Scutinanthe Thwaites

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

Distribution

A genus of two species distributed from Sri Lanka to New Guinea; one species in New Guinea: Scutinanthe brevisepala Leenh.

Morphology General Habit

Evergreen trees to 30 m tall, bark often with horizontal scars

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves imparipinnate with entire leaflets, glabrous, both terminal and lateral petiolules pulvinate. Inflorescences axillary, paniculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unisexual and plants dioecious, 5-merous, receptacle cupular; sepals free, persistent in fruit; petals free, inflexed at the apex; stamens 10, in 2 slightly unequal whorls, filaments fused at the base; disk adnate to receptacle; ovary 2–3-locular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit indehiscent, drupaceous, pericarp fleshy, ovoid to ellipsoid, style remnant apical, 1–2 locules aborting leaving a single compound pyrene

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed 1 per fruit.

Ecology

In New Guinea, Scutinanthe has been collected from primary rain forest between 50–650 m.

Recognition

Scutinathe can be recognised by the 5-merous flowers with a cupular receptacle and 10 stamens, the indehiscent, drupaceous fruit with fleshy pericarp and a more or less apical style remnant, ovary 3-locular.