Chloranthus henryi
Content
Description
Herb 20-40 cm;
Leaves in whorls of (?3-)4 at apex of stem, elliptic to broadly elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 8-15.5 by 3.5-9.5 cm, narrowly long-acuminate at apex, cuneate at base, margin sharply serrate, serrations terminated by prominent thick glands, glabrous, or shortly pubescent on the 5-9 pairs of nerves beneath;
Inflorescence terminal;
Ovary ± ovoid, narrowed from near middle to a ± triangular apex, 1.5(—2?) by 1 mm.
Fruits white?
Distribution
Abu-lug R present, Asia-Temperate, Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Banaue present, Bayninan present, Cagayan present, Ifugao present, Luzon present, Mt Polis present
China; in Malesia: Philippines (Luzon: Ifugao, Mt Polis; Bayninan, Banaue, Cagayan, Abu-lug R.).
Notes
When describing C. verticillatus MERRILL suggested it might be nearest to C. henryi, but later MERRILL and QUISUMBING synonymised it with C. oldhamii SOLMS-LAUB. MERRILL also compared C. philippinensis with C. henryi but stated the former had much smaller flowers. Chloranthus henryi is variable particularly in regard to the ratio of the length of the anther cells to that of the lobes of the male part which vary from about a ½ to more usually ¼ to 1 /3, but some Chinese material is very similar to that from the Philippines and for the present I am content to consider them conspecific. The above description does, however, refer only to Philippine material. A better range of material from China and the Philip-pines may show constant differences and that sub-species can be recognised.