Melastoma muticum Ridl.
Table of contents
1. Protologue
Melastoma muticum Ridl., J. Straits Branch Roy. As. Soc. 6 (1912): 4. - Type: Ridley s.n., Hulu Semangkok, Selangor, Malaysia, Aug 1909 (K!).
Bush, branches terete covered with short flat processes, and larger ones lanceolate triangular acute and laciniate. Leaves unequal lanceolate acuminate acute base hardly narrowed, above covered with fine appressed pubescence, beneath similar with longer hairs on the nerves; nerves 5, depressed above, elevate beneath, transverse nervules parallel numerous, 3-6 inches long 1.5-2 inches wide, petiole half an inch long densely hairy. Flowers few shortly stalked large rose pink. Bracts ovate to lanceolate cuspidate densely hairy with lanceolate acuminate processes, half an inch long and as wide. Calyx tube 1/2 inch long ovoid densely finely covered with yellowish hairs. Petals cuneate obovate, apex broad rounded truncate, 1 1/8 inch long, 1 7/8 inch wide. Stamens similar filaments as long as the anthers, shorter than the petals, anthers cylindric acuminate base bilobed, not prolonged, wrinkled.
Selangor: Hulu Semengkok (Ridley).
Allied to M. sylvaticum Bl. Remarkable among our species in having the stamens all similar.
2. Synonyms
No synonyms known!
3. Vernacular names
No vernacular names known!
4. Description
Shrub or small tree up to 3 m tall; young branches subquandrangular, covered with appressed bristles and scales, bark brown; older branches terete, glabrescent. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, 8.5--13 x 3--5 cm, base acute, apex acuminate; lamina strigose above, often dark brown, beneath subvillous and lighter in colour; nerves 5 or 7, covered with spreading slender scales and bristles; petiole 7--21 mm long, covered with long spreading bristles. Inflorescences terminal few-flowered cymes. Flowers 5-merous; bracts ovate to lanceolate, 15--22 x 10--15 mm, enclosing the hypanthium, the outside covered with short appressed hairs, the inside glabrous. Hypanthium campanulate, c. 12--15 x 9--10 mm, covered with appressed brown or straw-coloured bristles c. 5--6 mm long; sepals lanceolate, 10--12 x 3.5--5 mm, along the dorsal nerve covered with hairs, along the margins glabrous; intersepalar emergences 3--4 mm long. Petals obovate-cuneate, c. 19--20 x 11--12 mm, ciliate at the apex, violet. Stamens dimorphic; anthers of longer outer stamens c. 7.5 mm long, connectives c. 5 mm long with a ventral bilobed appendage c. 2 mm long, filaments c. 5.5 mm long; anthers of shorter inner stamens c. 5--6 mm long, connectives not prolonged, with 2 ventral appendages c. 1 mm long, filaments c. 5 mm long. Ovary slightly shorter than the hypanthium, crowned by golden bristles. Fruit a fleshy capsule, c. 10--14 x 10--11 mm, rupturing irregularly longitudinally at maturity.
5. Distribution, ecology and notes
Distribution - Peninsula Malaysia and Borneo (Sabah).
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Ecology - Collections: 10. In montane forests or scrubs between 800 m and 1700 m altitude.
Notes - This species is similar to M. perakense but differs by its smaller leaves and the leaf surfaces having only one type of bristles.
6. Collections
MALAYSIA
- Cockburn FRI 11014, Summit Padangof G. Tapis, Pahang, 1400 m (L)
- Corner SF 33163, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang, 1200 m (SING)
- Holttum 20576, Taman Negara, Sg. Keriang, G. Tahan, Pahang, 1000 m (SING)
- Ridley s.n., Hulu Semangkok, Selangor (K)
- Samsuri SA 1084, Genting Highlands, G. Ulu Kali, Selangor, 1700 m (C)
- Shah MS 3047, 4 3/4 mile south, Genting Highlands, Ulu Gombak, Selangor, 900 m (KEP, SING, C)
- Sinclair 8956, near Ranau, Ranau to Kundasan, Sabah, 780 m (SING, L)
- Stone 10828, Genting Highlands Road, Pahang, 1020 m (MO)
- Stone 14069, Pahang/Selangor border ridge, G. Ulu Kali, summit zone, Pahang, 1620 m (L)
- Symington FRI 56698, Ulu Selangor, G. Muyang, summit, Selangor, 1700 m (KEP).
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