Work

Eugenia venteri (sect. Jossinia, Myrtaceae): a new flagelliflorous tree from the rainforest of Manus Island, Papua New Guinea

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Summary Flagelliflory, a rare form of cauliflory, refers to plants with long whip-like branches, or flagella, on the main trunk that bear inflorescences. In extreme cases, the flagella can either be slightly buried in soil or creep above it and extend up to metres away from the trunk. The new Eugenia species described here, from Manus Island, represents the only Eugenia taxon known thus far to exhibit flagelliflory and the first species from Papua New Guinea to do so. Morphological characteristics of the new species were observed from herbarium collections and supplemented with field notes provided by the collectors. A risk of extinction assessment of the new species is provided, alongside preliminary phylogenetic placement, a line drawing, field images and a distribution map.

Source: Kew Bulletin

DOI: 10.1007/s12225-025-10264-1

Authors: Yee Wen Low, László Csiba, Arison Arihafa, Eve Lucas

Institutions: National Parks Board, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, New Britain Palm Oil (Papua New Guinea)

Language: English

Topic: Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,190

Funder: National Parks Board - Singapore