Lasianthus megaphyllus H.Zhu, 2012

76. Lasianthus megaphyllus H.Zhu View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 23 View Fig

Similis L. griffithii Wight , sed stipulis triangulatis minoribus, foliis basi rotuondatis vel subcordatis,petiolis brevioribus,bracteis ovatis differt. — Typus: Nooteboom 4340 (holo L), Borneo, Bukit Raya, 130 m alt., in primary dipterocarp forest, 17 Dec. 1982 .

Small tree, 2 m high; branchlets robust, c. 4–5 mm diam, subangulose, fistulose, incrassate at nodes, glabrous. Leaves: blades elliptic-oblong, large, 22– 30 by 7–12 cm, coriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, apex acute to cuspidate, margin slightly recurved, base rounded to subcordate, midrib slightly prominent above, conspicuously prominent beneath, sparsely hirsute or glabrescent beneath, nerves flat above, prominent beneath, 12–16 pairs, ascending at an angle of 60–70°, curved to the margin, hirsute to glabrescent beneath, nervules conspicuous above and very prominent beneath, subreticulate, appressed-hirsute or subglabrous beneath; petioles subsessile or short, 4–5 mm long, sparsely hirsute. Stipules triangular, subcoriaceous, up to 1 cm long, 3 – 6 mm broad at base, brown hirsute. Inflorescences sessile; bracts conspicuous, ovate, 5 – 6 by 4–5 mm, hirsute external surface; bracteoles lanceolate to linear, 5– 6 mm long, densely hirsute. Flowers not seen. Drupes subglobose, blue when fresh, 5 – 6 by 5 – 6 mm, conspicuously 6-ridged, verrucose, glabrous except hirsute upper part, crowned by 5 – 6 triangular-lanceolate, 1.5 mm long, hirsute, persistent calyx lobes; pyrenes 6, verrucose on the abaxial face, grooved on the adaxial face.

Distribution — Borneo.

Habitat & Ecology — In lowland rainforest (below 200 m altitude). Fruiting from July to December.

Additional specimens examined. Borneo,Tumbang, Veldkamp 8144 (L); Sarawak, B. Lee S.40652 (L), B. Lee S.54735 (K, L), P. Chai et al. S.33331 (L), Othman et al. S.41248 (K, L), Othman et al. S.56055 (K, L); W Kalimantan, J.S.Burley et al. 2894 (K, L); Liang Gagang, H. Hallier 3083 (L); Bukit Raya, Nooteboom 4203 (L); E Borneo, A. Kostermans 10493 (K, L); Borneo, Amdjah 19 (L); Kalimantan Selatan, K. Kartawinata 705 (L); Borneo, F. H. Endert 2661 (K, L), H. Hallier 3289 (L).

Note — This species is close to L. griffithii . It differs from the latter by having triangular stipules, 8–10 by 3 – 6 mm; leaves with rounded to subcordate base; shorter petioles; less dense ovate bracts. Lasianthus griffithii has big ovate-orbicular stipules, usually more than 1 by 1 mm; leaves with cuneate base; relatively long petioles and very dense linear bracts.