Merrilliodendron megacarpum
Content
Description
Shrub, or generally tree, (3-)6-15(-25) m, bole straight, sometimes fluted, up to 55 cm Ø;
Leaves oblong to oblong-ovate, apex shortly attenuate, mostly blunt, rarely acutish, base broadly cuneate to rounded, thin-coriaceous, glabrous, showing numerous minute pel-lucid points against strong light, (15-)20-30 by 7-11 (-16) cm, in suckers or young shoots up to 36 by 17 cm, entire, midrib strongly obtusely prominent beneath, nerves (8-)10-12 cuved-ascendent pairs faintly looping before the edge, veins obliquely transverse, reticulation rather indistinct;
Sepals suborbicular, connate in the lower half, lobes 1-1.5 mm.
Petals ovate-oblong, a little fleshy, dull cream or yellow to purplish, 3-4 by 1.5 mm, glabrous outside, ± densely yellowish-villous inside.
Stamens 2-3 mm;
Panicles composed of short lateral cymes, laxly many-flowered, 1-3 in foliate or already defoliate axils, or from the wood of old branches and/or trunk, 7-20 cm, lower branches up to 9 cm, upper ones 2-4 cm;
Ovary 2.5 mm.
Seed starchy, 4-6 by 2-2.5 cm.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Carolines present, Guam present, Kusaie present, Melanesia present, Micronesia present, Muna I present, New Britain present, New Ireland present, Northern New Guinea present, Pacific: Marianas present, Palawan present, Rota present, SE. Celebes present, Santa Cruz Is present, Solomons present, Vanikoro I present
Micronesia (Marianas: Rota&Guam; Carolines: Kusaie), in Melanesia scattered on New Ireland, New Britain, the Solomons, and the Santa Cruz Is. (Vanikoro I.); in Malesia: Philippines (once in Palawan), SE. Celebes (Muna I.), and scattered in Northern New Guinea. .
Dispersal
The corky or spongious part of the endocarp gives the fruit its power of buoyancy, and dispersal is obviously effected or facilitated by sea-currents and freshwater streams.
Uses
Wood yellowish, straight-grained, apparently not used. For wood anatomy cf. . Fruit said to be edible.
Citation
SLEUM. 1969 – In: Blumea: 228
KANEH. 1934 – In: Bot. Mag. Tokyo: >956
BALGOOY 1966 – In: Steen. & Balgooy, Pac. Pl. Areas 2: 176
KANEH. & HATUS. 1940: p. 435. – In: Bot. Mag. Tokyo: f. 82 & 83
HEMSL.: Kew Bull.: 133
SLEUM. 1942: p. 366. – In: E. & P., Nat. Pfl. Fam., ed. 2, 20b: f. 104
KANEH. 1935 – In: J. Dep. Agr. Kyushu Imp. Un.: 359
MERR. & PERRY 1946 – In: J. Arn. Arb.: 324
HOSOKAWA 1940 – In: J. Jap. Bot.: 540
K. SCH. & LAUT. 1900: Fl. Schutzgeb.: 414
DAHL 1952 – In: J. Arn. Arb.: 265
SCHELLENB. 1923 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 164