Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Summary Planchonella is the largest genus in subfamily Chrysophylloideae (Sapotaceae) and includes 97 described species distributed from the Seychelles to Hawaii with the greatest species diversity in Australia, New Caledonia and New Guinea. There are approximately an additional ten taxa that do not easily conform with known species limits, and/or have been identified by molecular methods as new to science. We describe here four new species, P. cerebrifructa Swenson from Borneo and P. hispida Swenson, P. surculiflora Swenson and P. takeuchii Swenson from New Guinea, all with distinctive autapomorphic characters. Planchonella cerebrifructa is readily distinguished by its velvety, wrinkled young fruit, very similar to the complex, folded appearance of a brain’s surface. Planchonella hispida has hispid indumentum of long, Y-shaped trichomes, in decreasing density along the midrib and on the secondary, tertiary and quaternary venation. Planchonella surculiflora sets inflorescences on lateral shoots, often with one or two leaves borne between the villose flowers. Finally, Planchonella takeuchii , although the flowers are unknown, can be recognised by its characteristic glabrous foliage of broadly elliptic leaves with a tapering apex, short petioles (± 5 mm long) and tertiary leaf venation perpendicular to the primary and secondary veins. Now, with the description of these four species, the genus Planchonella includes 101 described species.
Source: Kew Bulletin
Institutions: Swedish Museum of Natural History, Uppsala University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
Award: G4870149062
OpenAlex ID: W7127923624