Volume 7 > Part 3 > Year 2001 > Page 487 > Melastomataceae > Sonerila

5. Sonerila integrifolia Stapfwfo-0001238701

Ann. Bot. 6: 312. 1892; Stapf in King, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 69: 34. 1900.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Branched semi-woody subshrub, to 40 cm tall, stem angular, densely brown-pilose. Leaves distributed along the stem, chartaceous, those of a pair strongly anisomorphic, plants sometimes appearing as altemate-leaved, large leaves lanceolate, 12–20 x 4–8 cm base slightly asymmetric, apex acute or acuminate, small leaves ovate, 0.5–1 x 0.5–1 cm, the margin entire, sometimes with widely spaced mnute setae, the lamina with 2 pairs of lateral primary veins arising at the blade base, the outer (submarginal) pair very faint, lamina on both surfaces glabrous except for the minutely strigulose nerves below, petioles 2.5–3.5 cm long, brown pubescent, the hairs sometimes to 5 mm long and curled. Inflorescence an axillary unilateral cyme with 16–20 sessile flowers in two rows, the peduncle 1–2 cm long, sparsely pubescent. Hypanthium broadly campanulate or ovoid, 3–4 mm long and 4–6 mm in diam., glabrescent; calyx lobes triangular, 1 mm long; pedicels 3–4 mm long, with sparse spreading glandular hairs. Petals elliptic or oblong, about 6 mm long, pink. Stamens 3, anthers 2.3–3 mm long, basally deeply cordate, yellow. Capsule broadly campanulate or semiglobose, 3.5–4.8 mm long, glabrous, with minute pustules.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Narathiwat (Larsen et al. 45646).

Distribution : Malay Peninsula (Perak – syntypes).

Ecology : In undisturbed evergreen rainforests on sandy soil at 200 m alt.

Notes: Easily recognized by the strongly dimorphic glabrous leaves, with one member of each pair reduced to a small auricle, the other 12–20 cm long. Sonerila integrifolia is part of a complex of species around S. beccariana Cogn. that is much in need of critical revision.