Benstonea affinis (Kurz) Callm. & Buerki

Callmander, Martin W., Lowry Ii, Porter P., Forest, Félix, Devey, Dion S., Beentje, Henk & Buerki, Sven, 2012, Benstonea Callm. & Buerki (Pandanaceae): characterization, circumscription, and distribution of a new genus of screw-pines, with a synopsis of accepted species, Candollea 67 (2), pp. 323-345 : 330

2. Benstonea affinis (Kurz) Callm. & Buerki , comb.nova.

≡ Pandanus affinis Kurz in J. Bot. 5: 101. 1867.

Typus: INDONESIA. BangkaIsl.: Kurz (lecto-: BO) (designated by STONE, 1978: 13).

= Pandanus merrillii Warb. in Perkins, Fragm. Fl. Philipp. 1: 50. 1904.

Typus: PHILIPPINES. Palawan Isl.: San Antognio Bay , II.1903, Merrill 840 (holo-: B [ B100279959 ] image seen ; iso-: FI [ FI003946 ] image seen, NY, US [ US00086602 ] image seen),

syn.nov.

= Pandanus sarawakensis Martelli in Bull. Soc. Bot. Ital. 1904: 303. 1904.

Lectotypus (designated here): MALAYSIA. Sarawak (Borneo): Kuching , VIII.1865, Beccari 350 ( FI-B [ FI003947 : ErbarioBeccari 11902, carpo.]!),

syn. nov.

Distribution and ecology. – Benstonea affinis is found in peat swamps and gallery forest/river edges from sea level to c. 500 m. It is a widespread species, distributed from Peninsular Malaysia to the Philippines, including Vietnam, Sumatra, Singapore, and Borneo.

Observations. –This species is characterized by its 3 to 9 ovoid fruit heads crowded at the apex of an erect peduncle ( Fig. 4A ). STONE (1972, 1978, 1983a, 1993a), mentionning some differences in dimensions of the fruit, recognized the two species placed in synonymy above, albeit with doubt. He wrote: “ Pandanus merrilli Warb . is so similar to P. affinis Kurz that, on the basis of herbarium material alone, discrimination is virtually impossible” ( STONE, 1983a: 208). Pandanus sarawakensis was described by MARTELLI (1904) on the basis of two syntypes: Beccari 350 and 1895. The first of these, misprinted as 550 in MARTELLI (1904: 303), is designated here as the lectotype because it comprises a sheet with a leaf and an infructescence deposited in the Beccari herbarium and a spirit collection of one syncarp in the associated carpological collection. Further taxonomic work is clearly needed for a better understanding of Benstonea affinis with respect to its relatives, especially B. ellipsoidea (Warb.) Callm. & Buerki (see below).

Figures

Fig. 4. – Infructescences and details of stigmas of species of Benstonea Callm. & Buerki. A. Benstonea affinis (Kurz) Callm. & Buerki; B. Benstonea gibbsiana (Martelli) Callm. & Buerki; C. Benstonea ornata (Solms) Callm. & Buerki; D. Benstonea pachyphylla (Merr.) Callm. & Buerki. [Photos: M. W. Callmander]