r9e7l FULLERET AL.: NEV HETEROSPATHEFROM FUI

Prircipes,4L(2), 1997, pp. 65-69 A NewSpecies of Heterospathefrom Fiii

DvreN FuLLER,1,3JoHn L. DowE,2AND MICHAEL F. Dovrel rSouth Paeffic Regional Herbarium, Uniaersity of the South Pacifu, Sma, Fiii 218 Arnelia St.,Albion 410, Queensland,

Since the publication of Moore's (1979) treat- mon Islands, and Bismarck Archipelago (Uhl and ment of Fiji palms, extensive and more intensive Dransfield 1987), and Vanuatu (Dowe and Caba- botanical exploration has occurred in many areas lion 1996). The affinities of Fiji palms follows the of the Fiji archipelago.Even in locations close to same general pattem as the rest of the vascular developed areas, more thorough examination has flora-essentially a Pacific extensionof the Indo- revealed a number of novelties, including the new Malesian floristic region, although Polynesianand of Heterospathedescribed in this paper. even Neocaledonianconnections exist. Within the The most recently described palms from Fiji, southwestPacific region and at the generic level, Alsmithia longipesH.E. Moore (Moore et al. 1982) the palm flora's closest relationship is with Vanu- and Gulubia microcarpa Essig (Essig 7982), atu (Dowe and Cabalion 1996). resulted from collections conducted in 1980. The remarkable endemism (IOO7o) of Fiji's These discoveries, along with recent field work palms suggeststhat there has been considerable (Fuller and Doyle, unpublished), indicate a sig- speciation within the group. Based on its oceanic nificantly larger palm flora than previously recog- geologic origins (Rodda 1994), presumably all nised. indigenous taxa in Fiji were dispersed by means The indigenous palm flora of Fiji is relatively of short-distancedispersal from adjacent islands, rich in taxa and includes ca. 30 species distrib- or by long-distance dispersal from other floristic uted among the following 13 genera: Alsmithia, sourceareas. The of many Fiji palms appear Balaka, Calanntn, Clinostigma, Cyphospenna,Het- to be bird dispersed, although at least one taxon erospathe, Gonioclad,us,Gulubia, Metroxylon, (Metroxylon)may be water dispersed.Fiji's oldest Neoueitchia, Ph.ysokentia, Pritchardia, and Veit- terrestrial rocks range from about 14-17 million chia. The common and widespread Cocos was years old (Rodda, personal communication).The probably an early aboriginal introduction into Fiji, age of the islands, combined with their insular and as such, is excluded from the above list. nature both in terms of isolation from other islands were Although three of the 13 generalisted above as well as locally occurring topographic barriers mono- previously consideredbs Fiji endemicsand (e.g., mountain ranges) has undoubtedly contrib- (Alsmithia, Goniocladus, and Neoueitchia), typic uted to the high level of endemismof palms within the recent discovery of a new species of Neoaeit- the Fiji Islands. Many, if not all, of Fiji's native chia from Vanuatu (Dowe and Cabalion 1996) palms probably are the result of speciationevents reduces the number of endemic monotypic genera in situ (neoendemics),as opposedtb being relict to two. All native palm speciesfrom Fiji are con- species (paleoendemics)which had once wider sidered endemic to the island group. Most Fiji distributions and are nor{ only restricted to single palms are inhabitants of tropical moist forest, pri- or few localities. marily occurring as subemergents. While some taxa Veitchia aitiensis (H. The Heterospathe was not previously [e.g., Wendl.) H.E. Moore and Balaka longirostris known to occur in Fiji, although its presence is Becc.] are common, several species Cyphos- not surprising basedon its westem tropieal Pacific le.g., perrna tanga (H.E. Moore) H.E. Moore and Het- distribution, which includes the , erospathephillipsii sp. nov.] are very rare and con- , eastem , , Solo- fined to single or only a few localities, with some potentially threatened from logging or other land 3Presentaddress: The Natural Historry Museum, Cromwell use activities. At present, only one palm species Road. London SW7 5BD. UK. from Fiji fNeoueitchiastorcltii (H.WendI.) Becc.l is PRINCIPES [Vor..4l

