Mapania macrocephala
Content
Description
Usually stout to very stout, resembling a small Pandanus, forming dense clumps.
Leaves coriaceous, broadly linear, with 3 prominent nerves, obscurely septate-nodulose, with serrulate-scabrous margins and the keel serrulate especially towards the apex, narrowed towards the conduplicate base (but not petioled), rather abruptly long-caudate, bright green or more or less glaucous, 1-3(-4½) m by(2-)4-6 cm;
Inflorescence capitate, very dense, ovoid or globose, (3-)5-7½(-9) cm in diam., with many to numerous spikelets.
Flowers linear, longer than the glumes, 10-15 mm.
Distribution
Admiralty Is present, Ambon present, Aru Is present, Asia-Tropical: Maluku (Maluku present); New Guinea present; Philippines (Philippines present), Balut present, Batjan present, Bismarck Arch present, Bohol present, Ceram present, Halmahera present, Lesser Sunda Is present, Louisiades present, Malesia only in the eastern part present, Morotai present, N. Queensland present, P. Rawak near Waigeu present, Paku, Wae Meleng, 700 m, damp stream- bed in rain-forest present, Samoa Is present, Solomons present, Talaud Is present, W. Carolines present, W. Flores present
N. Queensland (the only Mapania here known), Samoa Is., Solomons, W. Carolines; in Malesia only in the eastern part: Philippines (Bohol, Balut), Moluccas (Talaud Is., Morotai, Halmahera, Batjan, Ceram, Ambon), throughout New Guinea (also in the Admiralty Is., Bismarck Arch., Louisiades, P. Rawak near Waigeu, and Aru Is.), Lesser Sunda Is. (W. Flores: Paku, Wae Meleng, 700 m, damp stream- bed in rain-forest, Schmutz 4913). .
Notes
RIDLEY mistook a specimen of M. palustris for M. macrocephala, and described a specimen of the latter species as M. pandanacea.
I have not seen the type-collections of M. lactea KÜK., M. geelvinkensis OHWI, M. margaritae OHWI, M. palauensis HOSOKAWA, and M. yapensis HOSOKAWA. To judge from the descriptions all fall under the circumscription of M. macrocephala as adopted above; see also KOYAMA, l.c. Like several other Mapaniae, M. macrocephala is extremely variable as to size, width of leaves, and dimensions of inflorescences. The fruits remain on the decaying inflorescence for a long time; when finally the greyish brown exocarp has rotted away the whitish outside of the endocarp becomes visible. In all probability M. lactea and M. margaritae were based on specimens with such old fruits.
CLARKE based M. longifolia on Pandanophyllum longifolium BOECK., but the specimen in the Kew Herbarium he took for M. longifolia (and figures as such in Ill. Cyp. t. 115) is undoubtedly syntype of Pandanophyllum macrocephalum BOECK. (“spiculis. magnis conicis acutiusculis”). For the rest, to me BOECKELER’S Pandanophyllum longifolium and P. macrocephalum are not specifically distinct.
According to a field-note the flowers are fragrant.
The species was known from the S. Philippines and N.-Central Moluccas eastwards; Flores is an important extension westwards. The nuts are on the small side, some 4-4.5 by 3 mm and pearl grey.
I have not seen the type-collections of M. lactea KÜK., M. geelvinkensis OHWI, M. margaritae OHWI, M. palauensis HOSOKAWA, and M. yapensis HOSOKAWA. To judge from the descriptions all fall under the circumscription of M. macrocephala as adopted above; see also KOYAMA, l.c. Like several other Mapaniae, M. macrocephala is extremely variable as to size, width of leaves, and dimensions of inflorescences. The fruits remain on the decaying inflorescence for a long time; when finally the greyish brown exocarp has rotted away the whitish outside of the endocarp becomes visible. In all probability M. lactea and M. margaritae were based on specimens with such old fruits.
CLARKE based M. longifolia on Pandanophyllum longifolium BOECK., but the specimen in the Kew Herbarium he took for M. longifolia (and figures as such in Ill. Cyp. t. 115) is undoubtedly syntype of Pandanophyllum macrocephalum BOECK. (“spiculis. magnis conicis acutiusculis”). For the rest, to me BOECKELER’S Pandanophyllum longifolium and P. macrocephalum are not specifically distinct.
According to a field-note the flowers are fragrant.
The species was known from the S. Philippines and N.-Central Moluccas eastwards; Flores is an important extension westwards. The nuts are on the small side, some 4-4.5 by 3 mm and pearl grey.
Citation
KERN 1966 – In: Pac. Pl. Areas: map. 32
Miq. 1856 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 334
Merr. 1917: Int. Rumph.: 107
REHD. 1933 – In: J. Arn. Arb.: 65
OHWI 1942 – In: Bot. Mag. Tokyo: 211
S. T. BLAKE 1947 – In: J. Arn. Arb.: 212
Merr. 1907 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: Bot. 422
K. SCH. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 132
K. SCH. 1947 – In: Proc. R. Soc. Queensl.: 48
Clarke 1909: Ill. Cyp.: f. 1-7
KÜK. 1924 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 56
PFEIFF. 1925: p. 450. – In: Bot. Arch.: f. 14, 39
VALCK. SUR. 1912 – In: Nova Guinea: 711
? KÜK. 1924 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 57
KOYAMA 1964 – In: Micronesica: 66
STEUD. 1855 – In: Syn.: 133
SCHEFF. 1874 – In: Nat. Tijd. N. I.: 91
K. SCH. & LAUT. 1900: Fl. Schutzgeb.: 189