Lasianthus brevipedicellatus H.Zhu, 2012

14. Lasianthus brevipedicellatus H.Zhu View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 5 View Fig

Similis L. vrieseano Miq , sed foliis chartaceis vel subcoriaceis, basi acutis differt. A L. perakensis King & Gamble foliis glabris et drupis pedicellatis 5–6-porcatis apice truncatis differt. —

Typus: Ching S.55288 (holo L), Borneo, Sarawak, Sg. Palog , 850 m alt., in dipterocarp forest, 24 Sept. 1987 .

Treelet, 3 m high; branchlets terete, compressed in the youngest part, c. 3 mm diam, puberulous, fistulous. Leaves: blades elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 19– 23 by 5– 8 cm, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, apex cuspidate to falcate-acuminate, mucronate, base acute, midrib slightly depressed or flat above, conspicuously prominent beneath, nerves prominent on both surfaces, 7–9 pairs, ascending at an angle of 50–60°, curved to margin, glabrous, nervules prominent on both surfaces, subparallel, glabrous, margin recurved; petioles 1–1.5 cm long, puberulous or subglabrous. Stipules triangular, 1.5 –2 mm long, often deciduous. Inflorescences sessile; bracts absent. Flowers not seen. Drupes stalked, fascicular; pedicels short, 1.5 – 2 mm long, slender, glabrous; drupes subglobose, sparsely puberulous, warty, 5 – 6 conspicuously obtuse ridges; pyrenes 5 – 6, slightly warty on the abaxial face.

Distribution — Malaysia (Peninsular and Sarawak).

Habitat & Ecology — In montane forest between 850–1000 m altitude. Fruiting in September.

Additional specimen examined. Peninsular Malaysia, Gunong Tapis, 3000 ft, KEP­FRI 10973 ( L).

Note — This species is characterized by its stalked drupes, very small stipules, bracts absent and glabrous leaves with subparallel nervules prominent on both surfaces. It is very closely related to L. vriesianus , but differs from the latter by having chartaceous to subcoriaceous leaves with acute base and smaller flowers. Lasianthus vriesianus has thickly coriaceous leaves with subrounded base. In L. vriesianus , only the type with few immature drupes has been seen. More other diagnostic characteristics between these two species cannot be recognized because of insufficient collections. This species is also similar to L. perakensis , but differs from the latter by having glabrous leaves, pediceled drupes with 5– 6 ridges, while L. perakensis has puberulous leaves on nerves beneath, sessile drupes with 10-ridged pyrenes and crowned by persistent obtuse spreading calyx lobes.