Myristica hollrungii
Content
Description
Tree 6-36 m.
Leaves chartaceous, elliptic-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 15-35(-40) by 4-12 (-15) cm, base cuneate, rounded, or shallowly cordate, apex acute-acuminate;
Inflorescences between the lower leaves or below, as in Knema;
Fruits subsessile, l-4(-5) per infructescence, (sub-globose-) ellipsoid, 2.5-4.5(-5, see note 2) by 2-3 cm, the apex often shortly pointed, hairs thinly set, mealy, brown, 0.1 (-0.3) mm, ± gla-brescent, with some indumentum remaining near the base and in depressions;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Bismarck Archipelago (Bismarck Archipelago present); New Guinea present, New Ireland present, W New Britain present
Malesia: throughout New Guinea, including theBismarck Archipelago (New Ireland, W New Britain).
Taxonomy
1 A homogeneous species, distinct in the (seemingly) glabrous lower leaf surface, the often lined twigs, the seemingly (very short-pubescent) glabrous flowers, and sessile infructescences with short-stalked glabrescent fruit.
3 Myristica rumphii, based on a sterile collection originally described in Lauraceae, does not belong to M. hollrungii as suggested by Kostermans; M. rumphii (see there) is an older name of M. spanogheana.
2 Larger fruits, 4.5-5 cm long, are found among smaller-fruited specimens on Bagabag and Umboi Is. (LAE 66001, NGF 43453); the latter specimen is somewhat approaching M. bialata from the Bismarck Archipelago.
4 Sometimes the lower leaves of a flush are retarded in growth and are cataphyll-like, as is normally found in M. subcordata var. morindiifolia.
5 The lined twigs are often narrowly hollow inside, and sometimes a small hole is present, obviously related to inhabitation by ants; however, conspicuous ant-swellings in the twigs, as characteristic for, e.g., M. subalulata, are never present.