PALMS Vol. 61(1) 2017 PALM NEWS C h In November of 2016, M.H. Grayum and J. r i s t e De Gracia published a new species of l R Synechanthus from Panama, S. dasystachys a m o (Phytoneuron 71: 1–10). The species, only s the third recognized in this small, seldom- seen genus, is characterized by simple, bifid leaves and unbranched inflorescences. The publication is open access and available at www.phytoneuron.net/2016Phytoneuron/ 71PhytoN-Synechanthus.pdf. K In December of 2016, K. Luo et al. published a a i w new species of Guihaia from karst limestone e n hills of central Guangxi, China (Phytotaxa 286: L u 285–290). It is only the third species of Guihaia . o Guihaia lancifolia is remarkable for having narrow, undivided, lanceolate leaves. The evolution of this palm appears to represent a case of paedomorphism, the retention of juvenile traits (in this case, juvenile leaf shape) into adulthood. C . Lastly, C.D. Heatubun described (Phytotaxa 288: 175–180) a D . H palm that he has named Areca jokowi . This newly-discovered e a wild relative of the betel nut palm is from western New t u b Guinea. The specific epithet honors the President of Republic u n Indonesia, His Excellency Joko Widodo-Jokowi. The addition of this species brings the total species of Areca in western New Guinea to five. We have just learned the very sad news that Xavier Metz has passed away , in Antananarivo, Madagascar, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Nathalie and three daughters. It was Xavier, who, with his family, discovered Tahina spectabilis in a remote part of northwest Madagascar, where he managed a cashew plantation. Xavier did much to bring the palm to the notice of botanists, facilitated the collection of scientific specimens, organized the controlled seed harvest from which most, if not all, cultivated plants originate, and who laid the foundation for Tahina spectabilis conservation and sustainable use. 4.