Lasianthus mollis Ridl.

80. Lasianthus mollis Ridl. View in CoL

Lasianthus mollis Ridl. (1920) 144; (1923a) 158; K.M. Wong (1989) 373. — Type: Ridley s.n. (holo SING; iso K), Peninsular Malaysia, Tebong .

Shrubs; branchlets terete, 1.5– 2 mm diam, densely pubescent. Leaves: blades elliptic, 8–11 by 3 – 3.5 cm, thinly coriaceous, glabrous above except pubescent hairs on midrib, pubescent hairs on venation beneath, apex acuminate to caudate-acute, base cuneate, midrib and nerves slightly prominent above, prominent beneath, nerves 5 – 8 pairs, ascending at an angle of 45–50°, curved to the margin, nervules distinct on both surfaces, parallel; petioles 0.8 –1 cm long, densely pubescent. Stipules lanceolate, usually up to 5 mm long, densely pubescent. Cymes sessile; bracts small, lanceolate, 2– 3 mm long, densely long-pubescent. Flowers sessile; calyx c. 2 mm long, with an obconical tube and campanulate limb, tube 0.8 –1 mm long, glabrous, limb with 4 lanceolate lobes which are 0.6–8 mm long and hirsute; corolla 8 –10 mm long, tube glabrous outside, villose inside, lobes 4, hairy on both sides. Drupes oblong, 5 mm diam, puberulous; pyrenes 4–5.

Distribution — Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra).

Note — This species is very close to L. chrysoneurus but differs from the latter by having relatively small leaves, stipules and bracts, and denser but less appressed pubescence.