Volume 16 > Part 1 > Year 2022 > Page 13 > Annonaceae > Alphonsea

2. Alphonsea boniana Finet & Gagnep.wfo-0000527334

Bull. Soc. Bot. France 53, Mém. 4: 162. 1906; in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 1: 122. 1908; Kessler, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 118: 86. 1995; P.T.Li & M.G.Gilbert in C.Y.Wu et al., Fl. China 19: 699. 2011; S.Gardner et al., Forest Trees S. Thailand 1: 89. 2015.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Shrub or tree 2.5–20 m tall; bark blackish brown, longitudinally striate. Twigs densely covered with brown appressed hairs when young, later glabrous to sparsely hairy. Leaves subcoriaceous, elliptic to lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3–13 by 1–4.5 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, the acumen 5–15 mm long, or acute, rarely obtuse or retuse, margins flat, glabrous above, glabrous, sometimes hairy on midrib below, midrib sunken above, secondary veins 8–15 per side, tertiary venation on lower surface forming a loose network; petioles 2.5–5 mm long. Inflorescences 1–3-flowered, peduncle 2.5–5 mm long, pedicels 5–12 mm long, each bearing a single bract at midpoint; buds conical. Sepals connate at base, ovate, 1.5–2 mm long, obtuse. Outer petals greenish yellow to yellow, triangular-ovate or elliptic-ovate, 8–13 by 5–6 mm, apex obtuse, hairy on both sides. Inner petals greenish yellow to yellow, triangular-elliptic, 8–10 by 3–4 mm, apex acute to obtuse, hairy outside, glabrous to sparsely hairy at apex inside. Stamens 15–20, oblong to elliptic-oblong, 1–1.5 mm long. Carpels 1–2, ovaries oblong, 2–2.5 mm long. Fruit of 1(–2) monocarps borne on a pedicel 5–22 mm long. Monocarps cylindrical, oblongoid or ellipsoid, (1.5–)3–5 by 1–2.5 cm, verrucose, with dense brown hairs, apex apiculate, base contracted into a stipe 2–6 mm long. Seeds 8–16 per monocarp, ellipsoid, 8–15 by 6–12 mm.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Phayao (Doi Pha Kham, Rom Yen, Doi Luang NP), Nan (Tham Pha Tok Park), Lampang (Mae Kat, Ngao), Phrae (Rong Kwang – type of Alphonsea glabrifolia Craib: Kerr 2370, lectotype -K, isolectotypes -BM E K TCD), Tak (Umphang, Phop Phra, Thung Yai Naresuan WS, Nam Tok Pha Charoen NP), Sukhothai (Sisatchanalai NP), Phitsanulok (Chat Trakan); NORTH-EASTERN: Loei (Pak Chom, Wang Saphung, Phu Luang WS), Bueng Kan (Nong Nasaeng); EASTERN: Chaiyaphum (Phu Khiao WS, Nam Phrom), Nakhon Ratchasima (Khao Yai NP); SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi (Si Sawat), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Pran Buri, Kui Buri NP); CENTRAL: Lop Buri (Chai Badan), Saraburi (Muak Lek), Nakhon Nayok (Khao Yai NP); SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi (Khao Soi Dao WS, Pong Nam Ron); PENINSULAR: Surat Thani (Bang Bao), Krabi, Trang.

Distribution : Myanmar, China, Vietnam (type), Peninsular Malaysia.

Ecology : Shaded areas and streamsides in tropical rain forests or dry evergreen forests, sometimes in secondary forests, on limestone outcrops, sandstone, or granitic areas, 50–800 m alt. Flowering: January, February, May, June, August, September, December; fruiting: January, March, May, August, November, December.

Vernacular : Kluai khang (กล้วยค่าง)(Chaiyaphum); mai lueang (ไม้เหลือง)(Chanthaburi); tam yao phon tum (ตำหยาวผลตุ่ม).

Notes: Alphonsea boniana is characterised by flowers having only 1–2 carpels and fruits composed of 1–2 monocarps with a strongly verrucose surface and apiculate apex.