Artocarpus subg. Pseudojaca
Content
Description
— Several species show intermittent growth with differences in the colour and indumentum of the current growth compared to that of the previous season. In some species the transition is marked by a concentration of the stipular scars which formed terminal buds. In some species, as A. tomentosulus, lateral buds are also formed. Intermittent growth is associated with deciduousness, at least in A. lacucha. The lamina of species with intermittent growth is subcoriaceous to chartaceous and the margin is sometimes (in A. lacucha nearly always) denticulate towards the apex or (only) at the acumen.
Leaves alternate and distichous, entire (when adult); — The leaves are occasionally opposite (in A. lacucha).
stipules lateral, short, 0.3-0.5(-1) cm long. — The stipules are mostly 0.3-0.5 cm long, in some species on opening shoots up to 1 cm long, and then often subpersistent. Stipules cover terminal and lateral (resting) buds.
Inflorescences axillary (or staminate ones on short-shoots on the older wood), interfloral bracts peltate (or cylindrical or spathulate).
Leaves alternate and distichous, entire (when adult); — The leaves are occasionally opposite (in A. lacucha).
stipules lateral, short, 0.3-0.5(-1) cm long. — The stipules are mostly 0.3-0.5 cm long, in some species on opening shoots up to 1 cm long, and then often subpersistent. Stipules cover terminal and lateral (resting) buds.
Inflorescences axillary (or staminate ones on short-shoots on the older wood), interfloral bracts peltate (or cylindrical or spathulate).
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: China South-Central (Sichuan present, Yunnan present), Asia-Tropical, Malesian region present, from India and China to the Solomon Islands present, from Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands and Australia present, western Malesian region and the adjacent part of the Asian mainland present
The subgenus is represented by up to 21 species in an area ranging from Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands and Australia, mostly as elements of evergreen forest. The subgenus is concentrated in the western Malesian region and the adjacent part of the Asian mainland. The most widespread species is A. lacucha, from India and China to the Solomon Islands. Fourteen species are found in the Malesian region, the others in China and Indochina. Four of them have been treated by Jarrett (1960), four from China (Sichuan and Yunnan) were added (see ), and one is described from Thailand (see below).
Taxonomy
This subgenus clearly differs from subg. Artocarpus in the distichous arrangement of the leaves, the short(er than 1 cm) non-amplexicaul (lateral) stipules, the presence of glands and glandular spots, and the mostly smooth surface of the infructescence.
The three groups of species which can be recognised by their indumentum and the highly peculiar A. altissimus (sect. Glandulifolium F.M. Jarrett) could be regarded as natural subdivisions. It is doubtful whether the separation of species into a group with peltate interfloral bracts (ser. Peltati) and a group with non-peltate ones (ser. Clavati) reflects natural alliances since modified peltate bracts (cylindrical processes) also occur in subg. Artocarpus and in the African genus Treculia
The three groups of species which can be recognised by their indumentum and the highly peculiar A. altissimus (sect. Glandulifolium F.M. Jarrett) could be regarded as natural subdivisions. It is doubtful whether the separation of species into a group with peltate interfloral bracts (ser. Peltati) and a group with non-peltate ones (ser. Clavati) reflects natural alliances since modified peltate bracts (cylindrical processes) also occur in subg. Artocarpus and in the African genus Treculia