Lepidaria bicarinata

Primary tabs

Lepidaria bicarinata

Description

Glabrous. Leaves opposite; lamina ovate to rarely obovate, 12-24 by 5-11 cm, cuneate at the base to a petiole 8-20 mm long, attenuate and finally acute to rounded at the apex, lustrous or dull green above, dull and brownish below; venation pinnate with the midrib and the main laterals distinct on both sides and the midrib prominent and often dark coloured below. Inflorescences at the nodes, a subsessile involucrate capitate spike of usually 6 decussate pairs of flowers; involucre 35-50 mm long, mostly red, sometimes yellow at the base, comprising c. 14 pairs of bracts, the longer ones keeled, smooth or slightly undulate below the apex; floral axis 5-10 mm long; lateral bracts enclosing the flowers c. 25 mm long, keeled, acute.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo (Sarawak present); Sumatera (Sumatera present)
Malesia: Sumatra, Borneo (Sarawak).

Notes

Van Tieghem's derivation of the original spelling of the specific epithet from the French 'carène' (keel) was apparently an unintentional error, and was validly corrected by later authors.