Goniothalamus nitidus

Goniothalamus nitidus is a species of plant in the family Annonaceae. It is native to Borneo.[1] Elmer Drew Merrill, the American botanist who first formally described the species, named it after its shining (nitidus in Latin) leaves.[2][3]

Goniothalamus nitidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Annonaceae
Genus: Goniothalamus
Species:
G. nitidus
Binomial name
Goniothalamus nitidus

Description

It is a tree reaching 7 meters in height. Its mature, dark branches are hairless. Its sparsely hairy to hairless petioles are 1 - 1.5 centimeters long. Its olive-green, papery, oblong to elliptical leaves are 22-30 by 6-10 centimeters and shiny on both sides. The leaves come to a shallow tapering tip and are pointed at their base. The upper surfaces of the leaves are hairless while the lower surfaces are sparsely hairy to hairless. The leaves have 17-20 pairs of secondary veins emanating from their midribs. The secondary veins are connected by arching veins 3-7 millimeters from the margin of the leaves. Its dark red flowers grow in clusters, or fascicles, from the trunk or on branches below the leaves. The flowers are on 1.5-2 centimeter-long pedicels that have sparse rust-colored hairs. The pedicels are subtended by oval to oblong bracts that are 2-2.5 millimeters and covered in dense fine hairs. Its round to oval sepals are 1 by 1 centimeters have rounded or shallow, slightly tapered tips. The sepals are covered in fine hairs and have distinct venation. Its flowers have 6 petals in two rows of three. The narrowly elliptical outer petals are 6-6.5 to 1.5-2 centimeters and sparsely covered in fine hairs on both surfaces. the outer petals have a distinct midrib and finer secondary veins. The inner petals are 2.3 by 1 centimeters and are connected at their margins forming a cone that is wider at the base and narrower at the top. The inner petals are hairless on their inner surfaces and covered in fine hairs on their outer surfaces. Its flowers have numerous stamen that are 3.5 millimeters long and taper to a sharp point at their tip. Its flowers have numerous pistils with oblong carpels that are 1.5 millimeters long and covered in fine hairs. The carpels have 1-2 ovules. Its hairless styles are 3 millimeters long with thickened tops. Its stigma have two lobes. Its oblong to oval, wrinkled, hairless fruit are 2 centimeters long with rounded tips and pointed bases. The fruit have 1-2 oval seeds that are 1.5 centimeters long.[3]

Reproductive biology

The pollen of G. nitidus is shed as permanent tetrads.[4]

Habitat and distribution

It has been observed growing in forests on steep ridges and near streams.[3] It has also been observed in naturally regenerating secondary forests.[5]

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References
  1. "Goniothalamus nitidus Merr". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. Stearn, William (2004). Botanical Latin. Portland, Ore. Newton Abbot: Timber Press David & Charles. ISBN 9780881926279.
  3. Merrill, Elmer D. (1922). "New or Noteworthy Bornean Plants (Part I.)". Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (in English and Latin). 85: 151–201.
  4. Walker, James W. (1971). "Pollen Morphology, Phytogeography, and Phylogeny of the Annonaceae". Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University. 202 (202): 1–130. JSTOR 41764703.
  5. Heng, Roland Kueh Jui; Majid, Nik Muhamad Ab.; Gandaseca, Seca; Ahmed, Osumanu Haruna; Jemat, Silvester; Kin, Melvin Ku Kin (2013). "Assessment of Floristic Composition in a Rehabilitated Forest, Sarawak, Malaysia". Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology. 2 (2): 60–66. doi:10.33736/bjrst.279.2013. ISSN 0128-2972.
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