Myristica subcordata var. morindiifolia
Content
Description
Tree.
Leaves membranous or chartaceous, margin usually flat, lower surface with persistent indumentum, hairs 0.1-0.4(-0.6) mm;
Fruits single or in clusters, (ovoid-)oblong, 4-5.5 cm long, hairs to 0.1-0.5(-l) mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Bismarck Archipelago (Bismarck Archipelago present); New Guinea present, Papuan Islands present
Malesia: throughout New Guinea, including Bismarck Archipelago and Papuan Islands
Taxonomy
5 Small-leaved specimens, sterile or with immature fruits, may be difficult to separate from M. inutilis.
1 Specimens intermediate with var. subcordata occur all over the area, but especially in New Britain (specimens with rather long-haired fruits).
3 Male plants of var. morindiifolia from western New Guinea (especially Bird's Head) have somewhat shorter perianths, and smaller bracteole as compared to specimens from eastern localities in Papua New Guinea. Coarse, stout specimens generally originate from wet soils, e. g. riversides, swamp forest, or forest on (periodically) inundated ground. Specimens with small leaves with a cuneate base, from all over the area, including some from Bird's Head, may strongly differ in general habit. Nearly always these small-leaved forms are from well-drained soils, and possibly they represent a separate (subspecific) taxon.
Some specimens from New Britain, e.g. NGF 6652, 22463, LAE 74233, have comparatively long petioles; the indumentum of the lower leaf surface and the fruits is particularly flocculose, with hairs to 1 mm long. These specimens are clearly different in general aspect compared to the specimens here treated under var. subcordata. Male flowering specimens from the Bismarck Archipelago are unknown. 2 The figures in Sinclair (1968: 295, f. 37) for M. fatua var. papuana all represent specimens now referred to M. subcordata var. morindiifolia. 4 The feature of cataphyll-like little-developed leaves on the twigs below the normal leaves (i.e., of each new shoot the first leaves remain undeveloped), is frequent and characteristic for var. morindiifolia.
Some specimens from New Britain, e.g. NGF 6652, 22463, LAE 74233, have comparatively long petioles; the indumentum of the lower leaf surface and the fruits is particularly flocculose, with hairs to 1 mm long. These specimens are clearly different in general aspect compared to the specimens here treated under var. subcordata. Male flowering specimens from the Bismarck Archipelago are unknown. 2 The figures in Sinclair (1968: 295, f. 37) for M. fatua var. papuana all represent specimens now referred to M. subcordata var. morindiifolia. 4 The feature of cataphyll-like little-developed leaves on the twigs below the normal leaves (i.e., of each new shoot the first leaves remain undeveloped), is frequent and characteristic for var. morindiifolia.