Shorea ovata

Content

Description

Small or medium-sized tree. Young twig, panicle, leaf bud, stipule (both surfaces), petiole, midrib above and leaf beneath densely persistently evenly ochra- ceous to rust pubescent, scabrid on raceme and nervation beneath. Leaves 4-8 by 2.5-4.5 cm, small, coriaceous, broadly ovate; Stipule to 13 by 5 mm, ovate, subacute, fugaceous. Stamens of 3 lengths, the outer 5 often aborting, the inner 5 about twice their length; Panicle to 11 cm long, terminal or axillary, terete or slightly compressed; Ovary ovoid, with a band of hairs at the apex, otherwise glabrous, tapering into the rather short glabrous style.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo present (Sarawak present); Malaya present; Philippines (Philippines present); Sumatera (Sumatera present), Bangkinang present, Kapuas hinterland present, Mindanao present, P. Musala present, S.E. Borneo present, S.W. Sabah present, Sibolga to Painan present, Tapanuli present

Malesia: Malaya, Sumatra (W. coast: Tapanuli, Sibolga to Painan, Bangkinang; P. Musala), Borneo (Kapuas hinterland, Sarawak to S.W. Sabah, S.E. Borneo), Philippines (Mindanao).

Notes

Formerly I pointed out () that S. plagata and S. agsaboensis (from Mindanao) represented the same species and referred these names to S. pauciflora, owing to the leaf shape and 8 pairs of nerves, pointing out, however, that the Philippine plants differed in the usually small leaf-size and the usual but not consistent presence of small axillary domatia up to the midrib. I also indicated that flowers would be needed for confirmation. J. P. Rojo has now collected and described (1977, l.c.) these flowers (Rojo 292, Agusan del Norte, Mindanao) and correctly pointed out that they place the species in a different section, Mutica, S. pauciflora being in sect. Brachypterae. Rojo's excellent field description alludes to the fissured bark and bluish-red corolla, pink at the base. This matches Shorea sect. I sub sect. Mutica, while the description of the corolla is distinctive and clearly matches that of S. ovata, in which the leaves also bear 8 pairs of nerves and pubescent axillary domatia. Though not closely resembling the leaves of S. ovata as it occurs in Borneo, the Philippine specimens so much resemble specimens from Sumatra and West Malaysia, that I am convinced of their conspecificy. This conclusion is strengthened by Rojo's comment that it is in Mindanao a species of high ridges, exactly as is S. ovata, except in northern Borneo where it spreads down onto sandy soils in the lowlands.

Citation

Sym. 1933: p. 140. – In: Gard. Bull. S. S. pl. 40

Merr. 1921: En. Born. p 406

Brandis 1943: p. 82. – In: Mal. For. Rec. f. 38, 50

Browne 1955: For. Trees Sarawak & Brunei. p 148

Meijer & Wood 1964: p. 127. – In: Sabah For. Rec. pl. 8A.

Brandis 1968: Man. Dipt. Brun. p 112

Foxw. 1938 – In: Philip. J. Sc. p 308

Foxw. 1932 – In: Mal. For. Rec. p 199

Ashton 1964: Man. Dipt. Brun: 230. f. 16

Rojo 1977: p. 70. – In: Pterocarpus. fig.