Nertera nigricarpa Hayata, Journ. Coll. Sci. Univ. Tokyo 25 (19): 115. 1908 (Fl. Mont. Form.); Icon. Pl. Form. 7: 32. 1918; Chao, Fl. Taiwan 4: 315. pl. 1020. 1978; Ko, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 71 (2): 164.

Chen, Wei-Chih, Wang, Chih-Chiang & Chang, Kun-Cheng, 2021, Re-appraisal of Nertera (Rubiaceae) in Taiwan, PhytoKeys 182, pp. 83-91 : 83

Nertera nigricarpa Hayata, Journ. Coll. Sci. Univ. Tokyo 25 (19): 115. 1908 (Fl. Mont. Form.); Icon. Pl. Form. 7: 32. 1918; Chao, Fl. Taiwan 4: 315. pl. 1020. 1978; Ko, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 71 (2): 164.

Figs 1a, c, e, g , 2

Nertera granadensis auct. non Druce: Liu & Yang, Fl. Taiwan Second 4: 306. pro parte.

Notes.

Creeping glabrous herbs; branches slender, 5-20 cm long. Leaves reniform to broad-ovate or deltoid, papery to thick-papery, 6-13 mm long, 4-8 mm wide; apex obtuse to acute, base cordate or truncate, margins entire without undulating; petioles 2-7 mm long; secondary veins 2-3 on each side of mid-vein, usually not apparent on upper surface but, if visible, slightly convex, slightly impressed on lower surface; stipules lanceolate to triangular, membranous, ca. 1.3 mm long and 0.9 mm wide. Flowers sessile, solitary, terminal, ca. 1.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide; calyx truncate, glabrous; corolla purple-black, lobes 4, deltoid to ovate, ca. 0.6 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, apex acute; stamens 4, anthers ovate, ca. 0.36 mm long and 0.2 mm in diameter, filaments ca. 0.4 mm long; ovary ellipsoid, two-celled, each with one ovule; two styles, free, ca. 1 mm long. Fruit globose drupe, 3-5 mm in diameter, black at maturity; two seeds, dark-purple, ovate to long-ovate, 2-3 mm long, 1.7-2 mm wide, surfaces striated.

Distribution and habitat.

Nertera nigricarpa is endemic in Taiwan, at medium altitudes throughout the Island.

Specimens examined.

Taiwan, Taipei: Bunzangun, 6 Aug 1938, T. Nakamura 673 (TAI); Mt. Chiamu , 11 May 1935, N. Fukuyama 19242 (TAI); Hsintien, 15 Dec 2000, Chen et al. 3771 (TAIF) ; Hsinchu: Mt. Tapachienshan , 6 Sept 1993, C. L. Huang 71 (HAST), 1 Nov. 1996, C. M. Wang 2370 (TAIF) ; Taichung: Suyuan, 13 Jan 2000, Y. P. Cheng 2950 (TAIF); Mt. Pahsien, 7 Aug 1959, T. I. Chung 2697 (HAST); Mt. Amma , 20 Oct 1957, T. S. Liu 197 (HAST) ; Nantou: Mayfeng to Sungkang , 21 Jan 1986, C. I Peng 9079 (HAST); Yuanfeng, 5 Jul 2000, Y. P. Cheng 3253 (TAIF); Tunyuan to Yunhai, 20 May 1993, C. C. Liao 1299 (HAST); Tatachiaanpu to Lulinshanchuang, 7 Aug 1991, W. P. Leu 1208 (HAST); Kuankao to Patungkuan, 4 Jul 1985, C. I Peng 8181 (HAST) ; Chiayi: Shimeng Valley, 6 Feb 2007, K. C. Chang et al. 3802 (TCF); Mt. Ali , 17 Dec 1939, Nakamura & Yamamoto 4133 (TAI); 10 Oct 1983, C. I Peng 6018 (HAST) ; Kaohsiung: Chungtzukuan , 19 Dec 2000, S. J. Yang 29999 (TAIF); Chuyunshan, H. L. Ho 899 (HAST) ; Pingtung: Mt. Peitawu, 23 May 1918, E. Matuda 1710 (TAI); 7 Feb 1990, C. I Peng 13276 (HAST); 5 May 2004, K. C. Chang 2419 (CHIA) ; Ilan: Fanfan, 27 Aug 1918, E. Matuda 430 (TAI); Tananao, 21 Jul 1929, S. Suzuki 628 (TAI); Mt. Chialoshan, 27 Sept 1930, S. Suzuki 6220 (TAI); Mt. Chililo , 5 Aug 1928, S. Suzuki s. n. (TAI); Mt. Taiping , 25 Jul 1929, S. Suzuki 920 (TAI); 26 Aug 1962, Kao et al. 4961 (TAI); 2 Mar 1966, Kao & Chuang 4093 (TAI); 26 Aug 1962, M. T. Kao 4691 (HAST); Chililo-Hsulawa, 16 Jul 1932, S. Suzuki 7206 (TAI); Kiyanrawa, 25 Sept 1930, S. Suzuki 6182 (TAI) ; Hualien: Hoping Logging Trail, 15 Apr 2006, S. W. Chung 8489 (TAIF); Mt. Chingshui, 9 Sept 1939, T. Nakamura 3780 (TAI); Tailoku-Tailokutaishan, 15 Jun 1933, A. T. Hsieh s. n. (TAI); Mt. Mukua , 7 Aug 1940, T. Nakamura 4526 (TAI); 23 Sept 1984, C. I Peng 7269 (HAST); Tayulin, 17 Oct 2004, J. H. Lii 1135 (TAI); Mt. Lintien , 12 Feb 1962, J. M. Chao 810 (TAI) ; Taitung: Siangyang , 18 Mar 2006, K. C. Chang & C. C. Wang 3069 (TCF) .

Figures

Figure 1. Photographs of Nertera nigricarpa Hayata and N. taiwaniana Masam A flower of N. nigricarpa. B flower of N. taiwaniana C fruits and leaf shape of N. nigricarpa D fruits and leaf shape of N. taiwaniana E top side of N. nigricarpa seed F top side of N. taiwaniana seed G underside of N. nigricarpa seed H underside of N. taiwaniana seed. Scale bars: 2 mm.

Figure 2. Nertera nigricarpa Hayata A habit B leaf C stipule D inflorescence E flower F fruit and G seeds.