Lasianthus malaiense H.Zhu

75. Lasianthus malaiense H.Zhu

Lasianthus malaiense H.Zhu (2000a) 257. — Type: Henderson 18008 (holo SING), Peninsular Malaysia, Pahang, Cameron’s Highlands , alt. 5000 ft, 27 Nov. 1925.

Shrubs, c. 2 m high; branchlets terete, or slightly compressed in the youngest part, robust, c. 3 mm diam, densely spreading brown-villose. Leaves: blades ovate-oblong to elliptic, 6 –15 by 2.5– 5.5 cm, subcoriaceous, glabrous above, densely spreading brown-villose beneath, apex acute to cuspidate, base rounded or obtuse, margin reflexed, midrib and nerves flat or slightly depressed above, conspicuously prominent beneath, nerves 7–10 pairs, ascending at an angle of 50–60°, curved to the margin; nervules distinct above, prominent beneath, parallel; petiole c. 5 mm long, densely spreading brown-villose. Stipules triangular, c. 3 mm long, spreading brown-villose. Cymes peduncled; peduncles robust, 2 –3 cm long; bracts 2, linear, 7–8 mm long; bracteoles inconspicuous. Flowers subsessile; calyx 3–4 mm long with 5 lanceolate lobes, lobes c. 2.5 mm long; corolla brown-villose. Drupes subglobose, c. 5 mm diam, crowned by persistent calyx lobes; pyrenes 5.

Distribution — Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra).

Note — Lasianthus malaiense differs from L. robinsonii in having leaves brown-villose beneath, nervules parallel, petioles up to 5 mm long; robust peduncles 2 – 3 cm long; flowers 5-merous, calyx lobes lanceolate, 2.5 mm long. It differs from L. pendulus by ovate-oblong leaves with caudate apex and rounded base, nerves flat above, nervules parallel, petioles 5 mm long; bracts 2, 7–8 mm long, calyx lobes lanceolate, 2.5 mm long and corolla hairy.