Ixora baileyana Bridson & L.G.Adams

Adams, L.G., Bridson, D.M. & Robbrecht, E. (1987) Kew Bulletin 42: 214. Type: Based on Lasianthus graciliflorus.

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-2 m tall.

Stipules about 6-10 mm long, interpetiolar, triangular in shape at the base but tapering to a long fine point at the apex. Leaf blades +/- spathulate or obovate, about 9-20 x 3.5-6.2 cm. Petioles very short, about 0.2-0.3 cm long.

Peduncles very short, the flowers produced in short clusters much shorter than the leaves. Calyx tube about 1-1.5 mm long, calyx lobes about 1 mm long. Corolla tube about 4-6 mm long, corolla lobes about 3-4 mm long. Anthers +/- sessile, protruding above the corolla tube.

Fruits globular, about 10 mm diam., +/- sessile. Seeds about 3 or 4 per fruit, each with an excavation on one side which causes a rumination in the endosperm. Cotyledons flat, cordate or orbicular, much wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons +/- cordate, about 10-15 x 10-18 mm. Cotyledonary stipules present. First pair of leaves +/- spathulate, opposite, petiole short. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade +/- spathulate, apex variable, often rounded, base attenuate but abruptly narrowed into the short petiole. Stipules interpetiolar, about 3-9 mm long, each stipule ending in a spur-like projection. Seed germination time 90 to 174 days.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 450 m. Grows as an understory plant in undisturbed lowland rain forest. This species tends to grow in clonal clumps and all of the plants in each clump are, of course, of the same sex.