Steganthera royenii
Content
Description
Shrub c. 4 m;
Leaves oblong-elliptic, up to 29 by 11 cm, chartaceous, base cuneate, apex acuminate, margin entire or with minute remote dentations, principal veins channelled above, prominent below, arched ascending, becoming glabrous or with a minute puberulence persisting mainly on the veins;
Inflorescences supra-axillary or axillary, broadly paniculate, 4-5 cm long, single or grouped, puberulent, rachis and principal branches somewhat thick, ending in irregularly clustered slender pedicels.
Fruiting receptacle 2-3 mm ø, leathery.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, West New Guinea present, a restricted area which includes portions of the Vogelkop, Northern & Southern Distr present
Malesia: West New Guinea (a restricted area which includes portions of the Vogelkop, Northern & Southern Distr.).
Notes
Similar to S. hospitans in the appearance of its vegetative parts, but the arrangement of the ultimate branches of the inflorescence is distinctive. The male flowers lack any disk-like extension of the receptacle but female receptacles have not been seen. This species is described as possibly monoecious be-cause one collection bears male inflorescences and also old fruits. However, as these are not on the same branches, the monoecious condition is not certain. All the inflorescences seen consist solely of male flowers, which suggests the possibility of the sexes being on separate plants. The flowers are described as yellow, the ripe fruit black. The swollen nodes are inhabited by ants.