Kibara katikii
Content
Description
Small tree to 16 m, young growth densely covered with buff or fulvous tomentum.
Leaves variable in size and shape, ovate oblong-elliptic or obovate, 7.5-21 by 3.2-8.3 cm, becoming coriaceous, base broadly cuneate or rounded, apex shortly apiculate, margin entire or (more usually) irregularly dentate in the upper part, dentations either small and obscure or prominent, midrib prominent below, lateral veins evident and meeting within the margin, upper surface becoming ± glabrous above, lower surface soft-ly pubescent;
Inflorescence axillary or supra-axillary, usually of simple, 3-flowered cymes, c. 30 mm long, densely pubescent, pedicels c. 8 mm long, male and female flowers in separate inflorescences.
Fruiting receptacle usually solitary (developing from the terminal flower, side branches occasionally also with fruits), peduncle and pedicel becoming thickened and woody, receptacle enlarging slightly (c. 8 mm Ø), pubescent, with thick stipes or achenes ± sessile.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Central present, Milne Bay Province present, Morobe present, Northern present, Papua New Guinea present, Southern Highlands present
Malesia: Papua New Guinea (Southern Highlands, Morobe, Northern, Central&Milne Bay Province).
Notes
The foliage may have very different as-pects, sometimes being broadly obovate with an en-tire margin, at others being ovate and tapering towards the apex. The copious and persistent tomentum on the underside of the leaf is characteristic. This species has a wider distribution than most in the genus and a very considerable altitudinal range. The bark is thickly corky, pale brown and deeply and closely fissured.