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| Bau djinna S.Y.Wong, P.C.Boyce & A.Hay, in Wong, Boyce et Hay, 2026. |
ABSTRACT
Bau djinna is described as a new species from Central Sarawak and compared with three species to which it is most similar. Recognition of B. djinna takes the genus to 27 species, 25 of which are endemic to Borneo. A brief note is provided on Schismatoglottis ambigua, a recently published name synonymous with Bau inculta. The paper also introduces the term ‘anthomorph’ for the flowering structure that in general is termed an inflorescence in the Araceae and explains why the term ‘bloom’ that the authors have employed previously is unsatisfactory.
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| Bau djinna. (A) Plant in habitat, the distinctive quilted leaf blades are clearly seen. (B) Stem ascending and rooting adventitiously. (C) Detail of petiole showing the longitudinal ridges and denticulate edges. All images the authors. |
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| Bau djinna. (A) Cluster of sequentually-maturing anthomorphs, the largest (oldest) at pistillate antheses. The cluster-preceding much-reduced foliage leaf and the prophyll associated with the second oldest anthomorphs are visible. (B) Anthomorph at end of staminate antheses with the spathe limb deliquessing. (C & D) Anthomorph at pistillate anthesis showing the full extent to which the spathe limb opens. All images the authors. |
Bau djinna S.Y.Wong, P.C.Boyce & A.Hay, sp. nov
Diagnosis: Bau djinna belongs to a group of species in which during anthesis the spathe limb barely opens. Within this group B. djinna is vegetatively most similar to B. amosyui (S.Y.Wong, S.L.Low & P.C.Boyce) S.Y.Wong & P.C.Boyce (Figure 1B) and B. hendrikii (S.Y.Wong & P.C.Boyce) S.Y.Wong & P.C.Boyce (Figure 1C), differing from both by the plain deep green leaf blades and an ascending-rooting stem (vs leaf blades habitually silver variegated and stems clumping and abbreviated). Bau djinna is further distinguished from B. amosyui by lacking a partially naked interstice separating the pistillate and staminate florets, by the subcylindric (vs conical) pistillate zone long-obliquely inserted (vs barely obliquely inserted) and the blunt-tipped cream (vs pointed yellow) spadix appendix. From B. hendrikii B. djinna is distinguished by the conical stout pale green pistillate zone (vs rather slender cylindrical emerald-green), dense (vs rather lax) pistillate florets, button-like (vs broadly disk-like) stigma, and the blunt-tipped cream (vs pointed yellow) spadix appendix.
Etymology: Djinn, in the context of ‘hidden beings’, originates from Arabic, an extension of the word meaning to hide, conceal, or cover, emphasizing the elusive and unseen nature of djinn, who are believed to inhabit a realm parallel to humans reflecting the belief that these beings are invisible to humans. Here the word is used in the feminine nominative, djinna, in the sense that the spadix is concealed by the hardly opening spathe.
Wong Sin Yeng, Peter C. Boyce and Alistair Hay. 2026. Schismatoglottideae (Araceae) of Borneo LXXX: Bau djinna, a New Species from the Rejang Basin, Sarawak. Feddes Repertorium. 137(1); e70063. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/fedr.70063 [10 March 2026]
