PALM S Baker & Heatubun: Biak and Supiori Palms Vol. 56(3) 2012 WILLIAM J. B AKER New Palms Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, United Kingdom from Biak [email protected] and AND CHARLIE D. H EATUBUN Supiori, Fakultas Kehutanan, Universitas Papua, Jl. Gunung Salju, Amban, Western Manokwari 98314, Papua Barat, Indonesia New Guinea [email protected] 1. View from Samber across the limestone cliffs of western Biak. (Photo: W.J. Baker) The Indonesian islands of Biak and Supiori sit at the mouth of Cenderawasih Bay, the broad arc of ocean to the north of the neck of New Guinea’s Bird’s Head Peninsula. Already known for their remarkable animal endemism, the islands are home to four unique palm species, three of which are described here for first time. PALMS 56(3): 131 –150 131 PALM S Baker & Heatubun: Biak and Supiori Palms Vol. 56(3) 2012 Of the many islands scattered around already been introduced to cultivation prior Cenderawasih Bay (also known as Geelvink to its formal description but was poorly known Bay), Biak, Supiori, Numfor and Yapen stand in the wild until these expeditions. The out on account of their relatively large size. remaining three new species are described here Yapen, a land bridge island, sits close to the for the first time. New Guinea mainland to which it was once As a whole, the palm flora of Biak is not connected, while the remaining three are particularly rich (Table 1). Nineteen species oceanic in origin and located in the north of have been recorded, with all non-endemic the bay. Biak forms an island pair with the species being shared with mainland New smaller Supiori, the two being separated only Guinea. Widespread New Guinean species are by a narrow channel, and Numfor is located present, such as Arenga microcarpa , Caryota some 60 km to the south-west. Together, Biak rumphiana and Hydriastele costata , as well as and Supiori measure some 125 km in length two that are distinctive western New Guinean and 40 km at the widest point. In common species, Pigafetta filaris and Pinanga rumphiana with other islands in the region, they are (Figs. 2 & 3). The Biak palm flora also includes dominated by rugged limestone (Fig. 1) several widespread New Guinea rattan species perforated by sink-holes and caves, with such as Calamus aruensis , C. heteracanthus , C. sporadic occurrences of other geologies. Biak pachypus , C. vitiensis , C. zebrinus and Korthalsia played an important role in World War II and zippelii . Of Biak’s non-endemic palms, only was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting Calamus dasyacanthus and Hydriastele brassii in the Pacific. The Japanese made use of some (Back Cover) could be regarded as less well of Biak’s caves as bases and defensive position, known. Our knowledge of the palm flora of but were ultimately defeated by Allied forces Supiori is less complete. We expect that it is after a bitter stand-off. Biak’s large airstrip dates likely to be broadly similar to that of Biak, back to that time and has allowed Biak to although the presence of a high peak (>1000 function as a hub for air travel in the region. m) and somewhat different geology (Masria et al. 1981) may result in the occurrence of The relative accessibility of Biak by boat and additional montane species. air has no doubt contributed to the degradation of the island’s rain forest, much In contrast to the relatively ordinary non- of which has now been destroyed. The North endemic palm flora, the endemic palms are Biak Island Reserve encompasses a portion of remarkable in various ways. Hydriastele the northern tip of the island and much of dransfieldii was originally described in Supiori is also protected, although the Siphokentia (Baker et al. 2000), a genus that was later reduced into synonymy with effectiveness of these reserves is not clear. Some Hydriastele , following in depth molecular unprotected areas of the interior of the island phylogenetic studies (Baker & Loo 2004, Loo also appear to retain good forest, though et al. 2006). While this taxonomic change is further analysis of the condition of the corroborated by morphology, the two species remaining primary vegetation is urgently formerly accepted in Siphokentia (H. dransfieldii required. and the Moluccan H. beguinii ) remain a The plants of Biak and Supiori are poorly distinctive pair of sister species within known. The palms, however, have been the Hydriastele , characterized by the fused petals subject of a series of expeditions to Biak, two and sepals in the female flower. We found H. led by Rudi Maturbongs with colleagues from dransfieldii to be widespread on limestone in Universitas Negeri Papua in 1998 and 2001, Biak and abundant in places. Occasionally, it and three involving the authors and