Thursday, July 28, 2022

[Botany • 2020] Syzygium oransbariense (Myrtaceae) • A New Species from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, western New Guinea


 Syzygium oransbariense Mustaqim, Y.W.Low & Heatubun, 

in Mustaqim, Low & Heatubun, 2020. 

Abstract
Syzygium oransbariense Mustaqim, Y.W.Low & Heatubun (Myrtaceae) is here formally described. This species is found in the lowlands on the eastern flank of the Arfak Mountains, Bird’s Head Peninsula, western New Guinea. The species is similar to Syzygium longipes (Diels) Merr. & L.M.Perry, but differs based on a set of diagnostic morphological characters. Species description, distribution, a preliminary conservation status assessment, and notes on the new species are presented here.

Keywords: plant systematics, taxonomy

 Syzygium oransbariense Mustaqim, Y.W.Low & Heatubun.
A. leafy twigs; B. leafy twigs showing the abaxial surface of the leaves; C. inflorescence showing flowers with stamens and corolla already detached; D. flowers showing the inner side of hypanthium, calyx lobes, and style; E. immature fruit; F. mature fruit.
Scale: A–B = 1 cm, C = 2 mm, D = 1 mm, E = 5 mm, F = 1 cm. 
Photos: W.A. Mustaqim.

Syzygium oransbariense Mustaqim, Y.W.Low & Heatubun sp. nov.  

Diagnosis: This species is similar to S. longipes (Warb.) Merr. & L.M.Perry but differs in having petioles that are 0.5–3.5 mm long (vs. 3–8 mm long in S. longipes), 3-flowered cymes, sometimes reduced to 1-flowered inflorescences (vs. thyrsoid racemiform inflorescences with 6 or more flowers in S. longipes), inflorescences exclusively shorter than the leaves (vs. inflorescence usually much longer than the leaves in S. longipes), peduncles shorter than a pair of bract-like or stipule-like leaves or cataphylls subtending at the base (vs. much longer peduncle in S. longipes), hypanthia (not including the stipe) 2–3.5 mm long (vs. 4–5 mm long in S. longipes), and shorter styles (9 mm long) (vs. 20 mm long in S. longipes). 

 Etymology: The epithet is derived from the district name where the specimen was collected, namely the Oransbari District, Manokwari Selatan Regency. 


Wendy Achmmad Mustaqim, Yee Wen Low and Charlie Danny Heatubun. 2020. A New Species of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, western New Guinea. Telopea. 23: 221–225. DOI: 10.7751/telopea14780