Wednesday, March 13, 2024

[Botany • 2024] Lasjia griseifolia (Proteaceae) • A New Species from Sulawesi, Indonesia


Lasjia griseifolia Utteridge & Brambach, 

in Utteridge, Trethowan, Brown, Ratcliffe, Plummer, Brambach et Rustiami, 2024.

Summary
Lasjia griseifolia Utteridge & Brambach, a member of the Proteaceae, is described and illustrated as a new species from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The new species is similar to L. erecta, also from Sulawesi, and morphological differences between the taxa are discussed; a line illustration and detailed notes on the conservation status are provided.
 
Key Words: Macadamia, Malesia, Proteales, ultramafic, Wallacea

Lasjia griseifolia.
A habit, note the number of leaves per whorl and the grey adaxial surface; B abaxial leaf surface, note the persistent ginger-brown matted hairs; C, D axillary conflorescences and creamy-white perianth.
photos: Fabian Brambach.

Lasjia griseifolia Utteridge & Brambach sp. nov. 

RECOGNITION. Recognised in the genus Lasjia by the combination of the following characters: indumentum of persistent simple matted hairs throughout the plant (on the hardened stems, mature leaves, inflorescence axes, pedicels and abaxial tepal surfaces) and the very short pedicels less than 3.5 mm long; in addition, the new species usually has whorls of 5 leaves, obovate to elliptic laminas and a retuse to emarginate apex, and erect inflorescences to 6 cm long.

ETYMOLOGY. Named for the grey leaves in the field. 


Timothy M. A. Utteridge, Liam A. Trethowan, Matilda J. M. Brown, Seth Ratcliffe, Jack Plummer, Fabian Brambach and Himmah Rustiami. 2024. A New Species of Lasjia (Proteaceae) from Sulawesi: Lasjia griseifolia Utteridge & Brambach. Kew Bulletin. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-024-10162-y