Macrosolen

Primary tabs

Macrosolen

Description

Aerial stem-parasitic shrubs, often robust, with epicortical runners bearing secondary haustoria. Leaves mostly opposite. Inflorescencess axillary or inserted on the epicortical runners, a simple raceme or spike of decussate pairs of flowers, sometimes few-flowered and seemingly umbellate; bracts 3 under each flower, free or variously connate. Fruit ellipsoid to nearly globose.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo present, southern Asia and Malesia, extending from India to New Guinea present
About 30 species in southern Asia and Malesia, extending from India to New Guinea. In Malesia 24 species, with the centre of diversity to the northwest, especially in Borneo.

Ecology

In Malesia many species are aggressive, with broad host ranges, often occurring on cultivated trees.

Morphology

In some species the normally developed pairs of leaves alternate with scale leaves at intervening nodes, so that the leaves may appear to be superposed. This attribute occurs in a few species scattered in genera which are not closely related, such as Barathranthus and Papuanthes (Fig. 14), and may be a polyphyletic adaptation.

Taxonomy

revised the generic limits of Elytranthe, and transferred from Elytranthe to Macrosolen a few species which had earlier formed the basis of Van Tieghem's genus Blumella. The latter species do not occur in Malesia, but are correctly placed in Macrosolen, although perhaps constituting a distinct section. The two species still remaining in Elytranthe could possibly be accommodated in Macrosolen as well (see discussion under Elytranthe).
For discussion of taxonomic difficulty at the species level in Macrosolen, see .

Citation

Danser 1931 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg: 271
Tiegh. 1895 – In: Bull. Soc. Bot. France: 442