Hoya aldrichii Hemsley 1890
Type description:
In the Journal of the Linnean Society 25 (1889-1890) 355. Hemsley. Hoya aldrichii Hemsl. n. sp. Affinis H. cinnamomifolia, differt foliis quinquenervis floribus minoribus albidis vel rubris petalis supra pubescentib
This species belongs to a small group characterized by the leaves being 3 to 5 nerved longitudinally, all of them natives of the Malayan region. Captain Maclear collected the same plant, but without flowers.
Translation: Hoya aldrichii Hemsley new species. Similar to Hoya cinnamomifolia Hooker differing leaves with 5 nerves, flowers smaller somewhat white or red, petals above pubescent.
Other literature:
In Journal of Botany, British & Foreign 36 (1898) 417-418. James Britton. It may be well to append to these notes a full — drawn up by Mr. Hiern from a series of specimens which form part of the collection lately made in Christmas Island for the British Museum by Mr. C. W. Andrews — of the plant briefly diagnosed by Mr. Hemsley in Journ. Lin. Soc. xxv. 355, asHoya aldrichii: — “Frutex volubilis, totus fere glabra atque carnosiusculus; caule elongato, in vitro terete, tenaci parce ramoso; ramis teretibus, indentum intertextis; succo copioso, lacteo; foliis oppositis, ovatus, apice acuminatis cuspidatisve, basi subrotundatis, glabris, carnoso-coriaceis, planis vel prope apicem decurvis, 8 -12 cm. longis, 4 -5,5 cm. latis, supra laete viridibus, infra admodum pallidis, basi 5-nerviis, nervis lateralibus minus conspicuis; petiolo crasso, patulo, 6 -12 mm. longo, plus minus curvo, laminae perpendiculari; pedunculis uniaxialibus, rectis, firmis, 2.5 - 11 cm. longis, prope basim saepe quasi-articulatis, nonnunquam puberulis, apice umbelliferis; pedicellis numerosis, ad 50 in umbella globosa, 12 - 25 mm. longis, rectis vel prope basim flexis, secus pedunculi apicem subelongantem dispositis; floribus pentameris; calyce profunde lobata, 5 mm. diam., ad corollae basim appresso; lobis ovatis, obtusi, valde ciliatis; corolla alba vel pallide violacea, carnosa, sub anthesin recurva; lobis ovato-deltoideis, acutis vel apiculatis, supra pubescentibus, infra glabris, minute ciliolatis, 5 - 6 mm. longis; corona pallide violacea vel purpuascente colore quam is corollae intensione, preminente, carnosa, 6 mm. diam.; segmentis substellatis, glabris, oblique cyoideo-conieis; carpellis fructiferis solitariis, tenuibus subglabris, 12 - 17 cm. longia basi calyce immutato suffultis; seminibus numerousus apice in coma albida c. 2.5 cm. longa disinentibus. “ Habitat in Oceani Indiani insula Christmas frequens supra rupes et in arbores reptans vel subscandens, dein in sertis floridis densis pendens; legit C. W. Andrew, no. 1295 Dec. 1897 et Jan. 1898 cum floribus et fructibus.”
Translation: Twining shrub for the most part almost glabrous and slightly fleshy; stalks elongated, in the living state round, tough, sparsely branched, branches thin, occasionally interwoven; with copious milky sap; leaves opposite, ovate cuspidate, apex acuminate, base somewhat rounded, glabrous, fleshy and leathery, flat or near the apex decurved, 8 - 12 cm. long, 4 - 4.5 cm. wide, above light green, below much paler, from the base 5 nerves, lateral nerves not at all conspicuous, with the petiole thick, spread, 6 - 12 mm. long, more or less curved, blades perpendicular; peduncles solitary from the axils, erect, firm, 2.5 - 11 cm. long, often near the base falsely segmented, by no means puberulous, apex umbellate; pedicels numerous, near 50 per globose umbel, 12 - 25 mm. long, upright or bent near the base, placed here and there along the somewhat elongated apical portion, flowers five-parted; calyx definitely lobed, 5 mm. in diameter, pressed against the base of the corolla, lobes ovate, obtuse, very ciliate; corolla white or pale violet, fleshy, near anthesis somewhat recurved, inside glabrous, minutely very ciliate, 5 - 6 mm. long; interior of the corona pale violet or more purplish colored than is the corolla, prominent fleshy, 6 mm. in diameter, segments somewhat stellate, glabrous, oblique ovoid-conical, carpels with solitary fruit, slender, somewhat glabrous, 12 - 17 cm. long, base of calyx unchanged, seeds numerous, apex with white como about 2.5 cm. long scattering. Its “Habitat is on Christmas Island in the Indian ocean, frequently above cliffs and rooting or somewhat climbing in trees thereupon pendent abounding with flowers; collected by C. W. Andrews, #1293 December 1897 and with flowers and fruit in January 1898.”
