Alchornea sicca (Blanco) Merr.

ALCHORNEA Swartz,
Excoecaria sicca Blanco FI. Filip. (1837) 787 (sp. nov.) ; ed. 2 (1845)
542; ed. 3, 3 (1879) 193, t. 807—ALCHORNEA SICCA (Blanco) Merr.
in Philip. Journ. Sci. 5 (1910) Bot. 192 (A. philippinensis Pax &
Hofftn. !).
Croton drupaceum Blanco FI. Filip, ed. 2 (1845) 519 (sp. novQ j ed. 3» 3
(1879) 155, non Roxb.=ALCHORNEA SICCA (Blanco) Merr.
This species is common in certain localities about Manila,
growing in thickets, along streams, etc. J. Mueller, followed by
'‘Pax, was quite wrong in referring Blanco’s Excoecaria sicca to
Homalanthus populneus as a variety. Fernandez-Villar was
equally wrong in referring it to Alchornea moüis Muell.-Arg,,
a .species that does not extend to the Philippines. \A-s to Croton
drupaceum Blanco, this was reduced by Fernandez-Villar to
Croton luzonensis Muel).-Arg., a species that does not grow in the
vicinity of Manila, and one to which Blanco’s description does
not at all apply. Blanco’s specimens were from the banks of
the Pasig River opposite Guadalupe, a few kilometers from
Manila, kno\yn there <as ba&anti,•''thé Same native hame he cités
for his Excoecaria sicca. The specific name is a misnomer, and
he does not describe the fruit as a drupe : “Drupa globosa, poco
carnosa, que se divide en très pedazos (y por tanto tricoca) y
pn cada uno una semilla huesosa^’ His description manifestly
applies to Alchornea sicca, and the species is still common along
the Pasig River opposite Guadalupe and is still generally known
- to the residents there as ,balanti. Pax & K. Hoffman are entirely
wrong in citing as a synonym of this species, Alchornea par-
viflora Muell.-Arg. The form they have described as Alchornea
philippinensis is typical Alehornea. sicca (Blanco) Merr.
Illustrative specimen from the banks of the Pasig River
?.opposite Guadalupe, Rizal Province, Luzon, April, .1914, {Merritt:
Species Blancodnae no. 6J*2).
MEJiH I LLI
J3LANCOANAE
642» Alohornea sicoa (Blanco)
Sxooeoaria sicca Blanco
Oroton drupaceum Blanco,
Boxt.
Alohornea philippinensis
Hoffm.
Merr
non
Pax &
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