Araliaceae

Anakasia Philipson

First published in Blumea 21: 87 (1973)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is W. New Guinea.

Descriptions

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution
A genus narrowly endemic to west New Guinea with a single species, Anakasia simplicifolia Philipson, so far only known from the Bird’s Head Peninsula.
Morphology General Habit
Shrub to 5 m, unarmed
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules or stipulate structures absent
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, very large (to 135 cm long), oblanceolate, margins entire or undulate, sessile or on very short petioles. Inflorescences axillary, rachis simple or forked, bracteate, bearing racemosely arranged umbellules
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers structurally bisexual but may be unisexual, 5–6-merous, on very short pedicels with an articulation below the ovary; calyx a short rim with 5–6 minute teeth; petals 5 or 6, valvate, triangular, green, soon caducous; stamens 5 or 6, filaments broad, anthers large, dorsifixed; disk fleshy, confluent with the 5–6 styles; ovary inferior, broadly obconic, (4–)5–6-celled. Fruit drupaceous, broadly obovoid, strongly ribbed when dry, styles persistent, exocarp fleshy, pyrenes compressed, crustaceous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds with smooth endosperm.
Ecology
On primary forest near sea level.
Recognition
The genus can be recognised by the simple leaves which are oblanceolate, sessile, or nearly so, and clustered towards the ends of the branches, axillary inflorescences, and flowers with an articulated pedicel and free style arms. Philipson (1979: 89) notes that although the flowers appear to be bisexual, fruits only develop from flowers in the centre of the umbellules.
[TONG]

Sources

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0