Daphniphyllum himalayense
(Benth.) Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 16(1): 4. 1869; Hook.f.,
Fl. Brit. India 5: 354. 1887; Kanjilal et al., Fl. Assam 4: 170. 1940. Goughia himalayensis Benth.
in Hooker’s J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 6: 9. 1854.
Nep.: Lal chandan.
Shrubs (at high altitudes) or trees, 1 – 8 (- 15) m high; scales of terminal buds obtuse. Leaves oblong-elliptic (or narrowly so), oblong to oblanceolate, narrowly to broadly cuneate, or acute at base, caudate, acuminate or cuspidate at apex, 12 – 30 x 2.5 – 9 cm, thinly to stiffly coriaceous, glaucous beneath; lateral nerves 8 – 16 pairs, faint above, faint to prominent beneath; tertiary nerves obscure (often prominent in var. chartaceum) above, inconspicuous (prominent in var. chartaceum) beneath; petioles 2 – 7 cm long. Male inflorescences 2 – 4 (- 7) cm long. Flowers: pedicels 2 – 7 mm long; sepals 5 – 8, oblong to suborbicular, 2 – 3 x 1 – 2 mm; stamens 5, subsessile; anthers broadly oblong, 2 – 2.5 mm long. Female inflorescences 4 – 15 cm long, often corymbose or sub-umbellate towards apices. Flowers: pedicels 5 – 25 mm long, usually recurved (in fruiting); sepals as in male, caducous; ovary ovoid to globose, 1.5 – 2 x ca 1.5 mm; stigmas 2, free, 1 – 1.5 mm long. Fruits ellipsoid, oblong-ellipsoid, ovoid-ellipsoid or often obovoid, rounded at apex, 10 – 12 x 6 – 9 mm, brown, dark brown or black when dry.
Shrubs (at high altitudes) or trees, 1 – 8 (- 15) m high; scales of terminal buds obtuse. Leaves oblong-elliptic (or narrowly so), oblong to oblanceolate, narrowly to broadly cuneate, or acute at base, caudate, acuminate or cuspidate at apex, 12 – 30 x 2.5 – 9 cm, thinly to stiffly coriaceous, glaucous beneath; lateral nerves 8 – 16 pairs, faint above, faint to prominent beneath; tertiary nerves obscure (often prominent in var. chartaceum) above, inconspicuous (prominent in var. chartaceum) beneath; petioles 2 – 7 cm long. Male inflorescences 2 – 4 (- 7) cm long. Flowers: pedicels 2 – 7 mm long; sepals 5 – 8, oblong to suborbicular, 2 – 3 x 1 – 2 mm; stamens 5, subsessile; anthers broadly oblong, 2 – 2.5 mm long. Female inflorescences 4 – 15 cm long, often corymbose or sub-umbellate towards apices. Flowers: pedicels 5 – 25 mm long, usually recurved (in fruiting); sepals as in male, caducous; ovary ovoid to globose, 1.5 – 2 x ca 1.5 mm; stigmas 2, free, 1 – 1.5 mm long. Fruits ellipsoid, oblong-ellipsoid, ovoid-ellipsoid or often obovoid, rounded at apex, 10 – 12 x 6 – 9 mm, brown, dark brown or black when dry.
KEY TO THE VARIETIES
| 1 a. Tertiary nerves of leaves prominent beneath; fruiting pedicels usually erect | 2.1. chartaceum |
| b. Tertiary nerves of leaves inconspicuous beneath; fruiting pedicels usually recurved | 2.2. himalayense |