internationally recognizedas endangered(Gorman branches with prominent pulvini; peduncle to 30 q4d Siwatibar 1975; Lucas and Synge 1978). cm long, elliptic in crosssection, 2.5 cm wide by Because of the diversity and high endemism of I cm thick at the base,to 1.5 cm wide by 0.8 cm Fiji's palm flora, combined with increasingthreats thick below attachment of first branch; prophyll to their habitat, efforts must be taken to both doc- 50-60 cm long, fully encircling peduncle at ument the occurrence of taxa present as well as attachmentodorsiventrally compressed,marginally develop conservationstrategies for their long-term winged, persistent, outer surface with numerous preservation. punctiform scales, inner surface glabrous, disin- tegratingto fibrous strands;peduncular bract.J, Heterospathe phillipsii Fuller and Dowe Sp. nov. greatly exserted from apex of prophyll, attached ca 5 cm above attachment of prophyll, to 1.8 m Palma usque 12 m alta. Folia pinnis latis laxis long, tubular, fully enclosinginflorescence in bud, semipendulismedio folii 4.5 cm latis. Inflorescen- apex dorsiventrally spathulate, splitting longitu- tia ramosain 4 ordines. Flos staminatus6 stamina dinally along adaxial surface prior to dehiscence, ferens.Fructus ellipsoideus usque 13 mm longus, caducous,outer surfacewith numerouspunctiform vestigio stigmatis apicale excentrico. Semen scales,inner surfaceglabrous; rachillae 15-25 cm vadoseruminatum. Typus: Fiji, Viti Levu, Veiva- long, white-cream,terete in cross-section,slightly tuloa District, Namosi Province, B km NW of flexuous,longitudinally striate, sparse brown Navua, Natural Forest ManagementPilot Project scalesmost densenear triads. in triads in (NFMPP) Reserve,c. 150-200 m altitude, 14 proximal portion, paired or single staminateflow- Nov 1995, Fuller 299 (holotypus SUVA; isotypi ers in distal portion, spirally arranged, sessile, BH, BRI). (Figs. r-3). subtended by liplike bracts. Staminate Solitary palm to 12 m tall. Trunk erect, to lB white-cream, slightly asymmetric in bud, sepals cm DBH, green to brown in upper portion, becom- imbricate to I mm long, petals valvate to 3 mm ing grey with age in the lower portion, base long, stamens6, anthers dorsifixed, latrorse, ver- expanded; scars closely spaced, raised, satile; pistillode to 3 mm long, columnar, tapered 10-12 in a compactcrown, to 5 m long, toward the apex. Pistillate flower white-cream, arching to curved below the horizontal, 48-52 pin- symmetrical, to 3 mm long, sepals imbricate, to nae per side, leaf basesnot forming a crownshaft; I.5 mm long, petals imbricate to 3 mm long, new leaf usually reddish/bronze;petiole 30-50 cm stigma trifid, protruding at anthesis. ellip- long, green, concave adaxially, convex abaxially, soid,to 13 X 7 mm, stigmaticremains prominent, glabrous;rachis ridged adaxially, convexabaxially eccentrically apical; epicarp smooth (drying peb- in lower portion becoming flat in distal portion, bled), red at maturity, mesocarp thin, fibrous, glabrous; pinnae lax to semi-pendulous, in one endocarp thin, crustaceous. ellipsoid, plane, glossy dark green on adaxial surface,paler attached laterally, to 7 X 4 mm, hilum elongate, green on abaxial surface, widely and evenly extending the length of the seed, raphe branches spaced along rachis, lanceolate,apex acute, mid- anastomosing,surface with shallow grooves,endo- leaf pinnaeto 75 cm long, 3.5-4.5 cm wide; mid- sperm shallowly ruminate; embryo basal. Eophyll rib prominent adaxially and raised only slightly pinnate. abaxially; secondarylateral ribs 2-3 on either side Distribution: FIJI. Known from one locality on of midrib, most prominent on adaxial surface, Viti Levu, B km north of Navua in forest that has positioned unequally between midrib and mar- been selectivelylogged. This samepalm species ginal rib; ramentaon abaxial midrib sparse,absent was originally reported (in 1976) from a separate from distal one-fourth of pinnae, basifixed. Inflo- disjunct area near NaimasimasiVillage, Province rescence interfoliar, to 1.8 m long, branched to of Tailevu, some 60 km NE of the extant popu- four orders, axes white-cream, all branches lation. A tree from this disjunct population is pres- straight, major branches angular in cross sectiono ently growing in the garden of Mr R.H. Phillips minor branches terete in cross section, bases of (Zona 642). The palms in this area could have

