Volume 7 > Part 3 > Year 2001 > Page 472 > Melastomataceae > Phyllagathis

4. Phyllagathis tuberosa (Hansen) Cellinese & S.S.Rennerwfo-0001237630

Novon 7(2): 109, fig. 1. 1997.— Tylanthera tuberosa Hansen, Nord. J. Bot. 9: 632, fig. 1. 1990. Fig. 40.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Tiny acaulescent herb, 3–8 cm tall, sparsely hairy, with a tuberous rhizome (Fig. 40A). Leaves one to three (in the single specimen known), ovate, 2–5 x 1–3 cm, base truncate or slightly irregularly subcordate, apex acute, margin entire, finely ciliate, lamina with (1–) 2 pairs of lateral primary veins, membranaceous, above and below loosely pilose, petioles reddish, 1–3 cm long, pilose. Inflorescence a scorpioid cyme with 3–7 flowers, peduncle 2–6 cm long, sparsely pilose. Flowers 4-merous, subtended by two linear bracts about 1 mm long, pedicels about 4 mm long. Hypanthium campanulate, 1–2 mm long, sparsely covered with long hairs; calyx lobes about 0.2–3 mm long, acuminate. Petals ovate, 3.5 mm long, acute, pink. Stamens 4, isomorphic (Fig. 40C), anthers 0.6–0.7 mm long, yellow, connective with a small dorsal appendage. Ovary 4-locular, almost completely adnate to the hypanthium, apically rounded. Capsules campanulate, about 1.5 mm long and wide.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Phitsanulok (Phu Mieng – type: Larsen et al. 1105 -AAU BKF C).

Distribution : Endemic.

Ecology : Growing on rocks by a stream in evergreen forests. Only known from the type, which was collected at 700 m alt.

Vernacular : Kam kung hua (ก้ามกุ้งหัว)(Northern).

Notes: One of the smallest species in the genus.