A new premna (Verbenaceae) from New Guinea

Premna brongersmai, nov. spec. — Frutex? Ramuli teretes conspicue subdistanter lenticellati 0.3—0.5 cm crassi, internodia in specimine 7—11 cm longa. Folia coriacea subrigida, decussatim opposita glaberrima petiolata, ovata vel oblongo-ovata vel subovata vel oblongo-lanceolata, basi plus minusve late rotundata, marginibus integra, apice abrupte vel subabrupte peracute acuminata, latiora 8.5—11 X 4.7—5.7 cm, angustiora (in eodem specimine, ut apparet) 12—14.5 X 4—4.5 cm ; nervi haud prominentes, costa media subtus prominente excepta; nervi secundarii graciles utrimque 5—7, curvati, margines versus diminuti haud confluentes, tertiarii pertenues subdistanter transversi, reticulatione minutissima areolata; petioli e basi incrassata 1— 1.7 cm longi tenues. Inflorescentiae paniculatae terminales, partiales inferiores ex axillis foliorum parvorum, superiores ex axillis bractearum subulatarum 0.3—0.1 cm longarum ortae, totae 12—17 cm longae, 17—29 cm latae, partiales medianae longiores, e pedunculo gracili 10—14 cm longae, pseudodichotomice late divaricatae, ramificationes ultimae dichasiales minute pubescentes. Flores parvi tetrameri subsessiles, alabastris pyriformibus, glabris; calyx glaber cupularis subbilabiatus, c. 0.25 cm altus, labio inferiore acute integro vel leviter acuto-bidentato, superiore 2 lobis majoribus acutis suffulto, calyx intus praecipue dimidio superiore multis glandulis in sicco opacis munitus; corolla in regione staminum insertionis tantum intus pilosa, cetera glabra, 0.4—0.45 cm alta, tubo subcylindrico 0.3—0.35 cm longo, limbo aestivatione cochleata subbilabiato, labio inferiore trilobo (lobo medio in alabastro ceteros tegente, 0.15 cm longo, rotundato, lateralibus 0.1 cm longis, subtruncatis), superiore integro 0.1 cm longo subtruncato, in alabastro omnino tecto; regio pilosa sub labio superiore paulo infirmior; stamina alternipetala in regione pilosa aequa altitudine inserta, subdidynamia, filamentis sub labio superiore paulo brevioribus in alabastro sigmoideo-sinuatis 0.2 cm longis, sub labio inferiore 0.25 cm longis, omnibus vittatis apice abrupte contractis filiformibus; antherae 0.05 X 0.1 cm, subreniformes, thecae poris ovatis dehiscentes; ovarium globosum glabrum 0.15 cm altum 4-loculatum, loculis uniovulatis; ovula longa apotropa medio affixa; stylus filiformis 0.25 cm longus, stigma bilobum, lobis acutis piano mediano patentibus. Fructus ignoti. Shrub? Branchlets (all?) apparently long and drooping, 0.3—0.5 cm in diam.. Leaves decussate, entirely glabrous, ovate to ovate-oblong, base more or less broadly rounded, apex more or less abruptly and very acutely acuminate, margins entire, 8.5—14.5 X 4—5.7 cm, nerves not prominent except midrib below, secondary ones 5—7, curved, reticulation minutely areolate between the almost inconspicuous transverse tertiary ones; petioles 1—1.7 cm long, incrassate at base. Inflorescences widely paniculate, terminal, 12—17 cm long, 17—29 cm broad, the lower partial panicles in the axils of ever smaller leaves, the upper ones in those of subulate bracts; ultimate ramifications dichasial, minutely pubescent. Flowers subsessile, 4-merous, glabrous but for a hair ring inside at the insertion of the filaments. Calyx cupular, more or less bilabiate, 0.25 cm high, lower lip entire or shallowly acutely bidentate, upper one with two larger acute teeth, inside with dispersed dark glands: corolla tube suibcylindrical 0.3—0.35 cm long, aestivation cochleate, slightly 2-lipped, lower lip 3-lobed, midlobe rounded and 0.15 cm long, lateral ones subtruncate and 0.1 cm long; upper lip entire, 0.1 cm long, subtruncate. Stamens 4, subdidynamous, those below upper lip with slightly shorter filaments; filaments ribbon-shaped, 0.2 and 0.25 cm long respectively, subabruptly narrowed below the anther and ending into a very thin apex; anthers kidney-shaped, 0.05 X 0.1 cm, with two ovate pores; ovary globose, glabrous, 0.15 cm high, 4-celled, cells uniovulate, ovules long, apotropous, attached in the middle of the cell; style filiform, 0.25 cm long, stigma with two acute lobes spreading medianly. Fruits unknown.