Gironniera celtidifolia
Content
Description
Shrub or medium-sized tree up to 18 m tall and 25 cm ø.
Bark greyish-brown to dark-brown, smooth or finely fissured.
Leaves thick-coriaceous, elliptic-, lanceolate-, or obovate-oblong, (8-) 15-25(-42) by (4-)6-12(-19) cm, index 2½-3½, broadest at or above the middle;
Inflorescences a condensed, capitate, much-branched panicle or thyrse, axillary or borne on older, leafless branchlets, many-flowered, ♂or ♀, very rarely ♂♀, including the bracts densely appressed-hairy;
Fruit ovoid-, ellipsoid, sparsely appressed-hairy, glabrescent, 5-8 by 4-6 by 3-4 mm, beak up to 5 mm.
Distribution
Admiralty present, Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Maluku (Maluku present); New Guinea present; Philippines (Philippines present), Halmaheira present, Melanesia present, Micronesia present, Misima present, Morotai present, Pacific: Fiji (Fiji present); Samoa (Samoa present), Palau present, Polynesia present, Ponape present, Rossel Is present, Solomons present, Sudest present
Micronesia (Palau, Ponape), Melanesia (Solomons), Polynesia (Samoa, Fiji); in Malesia: Borneo (doubtful record), Philippines (common and widespread), Moluccas (Morotai, Halmaheira), New Guinea (common in W. & E.; also in Admiralty, Misima, Sudest, and Rossel Is.).
Notes
In most specimens examined, the ♂ inflorescence shows abnormal development and produces a malformed structure consisting of numerous superimposed bracts in the axils of which are found sterile structures resembling in size and shape that of the pistillode in the normally developed and functionally ♂ flowers. Well-developed and functionally ♂ flowers are to be found only at the distal parts of these abnormally developed inflorescences. In a ♂♀ inflorescence, which is very rarely present, the functionally ♀ flowers are borne on the central main axis and they are flanked by two or more lateral, functionally ♂ flowers. Most of the fruits so far examined (more than 95 %) are barren.
Size and shape of the leaf are rather variable. In general, specimens collected from a higher altitude or from a more exposed habitat have a smaller leaf and less pairs of nerves than those gathered from lowland and shady localities. Intermediates are, however, not uncommon, and for this reason G. sibuyanensis, G. grandifolia, and G. retinervia are here reduced.
Size and shape of the leaf are rather variable. In general, specimens collected from a higher altitude or from a more exposed habitat have a smaller leaf and less pairs of nerves than those gathered from lowland and shady localities. Intermediates are, however, not uncommon, and for this reason G. sibuyanensis, G. grandifolia, and G. retinervia are here reduced.