Lasianthus laxiflorus Merr.

68. Lasianthus laxiflorus Merr. View in CoL

Lasianthus laxiflorus Merr. (1937) 298. — Type: Winkler 430 (holo HBG; iso HBG, NY), W Borneo, Bukit Mulu, 450 m alt.

Shrubs to treelets, 3 m high, glabrous; branchlets terete, c. 2.5 mm diam, slightly compressed in the youngest part. Leaves: blades oblong, 10–19 by 2.5 –6 cm, coriaceous, apex cuspidate, base acute to broadly cuneate, midrib and nerves slightly depressed above, prominent beneath, nerves 3– 5, ascending at an angle of 50–60°, curved to the margin, nervules distinct on both surfaces, subreticulate; petioles 6–12 mm long. Stipules triangular to triangular-lanceolate, up to 5 mm long, glabrous. Cymes pedunculate; main peduncles up to 3 cm long, slender, trifurcate; branches 5 –10 mm long; bracts subulate-linear, 2 – 3 mm long. Flowers subsessile, articulate; calyx obconical, with 4–5 teeth, tube c. 2 mm long, teeth subulate, c. 1 mm long; corolla c. 8 mm long, subglabrous, lobes 4–5, oblong-ovate; anthers 4–5, oblong; ovary 4-locular. Drupes ellipsoid, c. 4 mm diam verrucose; pyrenes 3–4.

Distribution — Endemic to Borneo ( Sarawak, Sabah, Kali- mantan).

Note — This species is strongly characterized by being glabrous, having relatively large subcoriaceous oblong leaves (13 –19 by 5– 6 cm) with acute or cuspidate apex and broadly acute base, midrib and nerves conspicuously prominent beneath, stipules subulate-lanceolate up to 5 mm long, cymes peduncled, usually two peduncles in each axil, main peduncles up to 3 cm long, bracts subulate-linear, 3 mm long.