Goniothalamus rotundisepalus explained

Goniothalamus rotundisepalus is a species of plant in the family Annonaceae. It is native to Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand.[1] Murray Ross Henderson, the Scottish botanist who first formally described the species, named it after its sepals which are rounded like the arc of a circle (Latin: rotundatus in Latin).[2]

Description

It is a bush reaching 1 to 2 meters in height. Its dark, young branches initially have fine red hairs, but become hairless when mature. Its papery, hairless, oblong to elliptical leaves are 10.5-23.5 by 3.5-8.5 centimeters with tips that taper to a point. Its leaves have 7-9 pairs of secondary veins that emanate from their midribs. Smaller veins create a fine network that gives the leaves a granular texture. Its solitary, pale green flowers are in supra-axillary positions. Its pedicels are 4-5 millimeters long and covered in sparse red hairs. Its sepals are rounded like the arc of a circle. The outer surface of the sepals are hairless or have fine sparse hairs and their inner surface is hairless. Its 6 leathery petals are arranged in two rows of 3. The lance-shaped outer petals are 2.5 by 1 centimeter and have sparse red hairs. The oval inner petals are 4-9 by 2.5-5.5 millimeters and have sparse red hairs on their outer surface and dense, coarse, brown hairs inside. Its flowers have 24-80 stamen. Its carpels have linear oblong ovaries covered in red hairs, thick style and two thick stigma surfaces. Its fruit are born on pedicels that are 4-8 millimeters long. The fruit are connect to the pedicels by 2-3 millimeter stipes.[3] [4]

Reproductive biology

The pollen of G. rotundisepalus is shed as permanent tetrads.[5]

Habitat and distribution

It has been observed growing in lowland forests at elevations of 60 to 370 meters.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Goniothalamus rotundisepalus M.R.Hend.. . n.d. . Plants of the World Online . The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . January 27, 2019.
  2. Book: Stearn, William . Botanical Latin . Timber Press David & Charles . Portland, Ore. Newton Abbot . 2004 . 9780881926279 .
  3. Henderson . M.R. . 1927 . Additions to the Flora of the Malay Peninsula . Latin, English . The Gardens' Bulletin; Straits Settlements . 4 . 2&3 . 48–56.
  4. Saunders. Richard M. K.. A synopsis of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia, with a description of a new species. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 142. 3. 2003. 321–339. 1095-8339. 10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.00177.x. free.
  5. Saunders. Richard M. K.. Chalermglin. Piya. A synopsis of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) in Thailand, with descriptions of three new species. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 156. 3. 2008. 355–384. 0024-4074. 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2007.00762.x. free.