Clethra papuana var. papuana
Content
Description
Shrub or treelet, (1-)3-6(-8) m, more rarely a tree up to 15 m, bole up to 10 m by 30 cm.
Branchlets at tips rusty subvillous-tomentose.
Leaves elliptic or obovate-elliptic, sometimes oblong-elliptic, rarely elliptic-lanceolate, apex shortly subacutely acuminate, rarely rather blunt (more acutely acuminate in sterile shoots), base inequilateral, broadly cuneate to subtruncate-obtuse, coriaceous, firm, younger ones with stellate and fascicled hairs mainly along midrib and nerves above, clothed all over beneath by a dark rusty subvillous tomentum formed by stellate and fascicled hairs, mature ones glabrate above, dark green in the fresh state there, under-surface rusty- to greyish- or (almost silvery-) tomentulose (the large fascicled hairs having mostly disappeared by then), entire or shortly irregularly serrate-dentate (more deeply and sharply serrate in sterile shoots), (4-)5-8(-12) by 2-4(-5.5) cm, variable in size even in the same specimen, sometimes microphyllous, nerves 12-14 pairs, much spreading, ± inarching at or a little before the edge, well raised beneath, veins not much conspicuous beneath, reticulation faint;
Petals not rarely connate or coherent at base, obovate-spathulate, edge slightly erose, white. sometimes pale cream or suffused with red, glabrous, slightly scented, c. 3.5 by 2 mm.
Ovary almost villous;
Capsule subglobose, c. 3 mm ø.
Seeds ovoid-oblong, irregularly angular, 0.8-1 mm.