Microchirita in Peninsular Malaysia 
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purple, upper lobes rounded, spreading, slightly cleft at apex of each lobe, 4-5 x 5-7 
mm, lower lateral lobes rounded, 4-5 x 5-7 mm, lower central lobe elliptic, elongated, 
6-8 x 8-10 mm. Stamens, filaments pale green, inserted at 6-8 mm from the base of 
the corolla, 3-4 mm long, straight, glabrous; anther-thecae divergent, 1-2 mm long, 
yellow, not joined, with long reflexed hairs on the lower surface; staminodes 2 (rarely 
3), pale green, inserted at 6 mm from the base of the corolla tube, 1.5-2 mm long. 
Nectary pale yellow or cream, less than 1 mm deep. Pistil pale green; ovary 1-1.4 cm 
long, c. 1.5 mm wide at the base, narrowing to 0.5 mm below the stigma, glandular and 
eglandular hairy; style 6-8 mm long; stigma deeply 2-lobed, c. 2 mm long, 4 mm wide, 
inserted between the anthers, very fine densely papillose hairy; ovules cream, less than 
1 mm long. Capsule green, 3-5.5 cm long, 2-3 mm wide, slender, erect, densely hairy; 
calyx persistent, pale green, hairy. Seeds yellowish cream, 325^140 x 190-220 pm, 
broadly ovate or elliptic, slightly elongate with papillate surface. 
Distribution. Endemic in Peninsular Malaysia: Kelantan. 
Habitat and ecology. On limestone cliffs, crevices or soil pockets at base of limestone. 
Some plants grow in places directly exposed to sunlight but most grow in shaded 
habitats. 
Provisional IUCN conservation status. Endangered EN Blab(iii). None of the six 
Kelantan limestone hills where this species is found lie within the network of Totally 
Protected Areas. The species is prone to disturbance because it grows on limestone 
cliffs, in crevices or in soil pockets at the base of hills and the surrounding areas are 
plantations with associated disturbance and microclimate changes. On Gunung Reng it 
is additionally disturbed by recreational activities. None of these localities is protected 
by a buffer zone. 
Additional specimens examined. PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: Kelantan: Chiku 8, 24 May 
1990, Kiew RK 3112 (KEP, SING); Gua Musang, Batu Serai, 17 May 1990, Kiew RK 2996 
(SING); Gn. Reng, 18 May 1990, Kiew RK 2008 (KEP); ibidem, 14 Jan 2010, Rafidah FRI 
64448 (KEP); ibidem, 7 Aug 1984, Weber UPM 3453 (KEP); Gua Maka, 19 May 1990, Kiew 
RK 3022 (KEP); Gua Setir, 13 Jan 2010, Rafidah FRI 64441 (KEP). 
Notes. Microchirita ruthiae occurs only east of the Main Range. Sterile material of 
Microchirita ruthiae superficially looks similar to M. sericea. 
5. Microchirita sericea (Ridl.) A.Weber & Rafidah, Taxon 60: 779 (2011). - Chirita 
sericea Ridl., J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 43: 59 (1905); Ridley, J. Asiat. Soc. 
Bengal 74: 764 (1908); Ridley, FI. Malay Penins. 2: 525 (1923); Wood, Notes Roy. 
Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 33: 187 (1974). - TYPE: Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia, Perak, 
Ipoh, August 1898, Curtis 3131 (lectotype SING [SING0042991], designated here; 
isolectotype SING [SING0042992]). (Fig. 2H, 3I-J, 9) 
