Astronidium pallidiflorum A.C.Sm.

• Authority

  Smith, Albert C. 1967. Studies of Pacific Island plants, XVIII. New and noteworthy flowering plants from Fiji. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 37: 69-106.

• Family

  Melastomataceae

• Scientific Name

  Astronidium pallidiflorum A.C.Sm.

• Type

  Type in the U.S. National Herbarium, No. 2191790, collected in dense forest in the hills west of Waivunu Creek, between Ngaloa and Korovou, Serua Province, Viti Levu, Fiji, alt. 50-150 m., November 26, 1953, by A. C. Smith (No. 9313). Duplicates at Bish, etc.

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ad 15 m. alta, partibus novellis, ramulis petiolisque pilis capitato-glandulosis graciliter stipitatis 0.1-0.3 mm. longis copiose ferrugineo-pubescontibus; ramulis apicem versus 3-7 mm. crassis et ibi complanato-quadrangularibus; petiolis gracilibus 1.5-2 mm. diametro subteretibus 3-5 cm. longis, laminis crasso-chartaceis oblongo-lanceolatis 13-23 cm. longis 4-7.5 cm. latis, supra olivaceis et nervis principalibus ut petiolis pubescentibus demum glabratis, subtus praecipue nervis copiose pilosis (pilis clavatis ad 0.5 mm. longis vel superficie interdum ad 0.8 mm. longis), basi obtusis, apice in acuminem 1.5-2 cm. longum calloso-subacutum gradatim angustatis, margine dentibus calloso-acutis manifestis 0.5-1.5 cm. distantibus crenulatis, 5-nerviis, nervis e basi adscendentibus, exterioribus 2 comparate inconspicuis et 1-2 mm. intra marginem, costa et nervis 2 interioribus supra subplanis subtus prominentibus, venulis transversis et rete venularum laxo supra planis subtus prominulis; inflorescentia terminali trichotome cymosa sessili o basi 3-divisa ad 13 cm. longa et 20 cm. lata, ramulis crassis conspicue complanatis et pedicellis et calyce ut partibus novellis copiose pubescentibus, bracteis bracteolisque mox caducis non visis, floribus apices ramulorum ultimorum versus 2-5 aggregatis, pedicellis crassis 1-1.5 mm. longis; calyce submaturo cupuliformi 4-4.5 mm. longo et diametro apice lobis plerumque 10 subdeltoideis obtusis ca. 0.5 mm. longis inaequabiliter fisso; petalis glabris in floribus submaturis 5 oblongis ad 4X2.5 mm. apice rotundatis, staminibus 10 valde inflexis, filamentis ligulatis ca. 3 mm. longis, antheris oblongis ca. 3 mm. longis apice conspicue recurvatis, calcari basilari conspicuo ca. 0.8 mm. longo; stylo tereti petalis subaequali, ovarii loculis 5, placentis clavatis, ovulis numerosissimis.

• Discussion

  Field notes indicate the plant as a tree 15 m. high, with pale greenish white petals, filaments, anthers, and style. The new species is closely related only to A. kasiense A. C. Sm., with which it has in common a copious indument of clavate hairs, these being very different from the much longer, subulate hairs of A. storckii Seem., the only other Fijian species of this general affinity. The principal points of difference between the new species and A. kasiense are summarized as follows: Indument of young parts, petioles, inflorescence branches, etc., composed of hairs usually 0.2-0.5 mm. long; leaf blades ovate-elliptic, 7-12 cm. broad, rounded to obscurely subcordate at base, the fourth and fifth nerves 4-5 mm. within the margin and conspicuously connected by transverse veinlets to an obvious submarginal nerve; flowers (as far as known) 4-merous..... A. kasiense Indument of young parts, petioles, inflorescence branches, etc., comparatively close, composed of hairs usually 0.1-0.3 mm. long; leaf blades oblonglanceolate, 4-7.5 cm. broad, obtuse at base, the fourth and fifth nerves submarginal, 1-2 mm. within the margin and lacking exterior veinlets; flowers (as far as known) 5-merous ........................................................A. pallidiflorum