Dysoxylum hornei Gillespie
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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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Description
Description - [No description provided.]
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Discussion
Dysoxylum hornei is a very distinct species of § Didymocheton, differing from its allies in our region in its reduced number of stamens, smaller corolla, which is often only 3- or 4-lobed, and its short and usually glabrous disk. Even when the corolla-lobes are 5, D. hornei has only 5 or 6 (rarely 7) stamens. The species is further character-ized by its comparatively few and nearly sessile leaflets, of which the distal half of the blade is shorter than the proximal half (the reverse of the usual condition in the genus). The inflorescence is comparatively narrow, with the lateral branches insignificant in length. Gillespie's species is not entirely uniform, however. Typical specimens have the leaflets persistently pubescent on the costa beneath, whereas certain specimens, scattered within the range of the species, have the leaflets quite glabrous and in other respects have a more limited and closer indument than typical. I propose to separate these latter specimens from the typical form as var. glabratum. The two varieties may be distinguished as follows: Leaflets persistently hispidulous or at least obviously puberulent on costa beneath, often also pubescent on lower surface; bracteoles and sepals copiously strigillose without (hairs 0.1-0.3 mm. long) ; corolla copiously sericeous-strigillose without (hairs 0.1-0.3 mm, long) ; corolla-lobes usually 3 or 4, less commonly 5; ovary with hairs 0.5-1 mm. long.................................. var, hornei Leaflets complete glabrous, the costa beneath without indument ; bracteoles and sepals often glabrous (or inconspicuously strigillose dorsally with hairs scarcely exceeding 0.1 mm. long) ; corolla minutely appressed-puberulent without (hairs 0.05-0.1 mm, long) ; corolla-lobes 5; ovary with hairs 0.2-0.3 mm. long............................. var. glabratum