Morinda lanuginosa Suratman, 2011

1. Morinda lanuginosa Suratman View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 1 View Fig

Scandens. Ramuli glabri. Stipulae margine leviter connatae prope basin vel truncatam unitae,glabrae.Petioli glabri.Folia elliptica vel oblonga vel elliptica ad oblonga vel raro lanceolata, (0.9–) 4–11.1 cm longa, (0.45–) 1.2 –4.1 cm lata, glabra, coriacea; nervis secundariis (5–)6–8 paribus, glabris; domatia absentia. Capitula florifera mascula terminalia, pseudo-umbellata, 2 –6 fasciculata, circa 8–18 flora, 3–5.5 mm longa et 2–5.5 mm lata (sine corollae). Peduncula glabra. Flos masculus 4–5 partitus; calyx limbus tubularis, 1–1.5 mm longus, 1–2 mm latus, truncatus, glabrus; calyx lobus nullus; corolla tubus 2–7 mm longus, 0.5–1.5 mm latus, intus lanuginosus, extus glabrus; corolla faucus intus lanuginosus, extus glabrus; corolla lobus glabrus; antherae linear vel linear-lanceolata.Flos hermaphroditus et femineus ignotus.Capitula fructiferus et seminibus ignotus.— Typus: P. Buwalda 6744 (holo BO; iso A, K, L, PNH n.v., SING), Indonesia, Indragiri Uplands, Kuala Belilas, 28 April 1939 .

Etymology. The specific epithet for this species is derived from the latin word lanuginosus, which means woolly, in reference to the dense woolly hairs along the inner surface of the corolla tube of the species.

Climber. Branchlets divaricating, subquadrangular when young but becoming terete or subterete with age, bark smooth but usually slightly sulcate on young branchlets, all parts glabrous, not glossy, grey or dark brown or dark brown to black brownish coloured when dry; internodes (5–)9 – 59 by 0.5 – 4 mm. Stipules triangular, 0.5 –6 by 2– 5 mm, shortly connate to connate above axils, glabrous, apex obtuse or subacute or truncate, subchartaceous to membranous, vein indistinct to slightly raised on both sides. Leaves petioles subquadrangular or subterete or subtriangular, 6 – 25 by 0.5–1.5 mm, grooved or flattened along upper part, smooth or slightly sulcate, glabrous; lamina elliptic or oblong or elliptic to oblong or rarely lanceolate, (0.9 –)4–11.1 by (0.45 –) 1.2 –4.1 cm, base cuneate or obtuse, margin entire and glabrous, apex cuspidate or acuminate or acute or obtuse or nearly rounded, glabrous on both sides, coriaceous when dry, drying light to medium brown below and dark greyish brown to light grey above; secondary veins (5–)6 – 8 pairs, indistinct to prominently raised below and flat to moderately raised above, glabrous; midrib raised prominently below and flat to slightly raised above, glabrous, smooth or usually slightly sulcate; tertiary veins indistinct to slightly raised on both sides, glabrous; domatia absent. Male flowering heads terminal, arranged in pseudo-umbels, consisting of 2 – 6 heads, each head with c. 8 –18 flowers, 3 –5.5 by 2– 5.5 mm (without the corollas); peduncles subquadrangular or subterete, 3 –18 by 0.5 –1 mm, glabrous, smooth or slightly sulcate. Male flowers 4– 5-merous, 2 –10.5 by (0.5–) 0.75– 2 mm, green coloured when still in bud; calyx limb tubular, 1–1.5 by 1–2 mm, truncate, glabrous; calyx lobe none; adjacent calyx tubes fused with each other; corolla tube 2–7 by 0.5 –1.5 mm, lanuginose along inside but glabrous outside; corolla throat lanuginose inside but glabrous outside; corolla lobes 4 –5, oblong or elliptic to oblong, 2 – 4 by 0.75– 2 mm, apex acute or obtuse, valvate in bud and thickened at margins, glabrous on both sides; stamens 4 – 5; anthers linear or linear-lanceolate, 1.75–2.75 by c. 0.1–0.3 mm, dorsifixed around the middle or below the middle of filaments, only the tips exserted from the throat; filaments thin, 0.25–1 by c. 0.1– 0.25 mm; gynoecium completely undeveloped; stigma and rudimentary style none; disk present, located on the roof of the rudimentary ovary; rudimentary ovaries of adjacent flowers fused with each other, reduced and empty. Bisexual and female flowers unknown. Bracts and bracteoles none. Fruits and seeds unknown.

Distribution — Sumatra (Bangka Island and Kuala Belilas).

Habitat & Ecology — Found in primary forest, somewhat swampy.

Vernacular names — Akar padang (Bangka); akar seminyak (Kuala Belilas).

Additional specimens studied. INDONESIA, Bangka Belitung , Bangka , Pangkal Pinang , Teysmann 18351 ( BO); Bangka, unknown locality, 22 Sept. 1906, Berkhout 1507 ( BO) .

Note — Morinda umbellata L. is a complex species with a number of described subspecies and varieties ( Govaerts et al. 2009). I have chosen the specimens from Sumatra usually identified as M. umbellata (but possibly not identical to that species, Ridsdale 1998) as basis for comparison to diagnose M. lanuginosa . Morinda lanuginosa is similar to these specimens in habit and inflorescence shape but can be distinguished by the absence of domatia and the corolla tube considerably longer ( 2–7 mm long) in mature open male flower than in the specimens usually identified as M. umbellata ( 0.25–1.5 mm long). Morinda lanuginosa also somewhat resembles M. wongiana in habit, inflorescence form and leaf texture but can be distinguished by its tubular calyx limb in male flowers

3 cm

1 cm

which is considerably shorter ( 1–1.5 mm long vs (1.75 –) 2 – 3.5 mm long). Only three herbarium specimens are known and all show male flowers. This species requires further field investiga- tion and more material is needed to clarify its floral morphology, especially of the bisexual and female flower.