Meliosma Petelotii sp. nov. (§ Simpliccs). l^lt*^ ^-FT*' ^^' f ^' '^ ^ 



Species M. rigidae S. et Z. affinis, differt areolis uitimis in foliis subtus 

 planis, haud subfoveolatis, foliis glabris vel parcissime pubescentibus. 



1938] MERRILL, INDOCHINESE PLANTS 49 



Arbor 5-6 m. alta, ramis ramulisque teretibus, breviter subcinereo- 

 pubescentibus vel puberulis, uitimis 3-4 mm. diametro; foliis lanceolatis 

 vel oblanceolatis, coriaceis, 15-24 cm. longis, 2. 5-7. S cm. latis, distanter 

 Cdspicue serratis, dentibus acutis vel acuminatis, 1-2 cm. remotis, 

 n .'gine deorsum integris, apice acuminatis, basi cuneatis, supra costa 

 mpressa puberula excepta glabris, olivaceo-brunneis, subtus pallidiori- 

 bus, glabris vel ad costam nervosque obscure breviter pubescentibus; 

 nervis primariis utrinque 16-22, subtus valde elevatis, perspicuis, sub 

 marginem arcuato-confluentibus, reticulis uitimis manifestis, Iaxis; 

 pétiole 1.5-2 cm. longo, puberulo; paniculis angustis, solitariis, termi- 

 nalibus, dense breviter adpresse subferrugineo-pubescentibus, breviter 

 peclunculatis, circiter 15 cm. longis, ramis primariis circiter 3 cm. longis, 

 multifloris, floribus sessilibus, in ramulis uitimis glomeratim confertis; 

 .jracteis la iceolatis, acuminatis, 1.5 mm. longis, pubescentibus, bracteolis 



ulto minoribus; sepalis late ovatis, concavis, rotundatis vel obtusis, 

 glabris vel margine minute ciliatis, 1.5 mm. longis; ovario ovoideo, 1 mm. 

 longo, glabro, stylis aequilongis. 



Indo-China, Tonkin, near Chapa, .-1. Pctelot 3556 (type), 5862, 

 August, 1929, and July, 1935, in open forests, ait. about 1500 m. 



Both of thèse spécimens were originally referred to Meliosma shn- 

 plicijoUa (Roxb.) Walp., but there were so niany manifest différences 

 that a more critical study was made of the available material. The 

 conclusion is that a species very closely allied to the Japanese Meliosma 

 rii^ida Sieb. & Zucc. is represented, there being, however, great différ- 

 ences in the indumentum betvveen this Indo-Chinese form and Japanese 

 material and in the détails of the reticulations. In the latter the ultimate 

 reticulations on the lower surfaces of the leaves are more or less foveo- 

 late, in the présent one the areolae are smooth, not at ail impressed. 



Meliosma dumicola W. VV. Sm. Notes Bot. Gard. Edinb. 13: 170. 



1921. Ulc^-c^ Yfi^' i^/'^/>^'/'"/5^~' 



Indo-China, Tonkin, Chapa, Petelot 5863, April, 1936, ait. about 



1500 m. Yunnan, Hainan. Petelot 3944 from the same locality, dis- 



tributed as M. simplicijolia Roxb., apparently represents the same 



I species. 



Meliosma Fordii Hemsl. Jour. Linn. Soc. Bot. 23: 144. 1886. 



Indo-China, Tonkin, Chapa, Petelot 5453, .'\pril, 1935. Kvvangsi, 

 iKwangtung, and Hainan; new to the Indo-China flora. 



