Benstonea ellipsoidea (Warb.) 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 : 333

14. Benstonea ellipsoidea (Warb.) Callm. & Buerki , comb. nova.

≡ Pandanus ellipsoideus Warb. in Engl., Pflanzenr. 3(IV, 9): 81. 1900.

Typus: INDONESIA. Sulawesi: Südlicher teil , s.d., Warburg 16151 (lecto-: B [ B100279961 ] image seen) (designated by STONE, 1978: 15).

= Pandanus dipsaceus Martelli in Boll. Soc. Bot. Ital. 1904: 304. 1904. Typus: INDONESIA. Sulawesi: SE, Kandari, Lepo-Lepo , VII.1874, Beccari s.n. (holo-: FI-B [ FI003935 : ErbarioBeccari 11903, 11903A, 11903B, 11903C] images seen), syn. nov.

Distribution and ecology. – Benstonea ellipsoidea is confined to the mountain rainforests of the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia ( STONE, 1978).

Observations. – This taxon was described on the basis of an immature infructescence (Warburg16151), which is almost impossible to distinguish from Beccari s.n., type of Pandanus dipsaceus . In his revision, STONE (1978) maintained these two as separate species, albeit with much doubt. Benstonea ellipsoidea is indeed very similar to B. affinis , but it differs in the shape and dimensions of itsdrupes and the syncarps. Moreover, B.ellipsoidea is found at high altitude on limestone substrate in Sulawesi (KEIM, pers. comm.), whereas B. affinis is found in lowland peat swamp forests from Vietnam to Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Indonesia (Bangka, Sumatra). Given the strong ecological differences between these taxa, we tentatively follow the treatment of STONE (1978).