Lasianthus papuanus Wernham

91. Lasianthus papuanus Wernham View in CoL

Lasianthus papuanus Wernham (1916) View in CoL 78; Valeton (1927) 109; Merr. & L.M.Perry (1946) 219. — Type: Kloss s.n. (holo BM), New Guinea, 500 ft.

Shrubs; branchlets terete, densely appressed flavi-hirsute. Leaves: blades oblong-lanceolate, 7–11 by 2 – 3 cm, glabrous above except hairy midrib, appressed-pubescent hairs on venation beneath, apex acute, base broadly cuneate to subrounded, nerves slightly obscure above, prominent beneath, 7–8 pairs, nervules obscure above, subreticulate; petioles 4–5 mm long, densely flavi-pubescent. Stipules subulate, 8 mm long, appressed-pubescent, deciduous. Cymes sessile; bracts absent. Flowers solitary or paired, 5-merous; calyx campanulate, lobes triangular-lanceolate, 2.5 mm long, glabrous inside and pilose outside; corolla tube 4.8 mm long, sparsely hirsute, lobes 5, oblong, c. 1.5 mm long, hirsute outside, barbate inside. Fruits not seen.

Distribution — New Guinea.

Note — This species is very close to L. chrysotrichus , but differs from the latter by having appressed-pubescence on branches, nerves beneath, stipules up to 8 mm long, 5-merous flowers without bracts, and triangular-lanceolate calyx lobes, while L. chrysotrichus has spreading harsh-hirsute hairs, stipules 2–3 mm long, usually 4-merous flowers with linear bracts and lanceolate calyx lobes. It differs from L. hexandrus by having stipules up to 8 mm long, calyx campanulate, lobes triangular-lanceolate.