l. Heterospathephittipsii.A pinnae, ada,rial view; B. Staminateflower at anthesis;C. Pistillate flowers, at receptivity, uttu"h"dj rachilla; D. Fruit attachedto rachilla; E. Fruit (full and transected)and seed (hilum view) (.Fuller 299). Illustrations by Nicole Jelicich 19971 FULLERET AL.: NEW HETEROSPATHEFROM FUI

3cmt 68 PRINCIPES [Vol. 41

2. Heterospathephillipsii, habit, inland from Navua, Viti Levu. 3. Leaf and inflorescenceof Heterospathephillipsii

been destroyedwhen the area was clear-felled for palm heart is edible and the immature seedsare planting Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). A eaten: they are reported to taste like coconut. search in 1994 found no trace of the Heterospathe Conseraation'Proposed as Threatened:The palms (R.H. Phillips, personalcommunication). population consistsof an estimated400-500 adult SpecimensExarnincd: FIJI. Viti Levu, Veivatu- trees in a single population along a 5 km section Ioa District, NamosiProvinceo B km NW of Navua, of logging road. The area has been selectively Natural ForestManagement Pilot Project (NFMPP) Iogged. The land where Heterospathephillipsii Reserve,c. 150-200 m altitude, 3 Mar 1995, Ful- occurs is owned by the Nabukebuke Mataqali ler & Doyle 159 (BH, BRI, SUVA, US); l5 March (clan) from Nakavu village. The Fiji Department 1995, Fuller & Doyle l7l, 172 (BRI, CAS, of Forestry has leased most of the palm habitat as SUVA);2I Apr 1995,Fuller 177 (SUYA);21Apr part of the NFMPP project for 50 years effective 1995, Fuller 179 (CAS, SUVA); cultivated in gar- I Januaryf99I (3f5 ha). Selectivelogging con- den of R.H. (Dick) Phillips, Mara Road, Sama- tinues in adjacent rain forest tracts. The palm is bula, Suva, 28 May 1995, Zona 642 (TTG, cultivated in a few private gardensin Suva whiie SUVA); 10 km inland from QueensHwy, 29 May have been distributed to botanic gardens 1995, Zona 643 (WG, SUVA). and collectors in Hawaii and Australia. Etyrnology: Named for Richard (Dick) H. Phil- Heterospathephillipsii occurs as a semi-emer- Iips, horticulturist and amateur botanist, who has gent element in dense evergreenlowland rainfor- been active for many decades in collecting and est, on steep well-drained slopes usually above growingFiji palms. watercoursesat elevationsof 80-300 m. are Ethrnbotany: Vemacular name: niu niu. The deeply weatheredclays with a low natural fertility 1997) FULLERET AL.: NEWHETEROSPATHE FROM FIJI

