Distribution Map
Description (Barlow 1974)
Dendrophthoe gjellerupii (Lauterb.) Dans. Bull. Jard. bot. Buitenz. 10: 309 (1929); 11: 409, illus. Fig. 21, d-f (1931); Blumea 3: 52 (1938); Loranthus gjellerupii Lauterb. Nov. Gum. 8: 815 (1912); Engl. & Krause, Pfl. Fam.ed. 2 16b: 153 (1935). Type. New Guinea, Hollandia, Giellerup 143, 28.v.1910 (B, holotype, not seen, probably destroyed; L 913103153; K; WRSL).
Glabrous except for the young shoots, inflorescences and flowers (especially the corollas) white-tomentose. Petiole 5-12 mm long; lamina elliptical to ovate, 5-8 by 3-5 cm, attenuate at the base, obtuse at the apex. Inflorescences several in the axils; axis up to 20 mm long, bearing up to 8 flowers; pedicels slender, 2-3 mm long. Corolla in the mature bud 10-l5-(20) mm long; petals in the open flower spathulate, strongly reflexed c. 2-3 mm from the apex. Anthers 1 mm long; free parts of the filaments 2 mm long. Fruit 3-5 mm long with the white tomentum persistent.
Occurrence. New Guinea: Hollandia District, West Irian, and Central District, Papua (Fig. 6), at low altitudes.
Specimens Examined. WE5T IRIAN: Deprapre, 0 m alt., Lam 7821, 16.x.1954 (L); Hollandia, Renouwen, S m alt., van der Slide BW 4037, June 1956 (CANB; L); Hollandia, 30 m alt., van der Silde BW 5504, 29.iv.1957 (CANB; L). EASTERN NEW GUINEA: Kubuna, Central Dist., 100 m alt., Brass 5645, Nov. 1933 (L); Rouna, 400 m alt., Carr 12428, 29.v.1935 (CANB; L).
Dendrophthoe gjellerupii is very close to D. falcata, differing in the very short corollas and in the strong reflexion of the corolla lobes. If further collections show a continual range of variation between these two species, D. gjellerupii may be better treated at subspecific or varietal level (see note under D. falcata).
Danser (1940), after commenting on
possible intergradation between D. gjellerupii and D.
falcata (Danser 1938), appears to have changed his concept
of D. gjellerupii and included in it specimens here distinguished
as D. trichanthera.
Illustrations
Dendrophthoe gjellerupii. A - flower bud. B - flower. C - fruit. From Danser (1931).
Photographs
Dendrophthoe gjellerupii
updated 20 January 2007