Search

Dalechampia is a mainly South American genus of generally climbing shrubs with usually sharp stiff trichomes in some of the inflorescence parts. The bisexual inflorescences are very condensed and subtended by two, often showy, large bracts. The three pistillate flowers are separate from the staminate subinflorescence (both groups with their own bracts). The staminate subinflorescence contains groups of staminodial-like bractlets that provide resin for female bees or fragrance for male bees. In west Malesia (Sumatra and Java) one indigenous species is found, the climbing D. bidentata, and occasionally cultivars of the subshrub D. spathulata.

The genus Actephila (Phyllanthaceae) is distributed from India in the north-west to Thailand and via Malesia to the Melanesian Islands and Australia in the south-east. Eleven species are recognized of which three are newly described, A. discoidea with long leaf apices and a fleshy nectar discs, A. emarginata with an emarginate leaf base, and A. stipularis with large stipules. Further, A. javanica is synonymized with A. excelsa; and a former synonym or separate variety, A. excelsa var. acuminata, is recognized as distinct species, but had to be synonymized under A. subsessilis. Actephila puberula, not present in Malesia, but often synonymized with A. excelsa, is kept separate because of the hairy ovary and different base of the leaf blades.

The scaly tree fern Alsophila weidenbrueckii is described and illustrated as new to science. It occurs in the Bismarck range in north-eastern New Guinea at 1200–2100 m in evergreen wet mountain forest. The species reaches maturity at a comparatively old age and large size and regenerates only in intact forests on mineral soil exposed by small landslides or tree falls.

The genus Blumeodendron (Euphorbiaceae) comprises nine species and is distributed from the Andaman Islands and Myanmar in the west through Malesia to the Bismarck Archipelago in the east. Two species are newly described, B. gesinus, with ridged fruits, and B. endocarpum, with a thickened endocarp around each seed. Three former synonyms, B. novoguineense (new name for Bennettia papuanum), B. philippinense and B. subrotundifolium, are reinstated as species. Two important characters were newly discovered, the presence of small lepidote hairs in all species and the indehiscent fruit of B. endocarpum

The genera Bischofia and Hymenocardia both have a single species in Malesia. The two genera were always difficult to classify, both once formed their own family, but are now firmly embedded in the Phyllanthaceae. Of both genera a more complete nomenclature and biogeography is presented.

Drosera rotundifolia, a species of the temperate Northern Hemisphere with a disjunct occurrence in high montane West Papua, has been discovered in a highland peat bog on Mt Limbawon, Pantaron Range, Bukidnon on the island of Mindanao, Philippines, which mediates to the only other known tropical, Southern Hemisphere location in New Guinea and the closest known northern populations in southern Japan and south-eastern China. A dichotomous key to the seven Drosera species of the Philippines is given, and distribution maps are provided.

The genus Cnidoscolus, a species rich genus in the Americas, has been introduced in the Philippines. A cultivar of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is used as vegetable and has been collected from gardens in Manila and Pasay City and two times near Cebu City. It cannot be excluded that it has escaped cultivation there, but the species does not appear to be invasive.

Malesia harbours one, possibly two species of Blachia. In the Philippines B. philippinensis is found and this species is not synonymous with B. andamanica. In literature B. andamanica has been recorded for west Malesia, but no specimens were seen. Based on its presence in Peninsular Thailand and the Andamans it is likely to be present in Peninsular Malaysia. The most distinct difference between both species is in the indumentum of the ovary, sparsely hairy in the lower half versus densely and completely sericeous, respectively.

Dimorphocalyx, a small genus ranging from Sri Lanka to Indomalesia to Australia, has eight species in Malesia, of which one is here raised from variety to species level and another, endemic in the N Moluccas, is newly described. Dimorphocalyx murinus and – tentatively – D. loheri are synonymised with D. denticulatus, and D. luzoniensis is synonymised with D. malayanus. Dimorphocalyx cumingii is regarded as a species of Trigonostemon. The differences between Dimorphocalyx, Ostodes, Paracroton (formerly Fahrenheitia), and Trigonostemon are discussed.

