BLUMEA 48: 421– 462 Published on 28 November 2003 doi: 10.3767/000651903X489384 THE GENUS MILIUSA (ANNONACEAE) IN THE AUSTRO-MALESIAN AREA J.B. MOLS & P.J.A. KESSLER Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Universiteit Leiden branch, P.O. Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail:
[email protected],
[email protected] SUMMARY A taxonomic revision of the Austro-Malesian species of Miliusa Lesch. ex A.DC. (Annonaceae) is pre- sented. Ten species can be recognised in the area, including one new species, Miliusa novoguineensis, described here. Most species are restricted to certain islands or geographic areas. Miliusa horsfieldii (Benn.) Pierre is the main exception as it is distributed from Hainan up to Queensland, Australia. Six of the ten species (except M. amplexicaulis Ridl., M. longipes King, M. macropoda Miq. and M. parvifloraR idl.) have a deciduous habit, and are largely restricted to areas with a monsoon climate. A key, based primarily on generative characters, and descriptions to the species are included. Key words: Annonaceae, Miliusa, Flora Malesiana, Australia, revision. INTRODUCTION Annonaceae are a pantropical family of shrubs, trees and lianas. The family consists of about 130 genera and 2300 species. The largest number of genera and species are known from Asia (including Australia and the Pacific), with c. 60 and 1000, respectively. In comparison c. 40 genera and 800 species are recorded in America, while Africa holds c. 40 genera and 500 species. Although the position of Annonaceae within the Angiosperms and order Magnoliales and its family circumscription is clear and undisputed (Keßler, 1993; Soltis et al., 2000; Qiu et al., 2000), the genera within the family are very difficult to define and not easily placed in ‘natural groups’.