EVALUATING THE ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF SURVIVAL FOR MAPANIA CUSPIDATA (MIQ.) UITTIEN (CYPERACEAE) TRANSPLANTATION

SHABDIN, Z., NORI, H., MEEKIONG, K. & FAIZ, M. F. M. 2021. Evaluating the ecophysiology of survival for Mapania cuspidata (Miq.) Uittien (Cyperaceae) transplantation. Reinwardtia 20(2): 69–75. — This study aimed to investigate the ecology of the sedge Mapania cuspidata at three different locations in East Malaysia, namely Gunung Gading, Matang and Bengoh, and the survival of M. cuspidata transplanted in pots exposed to different light intensities in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, East Malaysia. The highest species density was recorded in Matang with a total density of 1.98 individuals/ha followed by Bengoh (1.42) and Gunung Gading (0.96). In these locations, the soil pH ranged from 4.9 in Bengoh to 5.7 in Matang where as soil organic matter content was between 3.47% in Bengoh and 8.68% in Gunung Gading. The highest light intensity was recorded in Matang with 0.94 kLux, and produced plants with the highest chorophyll content (64.8 SPAD value). This study found that the transplanted M. cuspidata had 90% survival over a four month experiment, produced ~ 8 new leaves, took an average of 15.8 days to produce a new leaf and had a chlorophyll content of ~30.3 SPAD value regardless of the intensity of light where the plants were exposed to. The findings of this study suggests that M. cuspidata can grow well in any light conditions and therefore it is also possible to transplant and re-establish other Mapania species in new location. It is hoped that the initiative to relocateother Mapania species of concervation concern will be effective if adequate post-harvest handling methods are practiced.

VANILLA YERSINIANA (ORCHIDACEAE), A NEW RECORD FOR PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

MAT ESA, M. I., NORDIN, F. A., GO, R. & RAFFI, A. 2021. Vanilla yersiniana (Orchidaceae), a new record for Peninsular Malaysia. Reinwardtia 20(2): 51−55. — The genus Vanilla Plum. ex Mill. from Peninsular Malaysia is now enriched with the discovery of a newly recorded species, Vanilla yersiniana that made up its regional diversity to eight taxa. This species was documented from two adjacent secondary lowland forests in Perak; further south to the southern tail of Thailand. This paper describes the first record of V. yersiniana in Peninsular Malaysia with some highlights of its morphology and ecology. The data presented will add to the present state of knowledge on the species botanical profile.

ETLINGERA COMOSA, A NEW SPECIES (ZINGIBERACEAE: ALPINIOIDEAE) FROM CENTRAL SULAWESI

ARDIYANI, M., ARDI, W. H., HUTABARAT, P. W. K. & POULSEN, A. D. 2021. Etlingera comosa, a new species (Zingiberaceae: Alpinioidea) from Central Sulawesi. Reinwardtia 20(2): 63−68. — Etlingera comosa Ardiyani & Ardi, a new and unusual species from Tentena, Central Sulawesi exhibiting terrestrial as well as epiphytic habit is described here. It is compared to the morphologically closest Etlingera sublimata A.D.Poulsen, but differs in having tufted sheath, bilobed and asymmetric ligule, loose peduncular bracts, densely pubescent fertile bracts and longer filament. Colour plates, notes on its conservation status and DNA barcode data for the new species are also provided.

THE CONFUSING TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE OF SYZYGIUM CONFUSUM COMPLEX (MYRTACEAE)

WIDODO, P. & VELDKAMP, J. F. 2021. The confusing taxonomy and nomenclature of Syzygiun confusum complex (Myrtaceae). Reinwardtia 20(2): 43‒49. ― The taxonomic and nomenclatural confusions surrounding the Syzygium confusum complex are elucidated. For that purpose, type specimens are designated and circumscriptions are presented for each species. Typifications, newly characterized descriptions and illustrations are presented for Syzygium korthalsii Widodo, S. confusum (Blume) Bakh.f., S. blumei (Steudel) Merr. & L.M.Perry, S. insigne (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry. The new species Syzygium sipirokense Widodo & Veldkamp is described.