The variability of Ostodes paniculata var. paniculata, the only representative of the genus in Malesia, is described. The variety and the species have a disjunct distribution as they are found in India to Southern China and the Southeast Asian mainland, Sumatra and Java. The variability in leaf glands, domatia, sepals, and seeds shows geoclines. Depending on one’s view the genus has two more varieties or species, both more hairy and occurring from N Thailand to China or in China only. Their nomenclature is provided, as is the nomenclature of the many excluded species, once part of a larger generic concept of Ostodes, but now mainly part of Dimorphocalyx and Paracroton. Typical for Ostodes are the red latex, the ovate, rather large serrate leaf blades with basally two raised glands, the paniculate inflorescences with relatively large flowers with petals and many (nearly) free stamens, and the large woody fruits.

An enumeration of the 11 indigenous species of Lagerstroemia accepted for the Malesian area is presented with additionally three cultivated species. It includes descriptions of 6 species, notes, synonyms, and keys for flowering and fruiting specimens. All names are typified. Studied herbarium collections, mainly in L, are briefly mentioned.

Enumeration and taxonomic treatment of the seven species of Ammannia (Lythraceae) occurring in the Malesian area are presented among which one new species A. herbacea. A key to the species is given. Two species are illustrated. Ammannia debilis is a distinct species endemic to S India.

A new species of Maesa (Primulaceae-Maesoideae) is described from Indonesian New Guinea. Maesa megistophylla is unique in the genus in the combination of the very long elliptic leaves, and racemes with subsessile flowers. The species is illustrated, taxonomic affinities are discussed, and is assessed as Data Deficient according to the criteria of IUCN.

Alphonsea rugosa sp. nov. is described from eastern Peninsular Malaysia. It is similar to Alphonsea elliptica but has fruits that are dry wrinkled and glabrous rather than smooth and tomentose. A conservation assessment of Vulnerable based on collections from four locations is made.

A revision of Mnesithea (Gramineae – Rottboelliinae) in Malesia and Thailand showed that 11 species and 2 varieties occur. The suggestion that there would be a drought plant refuge in SE Borneo near Banjarmasin is supported.

A taxonomic revision is presented of the new genus Heteroblemma (Dissochaeteae – Melastomataceae), formerly a section of Medinilla which occurs in Malesia and Vietnam with 14 species, 3 new, and 11 new combinations. Descriptions, illustrations, a key, and an index to collectors are provided.

Recently, N. baramensis and N. rafflesiana var. subglandulosa were described from Borneo as new taxa closely related to N. rafflesiana. However, comparison of new collections made in Borneo with N. baramensis and N. rafflesiana var. subglandulosa indicated a synonymy. Furthermore, they were identical to N. hemsleyana, an older taxon formerly treated as synonym of N. rafflesiana. Acknowledging the taxonomic differences to N. rafflesiana, the name N. hemsleyana is reinstated following the priority rule. New evidence is presented that strengthens the interpretation to split N. rafflesiana and N. hemsleyana.

A taxonomic revision of the Malesian genus Creochiton (Melastomataceae) is presented. Twelve species are recognized, although one is based on the original description only. Creochiton turbinatus (comb. nov.) is raised to specific rank from a variety of C. ledermannii. A key to the species, descriptions, ecological habitats, distributions (with maps), synonymy, taxonomic notes, vernacular names and an index to collections are provided.

A new species, Asplenium riswanii (sect. Thamnopteris), is described from Central Java and West Papua, Indonesia. It is distinct from any known species by having thick and rigid fronds, abaxially keeled midribs, broadly lanceolate scales, and distantly spaced sori. Morphologically, A. riswanii is not similar to any species from Malesia but somewhat close to A. antrophyoides from mainland Southeast Asia. Molecular data reveal it has an isolated position in the phylogeny. The micromorphology of spores and leaf epidermis of A. riswanii is also documented and a key to the species of Asplenium sect. Thamnopteris from Malesia is given.