various can even be observed in disturbed roadside colleagues from Universitas Negeri Papua, vegetation, although it is unlikely to be Herbarium Bogoriense and the Royal Botanic regenerating in such secondary habitats. Gardens, Kew in 2000, 2009 and 2010. The Hydriastele dransfieldii has been reported (sight 2001 expedition also included a short visit to records only) from Numfor and Supiori, but Supiori. As a result of these expeditions, we the species is not known from Yapen or have obtained sufficient material for the mainland New Guinea. description of four remarkable new endemic The three remaining endemic species, species, three from Biak and one from Supiori. described as new to science below, are The first of these, Hydriastele dransfieldii was apparently far less common on Biak and face described following the expeditions led by a greater threat of extinction. Like H. Maturbongs (Baker et al. 2000). This palm had dransfieldii , they are palms of limestone, two 132 P Table 1. Checklist of the palms of Biak and Supiori. Where available, a voucher to substantiate the record is given, though additional vouchers A L are available for many of these species (specimens at K, variously duplicated at MAN, BO, AAU, NY and FTG). Sight records for species lacking vouchers M were made by the authors in 2009 and 2010. A dash indicates that a species has not been observed. S Species Biak Supiori Actinorhytis calapparia (Blume) H.Wendl. & Drude ex Scheff. Sight record (cultivated?) – Adonidia maturbongsii W.J.Baker & Heatubun Heatubun et al. 971 – Arenga microcarpa Becc. Maturbongs et al. 548 – Calamus aruensis Becc. Sight record Jitmau et al. 308 Calamus dasyacanthus W J. Baker & al. Maturbongs et al. 687 – B a k Calamus heteracanthus Zipp. ex Blume Baker et al.1334 – e r & Calamus pachypus W J. Baker & al. Sight record – H e Calamus vitiensis Warb. ex Becc. Maturbongs et al. 568 – a t u Calamus zebrinus Becc. Baker et al.1340 Maturbongs et al. 683 b u n : Calyptrocalyx sp. – Maturbongs et al. 681 B i a k Caryota rumphiana Mart. Sight record – a n Heterospathe porcata W.J.Baker & Heatubun – Maturbongs et al. 680 d S u Hydriastele biakensis W.J.Baker & Heatubun Baker et al. 1342 – p i o r i Hydriastele brassii (Burret) W.J.Baker & Loo Baker et al. 1339 Maturbongs et al. 679 P a l Hydriastele costata F.M.Bailey Maturbongs et al. 573 – m s Hydriastele dransfieldii (Hambali & al.) W.J.Baker & Loo Maturbongs et al. 555 – Korthalsia zippelii Blume Sight record Maturbongs et al. 684 V Licuala sp. Heatubun et al. 972 Maturbongs et al. 682 o l . 5 Nypa fruticans Wurmb. Sight record – 6 ( 3 ) Pigafetta filaris (Giseke) Becc. Maturbongs et al. 565 – 2 1 0 3 1 3 Pinanga rumphiana (Blume) J.Dransf. & Govaerts Maturbongs et al. 558 – 2 PALM S Baker & Heatubun: Biak and Supiori Palms Vol. 56(3) 2012 2. Pigafetta filaris , a common palm in disturbed vegetation on Biak. (Photo: W.J. Baker) of which (like H. dransfieldii ) show bio- Biak Island: forest on the road side, main road geographic relationships with species on from North Biak Nature Reserve to Biak town, islands to the north-west, remarkable in view July 2009, Heatubun et al. 971 (holotype K, of the much greater species pool in nearby isotypes BO, FTG, MAN, NY). (Figs. 4–11) New Guinea to the south. All three represent significant additions to our knowledge of the Diagnostic characters: Adonidia maturbongsii palms of the New Guinea region and serve to is distinguished from A. merrillii by the arching focus attention on the importance and plight leaf, broad, pendulous leaflets in a single plane, of Biak’s dwindling rain forest. wide, concave leaflet tips and staminate flowers containing 30–32 stamens. Taxonomic treatment Medium, solitary, mid-story to emergent palm. 1. Adonidia maturbongsii W.J.Baker & Stem 10–15 m tall, 10–20 cm in diam., Heatubun, sp. nov. Type: Indonesia, Papua, tapering towards apex, surface brown with 134 PALM S Baker & Heatubun: Biak and Supiori Palms Vol. 56(3) 2012 3. Pinanga rumphiana , Biak. (Photo: W.J. Baker) white blotches, leaf scars prominent, 26–45 cm long, channelled adaxially, rachis internodes 2–4 cm apart. Leaves ca. 10 in 2.5–3 m long, indumentum as on sheath; crown, arching; sheath 60–70 cm long, pale, leaflets 25–30 pairs each side of the rachis, dull green, with thin grey scurfy indumentum regularly arranged (or somewhat subregularly), with scattered purple-brown scales, somewhat in one plane, drooping or pendulous in eroded or fibrous at mouth, forming emergent individuals, slightly discolorous, crownshaft 80–90 cm × 10–12 cm; petiole with persistent reins attached to lowermost 135 PALM S Baker & Heatubun: Biak and Supiori Palms Vol. 56(3) 2012 4. Adonidia maturbongsii . A. Habit. B. Leaf apex. C. Mid-leaf portion.