Anisoptera laevis Ridley, Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 219 (1922)

Species name meaning for 'smooth' or 'without hairs'.

Synonyms

Description
Bud and twig apex more or less densely pale brown to rust lepidote at first, becoming glabrous. Young twig c. 1.5 mm diameter, slender, terete, becoming rugose on drying; later smooth or minutely striated. Bud 3-7 by 2 mm, compressed, hastate to ovate, acute. Stipule c. 10 by 3 mm, glabrous, hastate to linear. Leaves 7-11 by 3-4 cm, oblong to obovate, not bullate, epilose, rust-brown lepidote beneath; base obtuse or broadly cuneate; acumen to 1 cm long; nerves 10-14 pairs, at 50-60 degrees angle, slender, curved; petiole 1.5-2 cm long. Panicle to 12 cm long, terminal or axillary, lax, pendent, angular, slender, densely shortly pale brown puberulent to glabrous; alternately doubly branched, branchlets short, bearing to 11 flowers; bracteoles to 2.5 mm long, lanceolate, shortly pubescent. Bud to 2 mm long, subglobose. Calyx cupped at base; sepals subequal. valvate. shortly grey-brown puberulent outside; 2 longer lobes slightly broader, obtuse. 3 shorter acute, acuminate. Petals small, elliptic-oblong, glabrous, pale yellow. Stamens 15. subequal. as long as or slightly longer than the style; filaments short, tapering to the anther; anther narrowly oblong, the inner cells smaller than the outer; appendage to connective short, erect. Ovary encased in the base of the calyx, covered by a discoid stylopodium. crowned by a filiform glabrous style: stigma 3-lobed. Fruit calyx glabrous at maturity: tube 1.2-1.5 cm diameter, globose, to 8 mm diameter at the neck; 2 longer lobes to 15 by 1.5 cm, spatulate, obtuse, c. 5 mm broad at base: 3 short lobes to 1.5 cm long. c. 3 mm broad at base, hastate to linear, margin slightly revolute. Nut apex disc-like, shortly pubescent, flat; style remnant 5-8 mm long, filiform, very slender. [from Flora Malesiana]

Ecology
Inland lowland and hill forests to 900 m; widespread and often common.

Uses

Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.

Local names
Malaysia: Mersawa durian, medang sawa, madang loh, pengiran durian (Sabah).