Based on herbarium collections, the Malesian species of the genus Lasianthus are revised. A total of 131 species including 5 subspecies and 6 varieties are recognized from the Malesian region, of which 41 species, 3 subspecies and 3 varieties are described as new, and 3 new combinations are made for varieties. 22 species names and 15 variety names are reduced to synonyms. Ten species names and 2 varieties are treated as dubious mainly because their types cannot be traced. Additionally, 11 species are further excluded from Lasianthus. All species are described and a key to Malesian Lasianthus is given.

Detailed morphological study of specimens of Lobelia sect. Rhynchopetalum from Malesia revealed that this material could be divided into five species, all endemic to the region: L. philippinensis (three subspecies) and L. proctorii, endemic to the Philippines; L. sulawesiensis, sp. nov., endemic to Sulawesi; L. sumatrana, endemic to Sumatera; and L. eryliae, with one subspecies in the Philippines and the other in Sulawesi. A key is provided for distinguishing these taxa and each is described fully.

Ficus gibbsiae and F. laevicarpa are re-instated, the descriptions of F. benguetensis and F. macilenta are amended, F. fistulosa is re-evaluated and subdivided, and a key to the species discussed and found in the Philippines is presented; F. peninsula and F. prasinicarpa are validated, and F. cuneata is replaced by F. cuneiformis.

Dicoelia was always considered to be a monotypic genus. Typical are the hooded (cucullate) petals that form cavities in which juvenile thecae of adjacent stamens are protected. Specimens of Sumatra appear to represent a new species. The Sumatran specimens have stipules that fall slightly later and they show morphological differences in the pistillate petals, pistillode, columella and hilum. Newly described structures are disc glands (thought to be absent), probably not functional, but present in the flowers of both sexes and a gynophore in the pistillate flowers. Dicoelia is considered as a member of the Phyllanthaceae conforming with the latest molecular phylogenetic results; a classification that agrees with the presence of two ovules per locule.

Drosera ultramafica, a new montane sundew species endemic to ultramafic soils of the Malesian highlands, is described and illustrated.

An identification key to all Malesian species of Mallotus was still lacking. So far, only keys per section of Mallotus or keys per island were generated. This is the first attempt to create a key for all species of Mallotus in Malesia.

Twenty-eight species of Acalypha are recognized in Malesia. Acalypha paniculata is the sole member of subgenus Linostachys in Malesia and the rest of the species belong to subgenus Acalypha. Four previously synonymized species are resurrected as distinct species, namely A. angatensis, A. cardiophylla var. cardiophylla, A. grandis, and A. wilkesiana. Four species names are newly reduced to synonymy. The molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that Acalypha is monophyletic, as is the subgenus Acalypha. The early-diverging lineages in the genus, and its closest outgroup, consist of African species. The Malesian species do not form a monophyletic group although the molecular data strongly support two small clades within the region that are morphologically homogeneous. The classification system that Pax and Hoffmann applied to subgenus Acalypha, which is based primarily on inflorescence morphology, appears to be unsatisfactory and incongruent with the phylogenetic analyses.

Four species of Tapeinochilos have been described from material collected in Wallacea. We designate the lectotype of the genus, T. pungens, which was synonymized with T. ananassae in 1917 and add here T. teysmannianus as another synonym. The type of T. koordersianus from Sulawesi has been rediscovered at Herbarium Bogoriense and is identified as Etlingera heliconiifolia (Zingiberaceae), the combination of which is published here. After establishing that T. koordersianus applies to a species of Etlingera, there is no evidence that any species of Tapeinochilos occurs in the island of Sulawesi; the westernmost presence of the genus being in the Sula Islands represented by T. ananassae, the only species thus presently occurring in Wallacea.

