Helixanthera crassipetala

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Helixanthera crassipetala

Description

Glabrous except for a short red-brown tomentum on the young shoots, inflorescences and flowers in some Bornean specimens. Leaves scattered or sometimes subverticillate; lamina broadly elliptic to obovate, 5-10 by 2-6.5 cm, cuneate at the base to a petiole 5-15 mm long, obtuse or rounded at the apex, dull or slightly glossy above, dull below; venation pinnate with the midrib distinct below and the many parallel secondary and tertiary veins obscure but forming a finely striate pattern above. Inflorescencess at the nodes, a 3-16-flowered raceme or spike; axis 20-60 mm long; pedicels 0-4.5 mm long, up to 2 mm thick; bracts simple, ovate, c. 2 mm long. Ovary cylindric, 5-7 mm long; calyx limb spreading, c. 1 mm long.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present)
Malesia: Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo.

Notes

Closely related to Helixanthera cylindrica, differing in its shorter inflorescence, pedicels shorter than the ovary, and mostly shorter corolla wider at the base. The two species are sympatric and the specimens most difficult to place may be hybrids.