Osmoxylon novoguineense

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Osmoxylon novoguineense

Description

Tree or shrub, unbranched or sparingly branched, up to 16 m, the young parts rufous- furfuraceous, glabrescent. Large leaves forming terminal crowns; Inflorescence terminal, a large compound umbel, bowl-shaped, up to 35 cm ø; Petals with irregular erect lobes, tubular below. Stamens 6-10 exserted. Ovary turbinate somewhat angled; Fruits on stiff radiating pedicels, ovoid or spherical, fleshy, ribbed when dry.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Bismarck Archipelago (Bismarck Archipelago present); New Guinea present, Solomon Is present
Solomon Is.; in Malesia: throughout New Guinea and in the Bismarck Archipelago.

Notes

The foliage is similar to that of 30. O. boerlagei, but the pedicelled flowers of O. novo- guineense distinguish it readily from that species. The ripe fruits are usually ovoid, but in the Solomon Is. they are characteristically spheroidal, and this feature recurs in some specimens from the Bismarck Archipelago and the adjacent coast of New Guinea.
The fawn bark is pustulate with many lenticels. An orange exudate flows from the cut stems. The wood is soft and straw-coloured. The inflorescence branches are dark purple, the corolla and stamens usually deep red, and the ripe fruit shining purple or blue-black.

Citation

Philipson 1976 – In: Blumea: 110
Back. & Bakh.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 163