Primulaceae

Conandrium (K.Schum.) Mez

First published in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 236: 156 (1902)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Central & E. Malesia.

Descriptions

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

Distribution
A small genus of two species endemic to New Guinea (including the Bismarck Archipelago) and the Moluccas: Conandrium polyanthum (Lauterb. & K.Schum.) Mez and C. rhynchocarpum (Scheff.) Mez.
Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or small trees 6(–15) m tall. Leaves alternate, petiolate, punctate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary, racemose or compound racemose and appearling paniculate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers bisexual, 5-merous; calyx campanulate, calyx lobes sepals dextrorsely contorted, free or barely united at base, densely punctate; corolla broadly rotate, corolla lobes dextrorsely contorted, asymmetrical, united at the base, punctate; stamens attached at base of corolla tube, filaments free, very short, anthers basifixed, connate at the base and connivent to the apex, introrsely longitudinally dehiscent, often densely black punctate; ovary obturbinate, ovules many, 2–3-seriate; style filiform; stigma punctate to discoid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit densely punctate, globose, exocarp thin, the endocarp crusty, style base persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed 1.
Ecology
This genus is comprised of two species: Conandrium polyanthum Mez found throughout New Guinea and collected in a wide variety of habitats from coastal lowland to montane forests including savannah, swamp and secondary habitats such as old garden regrowth; the other species, C. rhynchocarpum Mez, is known from the Moluccas and a single specimen from the Bird’s Head Peninsula.
Recognition
The genus is extremely similar in appearance to Ardisia but can be recognised by the shrubby or small tree habit, the lateral (usually axillary) inflorescences bearing bisexual flowers, and especially the anthers appearing connate and remaining connivent around the ovary and style during anthesis. The corolla lobes are somewhat asymmetrical with regard to the point of insertion of the stamen.
[TONG]

Sources

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. 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

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. 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