Author: Merrill & L.M. Perry
Morphological description (brassii Maniltoa infl/pod FM40 )
Shrub or tree mostly 5-7.5(-10) 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, 2-5-jugate; rachis 3-21 cm and petiole 0.5-1.5 cm, both pubescent, usually glabrescent. Leaflets opposite, variable in shape, size, and texture, ovate-oblong to obliquely lanceolate, 7-23 by 3-6 cm, glabrous, sessile; apex acuminate or obtuse, the actual tip usually emarginate; base asymmetrically rounded, scarcely auriculate; midrib 0.8-1.5 cm from the upper margin.
Inflorescences dense, up to 6 cm wide, the rachis 2.5-6 cm (brassii Maniltoa infl/pod FM40 ); bracts greenish brown, 2.5-3 cm long, pubescent; bracteoles 9-15 mm long; pedicels (2-)3-5(-10) mm, hairy.
Flower: Hypanthium (1.5-)5-6 mm deep, enclosing the ovary, inside sometimes lined with hairs. Sepals 4, unequal, 1-1.6 cm long. Petals creamy brown, 1.6-2 cm long, even in young buds not always all present. Disk absent. Stamens 32-43; filaments 15-24 mm, connate at the base for 0.25-2 mm; anthers apiculate. Ovary densely pubescent, sessile, partially to entirely enclosed by the hypanthium; style 1.4-2.5 cm.
Fruits 2-2.5 by 1.5-1.8 by c. 1 cm (brassii Maniltoa infl/pod FM40 ).
Distribution
Malesia: Papua New Guinea (Morobe, Central and Milne Bay Provinces, and Papuan Islands ?).
Habitat & Ecology
Mangrove swamp or swamp forest, up to 100 m altitude. Flowering in February, March, July, and November, December; fruiting in July, and November.