Chloranthus erectus
Content
Description
Shrubby herb, subshrub or small shrub, 0.3-3 m, rarely epiphytic, ± aromatic when crushed;
Leaves bright green, glossy above in life, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic- or ovate-oblong, 8-29 by 3-13 cm, usually long-acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, rather thin, the margin rather finely shallowly (rarely more coarsely) glandular-serrate, with c. 9 pairs of nerves, sometimes purple beneath;
Inflorescences scented, with 5-13 spikes 2.5-5 cm long;
Ovary enclosed by the male part.
Fruit white, cream or rarely tinged violet or pinkish, the tip sometimes dark violet-purple, succulent, glossy, 5-7 mm ø.
Seed yellowish white.
Distribution
Andaman Is present, Asia-Temperate: China South-Central (Yunnan present), Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, Continental SE. Asia present, Nepal present, New Britain present, New Ireland present
Continental SE. Asia from Nepal to Yunnan and Andaman Is., and throughout Malesia to New Guinea (incl. New Britain and New Ireland).
Taxonomy
The epithet elatior has come into wide usage but there is no BROWN specimen at the BM or any LINK specimen now extant at B, so it is not possible to be certain what was actually intended, since the description given by LINK is fragmentary, his type being sterile. I agree with VAN STEENIS (in litt.) that the name is better discarded in favour of one which is unambiguous and of which the type is available.
BUCHANAN-HAMILTON'S faulty drawing and description have misled authors as to the identity of Cryphaea erecta, but the examination of the type (E) left no doubt.
BUCHANAN-HAMILTON'S faulty drawing and description have misled authors as to the identity of Cryphaea erecta, but the examination of the type (E) left no doubt.
Notes
Judging by dried material specimens from New Ireland have larger fruits but the constancy of this needs checking in the field. Sterile material of Chloranthus erectus (= officinalis) with more toothed leaves than usual can be difficult to distinguish, but Sarcandra glabra usually dries with more reddish brown coloured foliage.
Citation
HOOK. f. 1886 – In: Fl. Br. India. p 100
BURK.& HEND. 1925 – In: Gard. Bull. S. S. p 411
RENDLE 1925: J. Bot. p 85
KENG 1969: Orders & Fam. Mal. Seed Pl: 122. f. 73
Ridl. 1923 – In: J. Mal. Br. R. As. Soc. p 89
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java. p 40
BURK. 1935: Diet. p 535
Wu KUO-FANG 1982: p. 84. – In: Fl. Reipubl. Pop. Sin. t. 26/6-10
C.Y. Wu 1977: p. 18. – In: Fl. Yunnanica. f. 5/1-3
HARA 1971 – In: Fl. East. Himal. p 14
HEND. 1951: p. 443. – In: Mal. Nat. J. f. 400
HEND. 1928 – In: Gard. Bull. S. S. p 308
SOLMS-LAUB. 1869 – In: DC., Prod. 16. p 474
FORBES & HEMSLEY 1891 – In: J. Linn. Soc. Bot. p 369
R. 1978: Orders & Fam. Mal. Seed Pl., ed. 2. f. 74
MALM 1934 – In: Fedde, Rep. 34. p 270
BURK.& 1923 – In: HoLTT. Gard. Bull. S. S. p 69
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip. p 21
CORDEMOY 1863 – In: Adansonia. p 299
HARA 1966 – In: Fl. East. Himal. p 44
Fl. Jav. 1829: Chloranthaceae: 10. t. 1
BACK. & BAKH. f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java. p 175
Bl. 1905: Nachtr. p 241
Ridl. 1926: Kew Bull. p 78
LINK 1821 – In: En. Pl. Berol. p 140
Wall. 1832: Cat: 230. n. 6881
LECOMTE 1910 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C. p 94
BARTLETT 1926 – In: Pap. Mich. Ac. Sc. Arts Lett. p 48
MEIJER 1968 – In: Bot. Bull. Herb. For. Dept. Sandakan. p 32
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen. p 52
PEI 1935: p. 667. – In: Sinensia. f. 1
QIN& SHA 1981: p. 138. – In: Fang, Fl. Sichuanica 1. f. 58
METCALF 1942 – In: Fl. Fukien. p 39
CORDEMOY 1863 – In: Adansonia. p 298
GIBBS 1914 – In: J. Linn. Soc. Bot. p 129
K. SCH. & LAUT. 1900: Fl. Deut. Schutzgeb. Südsee. p 263
PULLE 1911 – In: Nova Guinea. p 623
GAMBLE 1912 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng. p 33