Volume 7 > Part 4 > Year 2002 > Page 700 > Loranthaceae > Scurrula

5. Scurrula parasitica L.wfo-0001074735

Sp. Pl. 110. 1753; Danser, Philipp. J. Sci. 58: 118. 1935; Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 3, 16: 34, 262. 1938, 1940; Barlow, Blumea 36: 80. 1991; Fl. Mal. I, 13: 387. 1997.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Young parts with a sparse to dense grey to dark brown or rarely paler indumentum of short stellate hairs, soon becoming sparse on adult stems and leaves. Leaves opposite; lamina narrowly ovate to obovate, 3–7(–9) by 1.5–3.5(–4.5) cm, thin, cuneate to truncate at the base to a petiole 3–10 mm long, acute obtuse or rounded at the apex; venation obscure except for the midrib and a few major laterals visible on both sides. Inflorescences several at the nodes, a 2- to 6-flowered raceme; axis 1–6 mm long; pedicels 1–5 mm long; bract narrow, erect, 1–3 mm long. Corolla in mature bud 8–16 mm long, slender, weakly clavate and acute at the apex; tube 6–12 mm long, split to the middle or lower. Anther 0.7–1.5 mm long, about two thirds as long as the free part of the filament. Fruit 8–10 mm long including a stipe 4–8 mm long, rounded at the apex.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Nan; NORTH-EASTERN: Phetchabun, Loei, Nakhon Phanom; SOUTH-WESTERN: Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Kanburi; PENINSULAR: Phangnga, Trang.

Distribution : India eastwards to China and Vietnam and southwards in Malesia as far as the Philippines, Moluccas and Timor.

Ecology : Common in various primary forests types and in disturbed sites, mostly from 0–1,800 m alt., less frquently to 2,250 m alt., recorded from various hosts; in Thailand from 300–1,800 m alt., recorded from lower montane forests, deciduous forests, dipterocarp-oak forests evergreen seasonal forests and hill evergreen forests; recorded as parasitic on Brassiensis speciosa, Eugenia grata, Lithocarpus sp. and Saurauia roxburghii.

Notes: See note under Scurrula gracilifolia. Unlike specimens from Malesia, Thai specimens of S. parasitica may have a dense red-brown indumentum, with longer dendritic hairs prominent. For discussion of putative introgression with other species, see Barlow, Blumea 36: 81. 1991.