Author: K. Schumann
Verdcourt, Man. New Guin. Legumes (1979) 70, f. 16, 17
Peekel (transl. E.E. Henty), Fl. Bismarck Arch. (1984) 211, f. 342, 343, 345
Morphological description
Tree up to 42(-50) m high and 50 cm in diameter; buttresses up to 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 (schefferi Manil general 139537; schefferi Manilt fl tree 256084). Stipules 25-35 by 1-2 mm, very early caducous, leaving no scars.
Leaves paripinnate, (1-)2-4-jugate; petiole 1.5-2.5 cm, puberulous, glabrescent; rachis 5-16(-25) cm and petiolules 0.2-1 cm, both usually glabrous, sometimes puberulous; the rachis prolonged as a long hispid tendril right after the unfolding of the bud, but soon dropped (schefferi? Manil ylvs 428831). Leaflets opposite, ovate, elliptic, oblong, or lanceolate; apex acuminate, the actual tip usually emarginate; midrib at 1.3-2.5 cm from the upper margin; nerves 6-9 pairs.
Inflorescences 5.5-9 cm long, the rachis 2-6 mm, more or less pubescent; bracts 0.5-5 cm long, appressed-hairy, sometimes glabrescent; bracteoles 5-1.5 cm long, pubescent, sometimes glabrescent; pedicels 1.5-3 cm, pubescent (schefferi Maniltoa BJ).
Flower : Sepals 6.5-18 mm, glabrous or hairy. Petals 8-11 mm long, white or whitish-pink. Disk absent. Stamens 30-35; filaments 14-18 mm, the basal 0.75 mm connate; anthers apiculate. Ovary pubescent to glabrous; stipe 2-5 mm; style 5-10 mm.
Fruits compressed ovoid, 2.5-7.5(-9) cm long.
a. Maniltoa schefferi K. Schumann var. schefferi
Description
Fruits 2.5-3.5 by 1.5-2.5 by 0.3-1.5 cm.
Distribution
Australia (N Queensland), Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal, Choiseul), Bismarck Archipelago (New Ireland); Malesia : Celebes, Moluccas (Morotai, Halmahera, Bacan, Ambon, Tanimbar Is., Kei and Aru Is.), New Guinea (West Irian: Vogelkop, Geelvink Bay, Jayapura, Fakfak; Papua New Guinea: W Sepik, Morobe and Central Provinces).
Habitat & Ecology
Forests, 30-720(-960) m. Flowering in February, March, and June-December; fruiting in January, March, April, June, and Augustus-November
b. Maniltoa schefferi K. Schumann var. peekelii (Harms) Verdcourt
Description
Fruits up to 7.5(-9) by 5(-6) by 3(-4) cm.
Distribution
New Ireland, New Britain, and Papua New Guinea (E Sepik Prov.).
Habitat & Ecology
Flat land behind beach. Flowering in May-July; fruiting in February, May.