Kibara laurifolia

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Kibara laurifolia

Description

Sprawling shrub or small tree to 7 m, glabrous. Leaves elliptic, elliptic-oblong or suborbicular, up to 17 by 8.5 cm, coriaceous, base rounded to broadly cuneate, apex obtuse to slightly apiculate, margin en-tire or occasionally with obscure dentations, midrib, lateral veins and reticulation evident, glabrous; Inflorescences axillary, supra-axillary, or terminal, flowers solitary or usually in dichasia, or pleiochasia, c. 30 mm long, peduncle c. 10 mm, bracteate at its base, pedicels c. 10-12 mm, subtended by bracts. Fruiting peduncle and pedicels elon-gated up to 8 cm, receptacle woody, c. 10 mm Ø.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical, throughout New Guinea in the highlands between 139°-148° E present
Malesia: throughout New Guinea in the highlands between 139°-148° E.

Notes

The broad, often suborbicular, leathery leaves are distinctive. The ripe drupes are purplish black on an orange to yellow receptacle. A specimen from near Wabag approaches K. macrantha in the large pubescent receptacles, but has foliage similar to that of K. laurifolia. It may be a hybrid, though it lies west of the known range of K. macrantha.

Citation

PHILIPSON 1985 – In: Blumea: 409