The degree of overlap between the Malesian and Nepalese floras was analyzed by comparison of the distributions of twenty plant families revised for Flora Malesiana. Despite their geographic separation in some plant families there is significant overlap between the two areas at both the generic and specific levels. In seven of these families at least 40 % of Nepalese species were also found in Malesia. In some families with temperate distributions up to 29 % of Malesian species and all Malesian genera are also found in Nepal. It is suggested that a coordinated approach to the production of accounts of such families would improve the rate of production of accounts and would greatly facilitate knowledge transfer and help to build scientific networks and expertise in Nepal.

Ceriops zippeliana, a member of the mangrove Rhizophoraceae, was first reported in 1849. It was considered to be a synonym of C. decandra, which is still widely accepted. We present morphological and molecular evidence to show that C. zippeliana is significantly distinct from C. decandra, and illustrations and an identification key to both spe

Two genera and four species of Podostemaceae in Malesia are enumerated and a key to the species is provided. They are morphologically distinct from each other. Cladopus javanicus and C. nymanii are endemic to Java and Malesia, respectively, and C. queenslandicus occurs in eastern Papua New Guinea and north-eastern Australia. Terniopsis malayana, formerly called Malaccotristicha malayana, is distributed in Peninsular Malaysia to Peninsular Thailand. Asian Podostemoideae including Cladopus are a product of secondary diversification following a single migration, while Tristichoideae with Terniopsis show primary diversification in Asia.

Distribution patterns or the recognition of phytogeographical areas is usually based on the presence and absence of species. The taxa on which the analyses are based remain virtually anonymous. Here we want to determine which Malesian plant families (within the sample) are responsible for species richness and composition patterns. The other aim is to determine whether the different islands groups in Southeast Asia can be grouped into separate phytogeographical areas. A Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCO) showed the presence of three phytogeographical areas within Malesia: The Sunda Shelf (Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo) in the west, the Sahul Shelf (New Guinea) in the east, and all remaining central areas forming Wallacea. The latter can be divided into two parts (Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands versus the Philippines, Sulawesi and the Moluccas). Only twenty plant families (out of 164 sampled) account for most of the biodiversity on the island groups, both in total and endemic species numbers. These twenty families show a limited number of species richness patterns that are significantly associated with one or several of the detected phytogeographical areas. Only a few plant families were equally common throughout the whole Malesian region. Conservation efforts in Malesia should take this spatial distribution pattern into account in order to maximise preservation of both species diversity and complementarity.

A revisional study on Ficus glandulifera and allied species was carried out, resulting in emended descriptions of F. glandulifera and F. lamponga and the description of a new species, F. lumutana.

Four new species of Acalypha from the Malesian region, A. argentii, A. balgooyii, A. floresensis and A. pulogensis are described and illustrated.

The genus Inocarpus J.R. & G. Forst. is revised. Three species are recognized of which one is new (I. glabellus Adema). A key to the species is provided.

A recent molecular phylogenetic study of Mallotus and related genera showed that three small Asiatic genera are clearly part of a strongly supported main Mallotus clade (Mallotus s.s. clade), rendering the genus paraphyletic. In this paper these genera, Neotrewia, Octospermum and Trewia, are merged with Mallotus. The monotypic Neotrewia and Octospermum were originally described within Mallotus and are now transferred back to it. Trewia was never included in Mallotus; it has two distinct species, for which new combinations within Mallotus are made. A full taxonomic treatment with descriptions, distribution maps and drawings is given for the species transferred, and a new generic description for Mallotus is provided. The morphology of the newly transferred species in comparison to Mallotus in general and to related species in particular is discussed.

