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| Pinanga subterranea Randi & W.J.Baker, in Randi, Petoe, Kuhnhäuser, Chai, Bellot et Baker, 2023. DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10393 |
A new acaulescent species of Pinanga (Arecoideae: Areceae: Arecinae) is described and illustrated here. This remarkable new species is the first palm described as flowering and fruiting underground, highlighting Borneo as a hotspot for palm diversity.
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| Pinanga subterranea. (a) Mature, fruiting individual, with leaf litter and soil partially removed around base to expose tip of infructescence; (b) base of plant, with top layer of soil removed to expose ripe red fruits (left) and unripe green-brown fruits (right); (c) ripe fruits. Scale bar = 1 cm; (d) partially excavated infructescence bearing young fruits; (e) bearded pig (Sus barbatus), a seed disperser of Pinanga subterranea. Localities: (a–c) Gunung Niut Natural Reserve, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, (d) Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak, Malaysia, (e) Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. Photographs: (a–c) Agusti Randi, (d) William J. Baker, (e) Benedikt G. Kuhnhäuser. |
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| Population of mature Pinanga subterranea in Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak, Malaysia. Photograph: William J. Baker. |
Pinanga subterranea Randi & W.J.Baker, sp.nov.
Diagnosis: This species is superficially similar to P. tenacinervis J.Dransf. (1980) but can be easily distinguished by its solitary habit (vs. clustering in P. tenacinervis), stem, crownshaft and inflorescence that are usually subterranean(vs. all above ground), and erect, usually subterranean infructescence (vs. pendulous, aerial).
Etymology: The specific epithet “subterranea” is derived from the Latin word subterraneus, meaning “underground.” This reflects the position of the stem, inflorescences and crownshaft below ground level.
Habitat: Mainly recorded from lowland mixed dipterocarp forest valleys and on slopes near streams. On clay soils on chalk, red clay soils, or sandy clay soils, up to 650 m elevation.
Vernacular nam: Pinang Tanah (Malay, West Kalimantan). Pinang Pipit, Muring Pelandok (Kendorih language, Central Kalimantan).Tudong Pelandok (Iban language, Sarawak).
Agusti Randi, Peter Petoe, Benedikt G. Kuhnhäuser, Paul P.K. Chai, Sidonie Bellot and William J. Baker. 2023. Pinanga subterranea, A New Arecoid Palm from Borneo that Flowers Underground. PALMS, the Journal of the IPS.
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phys.org/news/2023-06-hidden-plain-sight-rare-palm.html
Benedikt G. Kuhnhäuser, Agusti Randi, Peter Petoe, Paul P. K. Chai, Sidonie Bellot and William J. Baker. 2023. Hiding in plain sight: The underground palm Pinanga subterranea. PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET. DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10393
