Sabia javanica
Content
Description
Evergreen woody climber or scandent shrub, up to 10 m.
Leaves elliptic-oblong to sublanceolate, 6-19 by 2-8(-10) cm, index 2-3(-4), pergamentaceous to pergamentaceous-coriaceous, above and beneath glabrous or with some hairs on midrib;
Flowers green to yellow or white.
Sepals sometimes 6 (see bracteoles), ± ovate or broad-ovate, 0.75-1 (-1.25) by 0.5-0.8(-l) mm, acute to obtuse, ± pubescent, ciliolate.
Petals oblong, 2.5-3.5(-4) by 1-1.5 mm, I obtuse, nerves up to 5, often dark-coloured and then conspicuous.
Stamens (1—)1.25—1.5 mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Sumatera (Sumatera present), East Coast Res present, Indragiri present, Lampongs present, W. Java present
Malesia: Sumatra (East Coast Res., Indragiri, Lampongs), W. Java. In all c. 30 collections.
Notes
Sabia javanica strongly resembles S. pauciflora from the Philippines, the Moluccas, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It can be distinguished from that species by its often more-flowered cymes, its shorter style, and some other slight differences. Since both species are geographically separated, it was also possible to combine them into one species and give them the rank of subspecies. Although the differences are rather small, I believe that S. javanica and S. pauciflora represent two different, well-delimited, but very closely related species. Moreover, a reduction of both species to a single one would increase the variability of several taxo-nomic important characters, in consequence of which the delimitation with some other related species, like 5. parviflora and S. racemosa, and possibly also S. limoniacea, would become less distinct. Finally, this might result into a far-going lumping and a reduction of all these species to, say, subspecies. Contrary to the situation in the extra-Malesian species S. campanulata WALL., however, in this case I believe that the differences between these taxa have reached a higher level already, resulting in the distinction of mutually closely related but ± well-delimited species, each with its own specific combination of characters.
In vegetative characters and in drupelets S. javanica resembles S. racemosa from Borneo. It can, however, easily be distinguished from that species by its more-flowered inflorescences and its floral characters, especially its pètals.
In vegetative characters and in drupelets S. javanica resembles S. racemosa from Borneo. It can, however, easily be distinguished from that species by its more-flowered inflorescences and its floral characters, especially its pètals.
Citation
Hook.f. 1876 – In: Fl. Brit. India: 2
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 544
Blume 1871: Fl. Arch. Ind.: pl. 31
VAN DE WATER 1980 – In: Blumea: 39
BACKER 1911: Schoolfl. Java: 273
Blume 1870: Fl. Arch. Ind.: 71
Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 618
BACKER & BAKH.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 144
DIETR. 1840 – In: Syn. Pl.: 923