Benstonea verruculosa (Backer ex Stone 1978: 55 ) Callm., Buerki & Phillipson, 2014

Callmander, Martin W., Buerki, Sven, Keim, Ary P. & Phillipson, Peter B., 2014, Notes on Benstonea (Pandanaceae) from the islands of Halmahera, New Guinea and Sulawesi, Phytotaxa 175 (3), pp. 161-165 : 163

Benstonea verruculosa (Backer ex Stone 1978: 55) Callm., Buerki & Phillipson , comb. nov.

Basionym: Pandanus verruculosus Backer ex Stone (1978: 55) . Type:— INDONESIA. North Maluku Province: Halmahera , Galileo , Sao Tobaroe , Beguin 1920 (holotype, BO [2 sheets]!, isotype, L [ L0050725 ] image seen) .

Notes: — Benstonea verruculosa was described based on a fragmentary collection from Halmahera dating back to 1921 (Beguin 1920). Its overall morphology bears a strong resemblance to B. stenocarpa but its recent rediscovery on the island and collection of more adequate material (Callmander & Lasut 1151) provides a clarification of its delimitation and ample justification for its recognition at species level. Benstonea verruculosa is characterized by larger and broader leaves (c. 450 x 14 cm) (400 x 11 cm in B. stenocarapa ), but more significant is the distinct morphology of its drupes. The style of B. verruculosa are short ( Fig. 1A–G ), and not elongated and gradually tapering as in B. stenocarpa . The stigmatic groove is also accordingly much shorter in B. verruculosa . Furthermore, the pileus of B. verruculosa is conspicuously verrucate contrasting with the rather smooth pileus (rarely roughly granular) of B. stenocarpa . The type of B. verruculosa is fragmentary, consisting of only leaf portions and separate drupes. Callmander & Lasut 1151 is the first complete collection of B. verruculosa , a species endemic to Halmahera where it grows along streams.

Additional specimens seen:— INDONESIA. North Maluku Province: Halmahera, Lolea Poeloe Rao , 40 m, 12 October 1921, Beguin 1816 ( BO, L) ; Soa Tobaroe , 60 m, 2 June 1922, Beguin 1933 ( BO) ; Soa Tobaroe , 60 m, 13 August 1922, Beguin 2119 ( BO) ; Soa Tobaroe , 60 m, 13 August 1922, Beguin 2120 ( BO, L) ; Central Halmahera , Doromesmesan , Loy Poloy , 00°30’29”N, 127°54’21”E, 15 m, 9 February 2013, Callmander & Lasut 1151 ( BO, G, L, MO) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–D. Benstonea verruculosa. E–G. Benstonea stenocarpa. H. Benstonea celebica. A, E. Axillary syncarp. B. Peduncle covered by prophylls. C, D, F. Details of pileus and stigmas. G. Habit. H. Polysyncarpic pending infructescence. A–C: From Callmander & Lasut 1551 (Photos: M. Callmander). F: Munzinger & Bau 6745 (Photo: J. Munzinger). E, G. Bau s.n. (Photos: B. Bau). H. Purwanto & al. PSU42 (Photo: Y. Purwanto & R. Polosakan).