Maniltoa cynometroides

Author: Merrill & L.M. Perry

Morphological description (cynometroides Manilt TYPE det )
Tree 9-30 m high, 10-45(-140) cm in diameter; small low buttresses sometimes present, to c. 1 m high. Growth flush-wise, flushes developing from large buds. Buds covered by 2-ranked, brown, caducous budscales with lengthwise veins; new leaves developing in bright white or pink tassels. Stipules present in the buds, very tender, caducous immediately after the unfolding of the bud, leaving hardly any scar.

Leaves paripinnate, 2-jugate, the upper pairs larger than the lower ones; rachis 1.2-2 cm and petiole 0.5-1 cm, both more or less pubescent. Leaflets opposite, obovate-cuneate, 2-5 by 0.8-4 cm, obtuse and emarginate at the apex, cuneate at the base, sessile, the midrib very excentric, 2-4(-5) mm from the upper margin.

Inflorescences apparently terminal or in the axils of the upper leaves, the rachis 0.4-1.1 cm, dense puberulous, glabrescent; bracts up to 1 cm long; bracteoles 5-6 mm long; pedicels 7-9 mm, pubescent.

Flower : Hypanthium cupular. Sepals 5 mm long. Petals not seen. Disk absent. Stamens 20-25, the filaments 3 mm, connate at the extreme base. Ovary not enclosed in hypanthium, hairy.

Fruits ovoid, compressed, 1.5-5 by 1.2-2 by 0.5-2 cm, not stipitate, more or less hairy.

Distribution
Fiji (Matuku); Malesia : Moluccas (Morotai, Kai Is), New Guinea (Irian Jaya: Vogelkop, Jayapura, Mimika, Digul; Papua New Guinea: W & E Sepik, Madang, Morobe, Western Provinces).

Habitat & Ecology
Swamp forest, primary forests on sandy soil, secondary forest, up to 100(-530) m altitude. Flowering in July, and Augustus; fruiting in May-Augustus.

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