(de Vletter 1991). Associatedvegetation includes Other outliers occur in the Moluccas, Micronesia, the palms Balalm Longirostrisand, Veitchia aitien' and Vanuatu. srs, with dominant trees in Myristicaceae (167o), Myrtaceae (9Vo), Sapotaceae (B7o), Clusiaceae Acknowledgments (87o), Burseraeeae (6Va), and Thymelaeaceae Partial financial assistancefor this study was (67o). Large Agathi"s uitien'sis(Araucariaceae) and made possible by a research grant from the Uni- a f.ewDegeneria uitieruk (Degeneriaceae)are pres- versity of the South Pacific to MFD and DF. We ent in the surrounding forest. wish to thank Mr. Richard (Dick) Phillips for Within the population, adult palms are evenly bringing this new species of.Heterospathe to ofi scattered.Regeneration is good with both imma- attention as well as his ongoing encouragement ture trees (1-3 m tall) and seedlingsbeing com- and supportfor botanical researchin Fiji' We also mon. Flowering and fruiting occur throughout the wish to thank Nicole Jelicich for her time and year in an apparently cyclical non-seasonalman- effort preparing the drawings, Dorian Fuller for ner, with most individuals flowering and fruiting help with the Latin diagnosis, Professor Peter concurrently. Pollination may be achieved by Newell for all his helpful advice, both tangible and small wasps or bees as these have been observed intangible and Marika Tuiwawa for his assistance at the flowers. Dispersal appears to be mainly with the ethnobotany.Finally, ainalta aaka leau to gravity driven, although Masked Shining Parrots the people of Nakavu Village and the Fiji Depart- (Prosopeiapersonata) have been observedforaging ment of Forestry for their stewardshipof this rare on the palms. palm. Heterospathephillipsii is distinguished from LIreReruRB CIrsl other species of Heterospatheby the following combination of characters:tall solitary trunk, pin- nr Vlnrun, J. 1991. Proposal for the Natural Forest Man- nae broad and lax, inflorescencebranched to four agement Pilot Project (NFMPP. Fiji DoF-GTZ, Fiji Cer- man Forestry Project, Technical Report Number ll. staminate flower with six stamens, fruit orders, Dowe, J.L. eNl P. Cesalron. 1996. A taxonomic account of ellipsoid with prominent, eccentrically apical stig- in Vanuatu, with descriptions of three new matic remains, and the endospermonly shallowly species. Australian SystematicBotany 9: l-60. ruminate. The species appears most closely EssIG,F.B. 1982. A synopsisof the genus Culubia. Principes 26: L59-173. related to the fL wood,fordianaBecc. group from GoRueru,M.L. lNl S. Stwertseu. 1975. The status of /{eoz- the , and to H. uniformis Dowe eitchia storchii (Wendl): a species of palm tree endemic from Vanuatu. This assemblageof species to the Fijian Island of Viti Levu. Biological Consenation includes moderately tall palms with staminate B;73-76. Luces, G. enl H. Svxcr. 1978. The IUCN Red Data flowers with six stamens and elongate/ellipsoid Book. Morges, Switzerland. fruit. The New Guinea Heterospathe(ca. 16 spp.) MooRE, H.E., JR. 1979. Family 39. Arecaceae.In. A.C. Smith tend to be rather small arborescentor acaulescent/ (ed.). Flora vitiensis nova. Pacific Tropical Botanical Gar- palms with moderatelybranched inflo- den, Hawaii. clustering R.H. Pstlltps anl S. VoloNervelu. 1982. Addi- rescences(l-3 orders)and with most specieshav- tions to ihe palms of Fiji. Principes 26: L22-125. ing more than six stamens,while those from the RoDDA, P. 1994. Geology of Fiji. In: A.J. Stevenson,R.H. Philippines (ca. 1I spp.) tend to be rather small Herzer, and P.F. Ballance (eds.). Geologyand submarine of the Tonga-Lau-Fiji Region. SOPAC Technr palms stamens.The occurrence resources clustering with six cal BulletinB: t3l-151. of Heterospathein Fiji significantly, but not unex- Uul, N.W; er,lo J. DneltsrIELD. 1987. Genera Palmarum. pectedly, extends the distribution of the genus. Allen Press. Lawrence. Kansas.

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