Crudia papuana

Primary tabs

Crudia papuana

Description

Tree 12-24 m high and 35-50 cm in diam.; buttresses thick, steep, to c. 1 m high. Leaves usually with 2 opposite leaflets, or sometimes 1-foliolate, petiole 4-11 mm, glabrous, glossy, ending in a subulate tip (c. 4 mm long). Stipules minute, caducous. Inflorescences in upper axils or terminal on lateral shoots, up to c. 15 cm long, moderately flowered, often with many fasciculate, linear bud scales or bracts at the base, the rachis glabrous, sometimes sparsely puberulous; bracts and bracteoles minute, triangular, 0.5-1.5 mm long; pedicels short, 2-3 mm, glabrous. Flowers cream white or very pale green, scented. Stamens 10, c. 5 mm, glabrous. Seeds slightly reni- form, 3-5 by 5-7.5 cm, flat, reddish brown.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical, Irian Jaya: Asmat region; Papua New Guinea: Western & Gulf Provinces present, New Georgia present
Solomon Islands (New Georgia); in Malesia: New Guinea (Irian Jaya: Asmat region; Papua New Guinea: Western & Gulf Provinces).

Morphology

This species is characterized by the mostly 2-foliolate leaves. The leaflets are coriaceous, glabrous and with transversally wrinkled petiolule, and are opposite on a 2-foliolate leaf. The pods are often 1-seeded.

Citation

Verdc. 1979: p. 100. – In: Manual New Guinea Leg., Lae Bot. Bull.: f. 22.