A NEW SPECIES OF DEPARIA FROM NEW GUINEA

WARDANI, W., JAENUDIN, APANDI, I., KUSUMAWATY, A. & SANTOSO, W. 2021. A new species of Deparia from New Guinea. Reinwardtia 20(2): 57−61. — Deparia stellata is a new species of highland in Eastern New Guinea, described from a specimen found among unidentified piles of New Guinean Expedition in 1975. Its distinctive stellate-hairs on all axis and occasionally on rachis-scale margin are the main character that differentiate the species to other Deparia.

BEGONIA ROBII, A NEW SPECIES OF BEGONIA FROM LIMA PULUH KOTA, WEST SUMATRA

ARDI. W.H., GIRMANSYAH, D. & HUGHES, M. 2021. Begonia robii, a new species of Begonia from Lima Puluh Kota, West Sumatra. Reinwardtia 20(1): 37–41. — A new species of Begonia sect. Jackia (Begoniaceae), B. robii Ardi & Girm., is described from West Sumatra and is a limestone karst endemic in the Tanah Datar dan Lima Puluh Kota Regency. Its provisional IUCN threatened category is considered to be Endangered.

DIVERSITY AND PHENETIC STUDY ON SYCONIUM OF FICUS L. (MORACEAE) FROM KERALA, INDIA REVEALING NATURAL CLASSIFICATION ALONG WITH AN IDENTIFICATION KEY

NAIR, S. S., BACHAN, K. H. A. & EBIN, P. J. 2021. Diversity and phenetic study on syconium of Ficus L. (Moraceae) from Kerala, India revealing natural classification along with an identification key. Reinwardtia 20(1): 27–36. — Ficus L. commonly called ‘figs’ is one of the most complex genera among the angiosperms with its specialised inflorescence called syconium that looks like a fruit. Syconium of 33 species of Ficus reported from Kerala were observed here to develop a novel key, solely based on syconium morphology. Numerical taxonomic methodology for syconium morphological characters were standardised, considering 22 characters with 104 character states and analysed using similarity clustering. The floral features of the genus are very much complex and all the existing keys for the species identification relays on both vegetative as well as floral features. Hence, the present key will be practical in use when syconium is the only available part. The numerical analysis of the syconium features well clustered and separated the trees with cauliflorous inflorescence, hemi epiphytic -epiphytic life forms and independent trees similar to the natural classification of the figs as “Atthi, Itthi and Aal”, indicating that phenetic analysis using the syconium characters alone provided a grouping similar to the natural grouping based on the habit. Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of figs also provided a similar clustering. This gives an insight into the fact that the separation of figs into these natural groups is reflecting phylogenetic trait. Detailed studies including more morphological traits and molecular analysis could establish the phylogenetic relation of figs in relation to the evolutionary history of climate and vegetation.

A NEW SPECIES OF NEPENTHES (NEPENTHACEAE) AND ITS NATURAL HYBRIDS FROM ACEH, SUMATRA, INDONESIA

VICTORIANO, M. 2021. A new species of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) and its natural hybrids from Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. Reinwardtia 20(1): 17–26. — A new species of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) from Aceh Province, Indonesia, Nepenthes longiptera Victoriano is herein described and illustrated. The species is unique among all other Nepenthes in Sumatra by the presence of wings on its upper pitchers. Comprehensive description, photographs, geographical distribution and preliminary IUCN conservation assessment are provided for the new species. Hybrids of this new taxon with other species are also reported in this paper.

THE CALAMUS JAVENSIS (ARECACEAE: CALAMOIDEAE) COMPLEX IN HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

ATRIA, M. & VAN WELZEN, P. C. 2021. The Calamus javensis (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) complex in historical biogeographic context. Reinwardtia 20(1): 1−7. — Calamus javensis is a very polymorphic species with a number of recognisable forms (of which several were once even recognized at species level). A historical biogeographic analysis showed no historical distribution pattern in the diversification of these various forms. The forms are very likely the result of adaptation to local circumstances, whereby more or less identical forms can develop under similar niche circumstances in disjunct areas, exceptions are the ‘acuminatus-polyphyllus’ form and C. tenompokensis that are recognisable and present in a non-disjunct area.