Syzygium branderhorstii Lauterb.

Myrtaceae

Lauterbach, C.A.G. (1910) Nova Guinea (Botanique) 8: 322. Type: West Irian, Okaba, Branderhorst 129; iso: BO.

Lockerbie Satinash; Satinash, Lockerbie

Generally a small tree but can occasionally grow to 50 cm dbh. Stem normally with bumps on the trunk where the inflorescences arise.

Leaf blades about 7-14 x 3-6.5 cm, petioles about 0.4-1.1 cm long. Midrib grooved on the upper surface at least towards the base. Lateral veins about 15-24 on each side of the midrib.

Bracts generally absent at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) gradually tapering into a rather stout pedicel, calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 6-10 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 4-6 mm diam., calyx lobes short, rounded, uniform, about 0.5-1 mm long. Petals orbicular, about 5-7 mm diam., oil dots conspicuous, more than 100 per petal, fairly uniformly distributed over the outer surface. Outer staminal filaments about 8-12 mm long, anthers about 1 x 0.5 mm, gland inconspicuous. Ovules about 13 or 14 per locule, placentas axile, central, ovules radiating, ascending. Style about 5-8 mm long, substantially shorter than the stamens.

Fruits variable in shape, about 30-50 x 20-40 mm, calyx lobes persistent, difficult to measure precisely, pericarp succulent. Seed solitary, about 17-25 x 12-15 mm, testa adhering slightly to the pericarp, but adhering quite strongly to the uniformly textured cotyledons. Radicle basal, cotyledonary stipules present.

Cataphylls about 2 or 3 pairs, opposite, one pair occurring just above the cotyledons. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade obovate-elliptic, apex obtuse or acute, base attenuate, glabrous; oil dots numerous. Seed germination time 17 days.

Occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range small, from near sea level to 100 m. Grows in drier, more seasonal rain forest. Also occurs in New Guinea.

This species has no commercial value and little is known about it wood qualities.

Wood specific gravity 0.87. The fruit is edible. Hyland (1983).

Syzygium acetosum Merr. & L.M.Perry, Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 22: 280(1942), Type: Papua, Daru Island, Brass 6267; iso: BO, BRI.