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| Goniothalamus metadoxus Ezedin; Uvaria chrysoflora Ezedin in Ezedin. 2026. |
Abstract
Two new species of Annonaceae bearing unique or unusual morphologies are described and illustrated from Papua New Guinea. Goniothalamus metadoxus Ezedin, from the Papuan Peninsula, exhibits an extraordinary reduction of the outer petals resulting in an inverted floral morphology where the inner petals appear larger and more prominent. It is further distinguished by its long pedicels, inner petals bearing a densely sericeous indument giving a silvery-white sheen, and long apiculate staminal connectives that are pinkish-lavender in color. Uvaria chrysoflora Ezedin, from the Sepik River basin, is unique in bearing greenish-yellow flowers, making it the first non-red flowered species of its genus from Papuasia. It most closely resembles the widespread U. concava Teijsm. & Binn. and can be further distinguished from the latter by its smaller leaves and larger flowers.
KEYWORDS: Annonaceae, Goniothalamus, New Guinea, new species, Uvaria
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| Goniothalamus metadoxus Ezedin A, B: branch showing adaxial and abaxial laminas; C: cauliflorous inflorescence arising from excrescence on bole; D: close-up of a flower showing reflexed sepals and reduced outer petals; E: flower with one inner petal removed revealing inner chamber with pinkish-lavender colored stamens and light yellow carpels [Damas et al. SAJ1442] [Photos: S.A. James] |
Goniothalamus metadoxus Ezedin, sp. nov.
Diagnosis — Goniothalamus metadoxus resembles G. caloneurus Miq. in having similar leaf shape and siZe, oblong monocarps, and nearly subequal outer and inner petal siZes but differs in its habit being a small to medium tree up to 15 m tall (vs. shrub up to c. 4 m tall), laminas being chartaceous (vs. coriaceous), secondary veins not impressed above and not prominent below (vs. impressed above, prominent below), cauliflorous fasciculate inflorescences (vs. ramiflorous and solitary), inner petals being longer than the outer (vs. outer petals longer), and the petals silvery-white (vs. yellow-orange).
Etymology — From Greek meta, altered, and doxus, appearance; in reference to the inner petals being longer than the outer petals due to pronounced reduction of the latter.
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| Uvaria chrysoflora Ezedin A: habit, twigs, mature and immature flowers; B: close-up of flower [Weiblen et al. GW2215] [Photos: G.D. Weiblen] |
Uvaria chrysoflora Ezedin, sp. nov.
Diagnosis — Uvaria chrysoflora resembles U. concava Teijsm. & Binn. in having subglabrous young stems and shortly pedunculate flowers with concave petals, but differs in its yellow-green petals (vs. maroon), petals not conspicuously incurved at apices (vs. strongly incurved), larger flowers measuring 35–50 mm across (vs. c. 18–30 mm), and smaller leaves measuring 10–12 × 5.5–6.5 cm (vs. c. 12–15 × 6–7 cm).
Etymology — From Greek chryso, golden, and Latin flora, flower; in reference to the yellowish-green flowers.
Zacky Ezedin. 2026. Two New Species of Annonaceae from Papua New Guinea. Candollea. 81(1); 51-55. DOI: doi.org/10.15553/c2026v811a6 (17 June 2026)
