Melastoma beccarianum Cogn.
Table of contents
1. Protologue
Melastoma beccarianum Cogn., in DC. (ed.) Monogr. Phan. 7 (1891): 356. - Type: Beccari s.n., Brunei. Borneo (BR, not seen).
Ramis setis crassiusculis breviusculis arcte adpressis dense strigosis; foliis anguste lanceolatis, acutissimis, 5-nerviis, supra subtiliter granulatis sublaevibusque, subtus ad nervos paleaceo-strigosis caeteris densiuscule breviterque setulosis; floribus solitariis.
Rami graciles, obscure tetragoni, fuscescentes. Petiolus 4-7 mm longus. Folia rigidiuscula, 0,5-1 dm longa, 8-17 mm lata, nervis subtus valde prominentibus. Calyx cinereo-fulvus, tubo subhemisphaerico, longissime et densissime hirsuto, 1 cm longo, lobis triangulari-lanceolatis, longe acuminatis, 8-11 mm longis. Petala purpurea, obovata, retusa, ciliolata, 2,5-3 cm longa. Antherae lineari-subulatae, 8 vel 10 mm longae; maiorum connectivo basi 11-12 mm longo producto; minorum connectivo basi biauriculato.
In Borneo ad Bruni (Beccari in HB propr.).
2. Synonyms
No synonyms known!
3. Vernacular names
Engkodok, Udok Udok Laki (Borneo)
4. Description
Shrub or small tree up to 6 m high; young branches quadrangular, covered with appressed brown scales and bristles, bark brown; old branches terete, glabrescent. Leaves lanceolate, 3.2--13.0 x 0.6--2.3 cm; base acute to cuneate, apex acute to acuminate; lamina strigose above and strigose to subvillous below; nerves 5, lower surface covered with appressed to semi-erect scales and bristles; petiole 3--18 mm long. Inflorescence a terminal or apical axillary cyme of 1--3(--5) flowers. Flowers 5-merous; bracts ovate-acuminate, 5--9 x 5--8 mm, strigose on the outside, glabrous inside. Hypanthium campanulate, 7--14 x 6--13 mm, densely covered with golden-red, erect, stellate emergences, their stalk c. 5 mm long, their bristles c. 5 mm long; sepals deciduous, lanceolate, 10--11 x 4--5 mm, on both sides covered with bristles; intersepalar emergences the same as on the hypanthium. Petals obovate, 27--30 x 21--24 mm, violet. Stamens dimorphic; longer outer stamens with c. 12 mm long anthers and 11--12 mm long yellow filaments, connective ventrally curved, c. 5--6 mm long, with two ventral, yellow appendages, c. 2 mm long; shorter inner stamens yellow, with 8--9 mm long anthers and 9--10 mm long filaments, connective not prolonged, with two ventral spurs c. 1 mm long. Ovary c. 3/4 as long as the hypanthium, crowned by golden bristles. Fruit a campanulate, fleshy capsule, 8--16 x 8--15 mm, splitting longitudinally at maturity.
5. Distribution, ecology and notes
Distribution - Borneo: Brunei, Malaysia (Northwest Sabah, Sarawak).
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Ecology - Collections: 24. In open places, along rivers, or in forests, from sea level to 1500 m altitude.
Notes - Melastoma beccarianum can easily be identified by its narrowly lanceolate leaves and the stellate hypanthium emergences. It is restricted to Borneo north-west of the Crocker Range. The hypanthium emergences are similar to those of the Indochinese M. saigonense, which might indicate a close relationship and allopatric speciation by the flooding of the Sunda shelf during interglacials.
6. Collections
BRUNEI
- Ashton BRUN 548, Andulau Forest Reserve, 45 m (SING, SAR, KEP, L)
- Hamid FRI 48229, Berakas (KEP)
- Haveland 18, near Brunei (SAR)
- Haveland 125, near Brunei (SAR)
- Sands 5476, Belait, subdistr. Labi, Bt Teraja, ridge on the north of hill rest-shelter, 275 m (L)
- Senkalang anak Nantah BRUN 5639 (SING, SAR)
- Smitinand 8960, Andulan Forest Reserve, 10 m (BKF)
- Wong WKM 189, Jerudong, Muara District, Lugu (SAR, SAN).
MALAYSIA
- Amin SAN 117341, Kinosopian, Ranau Distr., Sabah, 1500 m (SAN, L)
- Amin SAN 126710, Hutan Simpan Singgau, Weston Distr., Sabah, 35 m (SAN)
- Awa S 47794, summit of Bt. Pagon Kecil, B. Pagon Periuk, Limbang, 5th Division, Sarawak, 1100 m (SAR, L, K, KEP, AAU, C)
- Banyeng ak Nudong S 24470, Lambir National Park: Bt. Lambir, Miri, 4th Division, Sarawak (SAR, K, L, SING, SAN, A, BO, KEP, MEL)
- Banyeng ak Nudong S 25056, Lambir National Park, 4th Division, Sarawak (SAR, K, L, SING, SAN, A, BO, KEP, MEL, FHO)
- Chai S 39419, Lambir National Park, mile 18, 4th Division, Sarawak (SAR, UA, L,K,KEP, SAN)
- Chai S 39660, Gunung Mulu National Park: Sg. Mentawi, Sarawak (SAR, UA, L, K, KEP, SAN, MO)
- Chew 360, Gunong Mulu National Park: G. Mulu, Baran Distr., Sarawak, 1200 m (SING, SAR)
- Clemens 28573, Tenompok, Sabah, 1500 m (BM, L)
- George S 40441, Lambir National Park, 4th Division, Sarawak (SAR, UA, L, K, C, E)
- Haveland 352, top of Santulong, Sarawak (SAR)
- Haveland 1277, Kinabalu Kiri, Sabah, 1150 m (SAR)
- Ilias S 38470, Lambir National Park: foot of Lambir Hills, 20th mile Miri/Bintulu, 4th Division, Sarawak, 1400 m (SAR, UA, L, K, KEP, SAN)
- Mokhtar S 47142, Lambir National Park: Ulu S. Jangkang, Sarawak (SAR, AAU, C, K, L, KEP)
- Morshidi S 22897, Lambir National Park, 4th Division, Sarawak (SAR, K, L, SING, SAN, A, BO, KEP, MEL)
- Sato 1272, Kimanis, Kawasan Papar, Sabah, 1000 m (SAN)
- Sibat ak Luang S 25194, 6,5 Mile Bakam road, Miri, Sarawak, 60 m (SING, K, L, SAN, A, BO, KEP, MEL, FHO, SAR).
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