Volume 7 > Part 3 > Year 2001 > Page 469 > Melastomataceae > Phyllagathis

1. Phyllagathis hispida King

J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist 69: 46. 1900; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 794. 1922; Craib in Fl. Siam. Enum. 1: 696. 1931. Fig. 37.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Herb, up to 40 cm tall, stems short, woody, and hispid or glabrous. Leaves broadly ovate, 10–25 x 8–18 cm, base cordate, apex shortly acuminate, margin denticulate, lamina with 3–5 pairs of lateral primary veins, subcoriaceous, above and below with minute hairs, primary veins with few scattered long hairs, petioles to 8 cm long, especially basally densely covered with hispid hairs, to 12 mm long. Inflorescence an axillary umbellate cyme, peduncle about 4 cm long, shorter than the leaves and sparsely hispid. Flowers 4 merous, ebracteate. Hypanthium cylindrical to slightly urceolate, about 1 cm long, hirsute; calyx lobes triangular, blunt, caducous. Petals broadly ovate, about 13 mm long, white or pale pink. Stamens 8, dimorphic, episepalous (outer) stamens up to ca 1.2 cm long, their anthers yellow at the base, purple at the top, epipetalous (inner) stamens ca 0.6 cm long, yellow, the connective with a short dorsal spur. Ovary 4-locular, apically crowned by 4 conspicuous scales surrounding the style base. Capsules about 6 x 5 mm, 4-angled or semi-globose, crowned by the 4 ovary scales (Fig. 37D).

Thailand : CENTRAL: Saraburi; PENINSULAR: Pattani.

Distribution : Malay Peninsula (Perak and Pahang – syntypes).

Ecology : Shaded moist rocks beside a waterfall in evergreen hardwood forests at about 100 m alt.

Vernacular : Kam kung khon (ก้ามกุ้งขน)(Peninsular).