Aglaia amplexicaulis A.C.Sm.
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Authority
Smith, Albert C. 1952. Studies of Pacific Island plants, X. The Meliaceae of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 30: 469-522.
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Family
Meliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type locality : Kandavu, Fiji ; type, A. O. Smith 156, cited below.
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Description
Description - [No description provided.]
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Discussion
This very distinct species is at once distinguished by its simple, subsessile, cordate-amplexicaul leaves and its sparse, stellate indument of uniformly branched hairs. Since the species was originally based on a fruiting specimen, it is a satisfaction to have a second collection in flower; this indicates that the species falls into § Hearnia. The following notes, based mostly upon Smith 4718, supplement the original description: Indument of young parts and lower surface of leaf-costa, sparse, stellate, the hairs 0.1-0.2 mm. in diameter, composed of 10-20 rays free nearly to base or at least in the distal half; leaves often glabrate, the blades as small as 9 x 2 cm. or rarely less, with 15-30 pairs of secondary nerves; inflorescences axillary to uppermost leaves, paniculate, at anthesis 4-5 cm. long, few-branched and few-flowered, sparsely stellate-pilose like vegetative parts; bracts lanceolate-oblong, 1.5-2 mm, long, obtuse, the bracteoles similar but about 0.5 mm. long; pedicels at anthesis 2-3.5 mm. long, the flowers about 2.5 mm, in diameter; calyx-lobes oblong-deltoid, subacute, 0.8-1 mm. long; petals 5, elliptic-obovate, 2-2.2 mm. long, about 1.5 mm, broad, rounded at apex, scariose-emargined, pilose without toward base like calyx, otherwise glabrous; androecium about 1.8 mm. long and 2.2 mm. in diameter, the filaments connate in a carnose glabrous tube about 1 mm. long, the anthers 5, marginal, suberect, deltoid-ellipsoid, about 1 mm. long; ovary pilose like calyx, the stigma large, carnose, bilobed.