Dendrophthoe curvata

Primary tabs

Dendrophthoe curvata

Description

Glabrous except for the young parts, inflorescence, ovary and usually the corolla white- to red-brown-tomentose, the leaves usually soon glabrescent; very rarely completely glabrous. Leaves scattered or subopposite; lamina narrowly to broadly ovate or obovate, (4-)10-15 by (1.5-)3-5(-8) cm, attenuate to cuneate at the base to a petiole usually 10-20 mm long, mostly obtuse or rounded (sometimes acute) at the apex, darker and glossy above or dull on both sides; venation pinnate with the midrib and the main laterals visible above and often more distinct below. Inflorescencess at the nodes, a (2-) 5-10(-16)-fiowered raceme; axis 10-25(-30) mm long; pedicels (l-)2-4(-5) mm long.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Lesser Sunda Is. absent; Philippines (Philippines absent), Solomon Islands present, from Sumatra to New Guinea present, northern Australia present
Northern Australia, Solomon Islands; Malesia: widespread from Sumatra to New Guinea but absent from Philippines and Lesser Sunda Islands.

Notes

The species appears to be represented in Sumatra mostly by forms which are transitional to Dendrophthoe x rimituba. In Borneo transitional forms to D. pentandra are common (see note there). The species has until recently been subsumed in Dendrophthoe falcata, which was regarded as a very polymorphic species extending from India to Australia. For the distinction of D. curvata as a species see

Citation

Danser 1931 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg: 403
Barlow 1995 – In: Blumea: 17
Barlow 1974 – In: Austral. J. Bot.: 607
Tiegh. 1895 – In: Bull. Soc. Bot. France: 252
Backer & Bakh. f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 73
Barlow 1981 – In: Handb. F1. Papua New Guinea: 240