The range of diagnostic morphological features in the whole genus Mallotus is reviewed as background to the taxonomic treatment of section Rottleropsis s.l. Special emphasis is given to the indumentum, habit, stipules, leaves, extrafloral nectaries, domatia, inflorescences, flowers, pollen and fruits. Notes on the geographical distribution, ecology, pollinators, fruit and seed dispersal, and uses of the genus are also presented. The section Axenfeldia is reduced to sect. Rottleropsis on account of the absence of suitable morphological characters to distinguish them. A taxonomic revision of 38 species of sect. Rottleropsis s.l. from Malesia, Thailand and Africa is presented, together with regional and synoptical identification keys, distribution maps and illustrations. Four new species are described: Mallotus connatus, M. longinervis, M. minimifructus and M. mirus. Several non-Malesian species not included in this revision are briefly discussed. This paper concludes a series of taxonomic revisions of the genus Mallotus in Malesia and Thailand.

The taxonomy of several, mainly stoloniflorous, Ficus species from Thailand and Malesia is revised resulting in a new species, F. bukitrayaensis C.C. Berg and two new names, F. malayana C.C. Berg & Chantarasuwan and F. ridleyana C.C. Berg & Chantarasuwan. Ficus megaleia Corner and F. uncinata (King) Becc. are redefined and F. heterostyla Merr. is reinstated. Ficus arfakensis King and F. scortechinii King are reduced to synonyms of F. ribes Blume.

Based on phylogenetic studies with DNA sequence data, the formerly monotypic genus Cordemoya was recently expanded with 16 additional species previously assigned to Mallotus. However, the earliest legitimate generic name available is Hancea, and, therefore, Cordemoya is here reduced to Hancea (20 new combinations are proposed). Subsequently, the subgenus and section Diplochlamys from Asia are renamed to Hancea. Additionally, the genus Adisca is lectotypified with Adisca floribundus (= Mallotus floribundus).

The Mallotus wrayi King ex Hook.f. complex on the Sunda Shelf of the Malay Archipelago (Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo) appeared to comprise four species instead of a single, very heterogeneous one. Two synonyms (M. caudatus Merr. and M. lancifolius Hook.f.) are resurrected and a new species, M. spinifructus, is described. Important characters can be found in the density of the hairs (glandular scale-like, simple or stellate), type of stellately bundled hairs, lengths of inflorescences, bracts, and bracts of the terminal bud, and in the stigma width and hairiness.

Section Dissimiles C.B. Clarke is reviewed. Eleven species are known, one of which is newly described here (C. fulvisericea), and one species is reduced to synonymy (C. producta = C. trisepala). The section is centred on Borneo, with two outlying species in Sumatra and one in Peninsular Malaysia. Section Dissimiles is defined by a unique combination of characters, the most distinctive of these are: a zygomorphic calyx (the upper three lobes are fused to form one but the tips remain free, and the lower two lobes are completely separated to the base); anisophyllous leaf pairs, and a small (generally less than 2 cm long), predominantly white, somewhat translucent corolla.

A revision of the Malesian species in the genus Cleidion is presented. Cleidion javanicum is shown to be the correct name for the widespread type species (instead of the name C. spiciflorum). A new species, C. luziae, resembling C. javanicum, is described from the Moluccas, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. In addition, C. salomonis is synonymised with C. papuanum and C. lanceolatum is treated as a variety of C. ramosii. In total 7 Malesian Cleidion species are recognized. Cleidion megistophyllum from the Philippines cannot reliably be confirmed to belong to the genus due to lack of information and specimens and is treated as a doubtful species.

Vaccinium section Rigiolepis (Hook.f.) Sleumer is revised for the Flora Malesiana region. In the introduction a short history of the genus (section) and its defining characters are presented followed by comments about Sleumer’s classification for this section. Numerical techniques using features suggested by Sleumer on ‘indet’ specimens at Leiden counsel a more conservative approach to species delimitation and the resultant revision for this section recognizes thirteen species including three new taxa, viz., V. crinigrum, V. suberosum, and V. linearifolium. Lectotypes for V. borneense W.W. Sm. and V. leptanthum Miq. are also proposed.

