni present, Tor River present, Utakwa River present, W. New Guinea present
Malesia: New Guinea (W. New Guinea: Steenkool (Tembuni), Mt Carstensz (Canu Camp), Noord River near Alkmaar, Tor River, Utakwa River; Papua: Palmer River, W. Distr. in Kuinga Subdistr.).
Notes
Capitularia foliata UITTIEN () was based on BRASS 3045 from the Solomon Islands, which collection I have not seen. According to UITTIEN, C. foliata is quite similar to C. involucrata in stem, leaves, and spikelets, but more robust in all its parts, the stem provided with very long leaves at the base, the inflorescence consisting of several spikelets, the bracts much larger and awned. In 1939 UITTIEN described C. foliata var. archboldii from Papua, differing from the typical form by the single spikelet and the shorter-awned glumes; C. foliata was then said to differ from C. involucrata by the leafy stem-bases. In my opinion it is impossible to distinguish between C. involucrata and C. foliata solely by the absence or presence of basal foliage-leaves, and I doubt whether C. foliata can be maintained as a species. In GJELLERUP 754 (L) from Tor River, the base of one of the two specimens bears scarious bladeless leaf-sheaths only, but in the other a well developed leaf is present. Both specimens certainly belong to C. involucrata; they were determined as such also by UITTIEN.
In my opinion the few collections known from New Guinea belong to a single species which is very variable in the size of all its parts, even of its floral parts. A similar variability is found in several other members of the Mapanieae.
In my opinion the few collections known from New Guinea belong to a single species which is very variable in the size of all its parts, even of its floral parts. A similar variability is found in several other members of the Mapanieae.