Myristica lancifolia subsp. kutubuensis
Content
Description
Tree 25 m.
Innovations, leaf bud, lower surface of immature leaves and flowers with minute rust-coloured stellate hairs 0.1-0.3 mm.
Leaves thinly chartaceous, elliptic-oblong, 4-10 by 1.5-3.5 cm, papillose below, lateral nerves 10-15 per side, faint, venation almost invisible.
Fruits solitary or paired, ovoid-ellipsoid, 2 by 1.5 cm, hairs bright rust-coloured, mealy, 0.1-0.2 mm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Papua New Guinea present, Southern Highlands Prov., near Waro Airstrip, 20 km SSW of Kutubu present
Malesia: Papua New Guinea (Southern Highlands Prov., near Waro Airstrip, 20 km SSW of Kutubu, known only from the type).
Taxonomy
The status of subsp. kutubuensis is uncertain as it is as yet known only from one female flowering and fruiting specimen. It is tentatively described as a subspecies under M. lancifolia, as it keys out to that species. Its distinctness is possibly related to its habitat in forest over limestone at quite a distance from the area of the type subspecies.