Lasianthus eriocalyx H.Zhu, 2012

41. Lasianthus eriocalyx H.Zhu View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 13 View Fig

Similis L. ferrugineus King & Gamble , sed foliis longissimis, stipulis minutis 1 mm longis et lobis calycis 7–8 differt. —

Typus: F.S.P. Ng s.n. KEP­FRI 22027 (holo L; iso K), Peninsular Malaysia, Ulu Trengganu, 900 m alt., in hillside primary forest, 26 Mar. 1974 .

Treelet, c. 6 m high, crown spreading horizontally; branchlets terete, densely yellowish tomentose. Leaves: blades narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 23–25 by 3–4 cm, chartaceous, tomentose on both surfaces, apex acuminate to caudate, base acute to subrounded, midrib densely tomentose, prominent beneath, nerves flat above, prominent beneath, tomentose, 16 –18 pairs, ascending at an angle of 60°, curved to margin, nervules obscure above, conspicuous beneath, reticulate, tomentose; petioles c. 5 mm long, tomentose. Stipules small, triangular, c. 1 mm long, tomentose. Inflorescences sessile; bracts absent. Flowers in fascicle, sessile; calyx densely tomentose, tube c. 2.5 mm long, lobes 7–8, lanceolate, 3 mm long, 1 mm broad, densely tomentose external surface, sericeous internal surface; corolla not seen (from the description on the label of the type specimen, the corolla is whitish green, filled with hairs inside). Fruits not seen.

Distribution — Peninsular Malaysia.

Habitat & Ecology — In montane primary forest. Flowering in March.

Note — This species is characterized by having very tomentose hairs on branchlets, leaves and calyx; leaves narrowly oblong-lanceolate, very long; calyx with 7–8 lanceolate lobes. This species is most similar to L. ferrugineus , but differs from the latter by having much longer leaves (23– 25 cm long), very small stipules (1 mm long) and calyx lobes 7–8. Lasianthus ferrugineus has leaves less than 18 cm long, stipules more than 3 mm long and calyx lobes 5.