The tribe Artocarpeae is redefined, the tribe Soroceae is established by change of rank, and as a consequence a new tribe Antiaropsidae is established. Moreover, a new species Antiaropsis uniflora C.C. Berg is described. In Artocarpus a new species is described, A. albobrunneus C.C. Berg, one subspecies is raised to the rank of species, A. brevipedunculatus (F.M. Jarrett) C.C. Berg, and new subspecies are described in several species, A. longifolius Becc. subsp. adpressus C.C. Berg, A. teijsmannii Miq. subsp. subglabrus C.C. Berg. In Prainea, P. papuana is reduced to a subspecies, P. limpato (Miq.) K. Heyne subsp. papuana (Becc.) C.C. Berg. In Streblus the sections Pseudomorus (Bureau) Corner and Taxotrophis (Blume) Corner are reinstated, S. urophyllus is reduced to a subspecies, S. glaber (Merr.) Corner subsp. urophyllus (Diels) C.C. Berg, in S. streblus var. australianus is raised to S. glaber subsp. australianus (C.T. White) C.C. Berg, and S. celebensis C.C. Berg is described as a new species.

Boraginaceae is expanded to comprise seven subfamilies, two of which are based on Hydrophyllaceae and Lennoaceae, respectively. The type species of Tournefortia sect. Tournefortia is transferred to Heliotropium, as are its Malesian–Australian representatives.

A revision of Mallotus section Philippinenses (former section Rottlera) in Malesia and Thailand is given. Descriptions, distribution maps, habit drawings, and a key to the species are provided. The diagnostic characters for the section are briefly discussed. Five species (M. kongkandae, M. leptostachyus, M. pallidus, M. philippensis, and M. repandus) are recognised. Mallotus chromocarpus is excluded from the section because it has more shared characters with the monospecific genus Octospermum, like the presence of indehiscent fruits, absence of stipules, marginal extrafloral nectaries on the upper side of the leaf blade, broad connectives (shaped umbrella-like), and its occurrence in New Guinea, and is therefore probably closely related to it.

The genus Labisia (Myrsinaceae) is revised for the Flora Malesiana region. Seven species are recognised. Several earlier described species are synonymous to L. pumila and reduced to varieties of that species: var. alata, var. lanceolata, var. neriifolia and var. sessilifolia. A new record of L. longistyla is mentioned. Labisia malouiana and L. obtusifolia are excluded from the genus.

Pimelodendron comprises five species. Four species were already known (P. amboinicum, P. griffithianum, P. macrocarpum, P. zoanthogyne). One Sumatran species is to separate in the rest of Pimelodendron without naming it (Pimelodendron spec. nov.?). One name is excluded (P. dispersum = Actephila excelsa var. javanica), while P. naumannianum is regarded as a synonym of P. amboinicum.

The genus Ochrosia Juss. is revised in the Malesian region. Thirteen species are recognized as Ochrosia, including one new species, O. basistamina. Seven species previously placed in Neisosperma Raf. are now included in Ochrosia. The names Ochrosia section Echinocaryon F. Muell. and Ochrosia section Ochrosia are applied for the fibrous-fruited species and cavity-fruited species of Ochrosia, respectively. Neisosperma Raf. is reduced to Ochrosia section Echinocaryon F. Muell. Separate keys are given for the species of both sections.

The sections and subsections of Ficus subg. Urostigma are described and their Malesian species listed and keyed out. Two new species are established in the subgenus: F. kochummeniana and F. miqueliana. The combinations F. chrysolepis Miq. subsp. novoguineensis (Corner) C.C. Berg and F. crassiramea (Miq.) Miq. subsp. stupenda (Miq.) C.C. Berg are made. Ficus subpisocarpa Gagnep., F. lawesii King, and F. rigo F.M. Bailey are reinstated.

Annesijoa is an endemic monotypic genus from New Guinea with as single species A. novoguineensis. Elateriospermum is also monotypic (E. tapos) and found in West Malesia. The South American genus Hevea comprises about 10 species. One species (H. brasiliensis) is presently cultivated worldwide in plantations for its rubber and has become one of the major economic products of SE Asia. Two other species, H. guianensis and H. pauciflora are sometimes present in Malesian botanical gardens.