Brassaiopsis sumatrana var. sumatrana
Content
Description
Shrub or small tree, to 15 m, with stout prickly branches, rufous-tomentose in its younger parts.
Leaves palmately lobed, clustered at the ends of the shoots;
Inflorescence a short, rufous-tomentose panicle, arising below the leaves (actually terminal but overtopped by sympodial innovations);
Petals 5, triangular, 2½ mm long.
Stamens 2 mm long, anthers oblong, 1 mm long.
Ovary obconic, c. 2 mm high;
Fruit subglobose, c. 8 mm high, with a persistent calyx-rim and stylar column.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Merapi present, Mts Kerintji present, Singalang present, West Sumatra present
Malesia: West Sumatra (Mts Kerintji, Merapi, Singalang).
Notes
The foliage is similar to that of 4. B. polyacantha and of Trevesia sundaica, but the small inflorescence is distinctive. The prickles persist on the older branches and the trunk. The petals and filaments are white, the anthers light purple, and the disk yellow.
Kalopanax resectum Miq., l.c., described on a Korthals collection from Sumatra, possibly belongs here, but the inflorescence may be larger and most leaves are decidedly digitately compound. Possibly it represents a hybrid between B. sumatrana and 5. B. glomerulata.
Kalopanax resectum Miq., l.c., described on a Korthals collection from Sumatra, possibly belongs here, but the inflorescence may be larger and most leaves are decidedly digitately compound. Possibly it represents a hybrid between B. sumatrana and 5. B. glomerulata.