Licuala graminifolia Heatubun & Barfod, Blumea 53: 431 (2008)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
New Guinea present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Known from several collections in Western New Guinea. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

Discussion

  • Licuala graminifolia is similar to L. bifida in the inflorescence structure; but in contrast to this, the inflorescence is unbranched with only one, spicate, partial inflorescence. The leaf is easily distinguished by the fine segmentation of the blade. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

Diagnosis

  • Palma parva solitaria, foliis subtiliter divisis et inflorescentia non ramosa. Ab L. bifida,?et ceteris speciebus inflorescentiam spicam praebens, folia in segmentis augustis divisis?statim diagnoscenda. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

Biology And Ecology

  • This palm is distributed in lowland rain forest ranging up to 800 m asl. It is often found in association with Vatica rassak Blume. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

Conservation

  • No immediate concern since it is quite common locally but further research is required. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

Common Name

  • Pupuru (Jamur dialect) is the collective term for species of Licuala in the Lake Jamur area. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

    Etymology

    • The name refers to the grass-like leaf segments. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

    Description

    • Solitary, small palm. Stem acaulescent to about 1 m high, 1.5 cm diam., internodes short. Leaves c. 9 in crown, sheath disintegrating into a loose mesh of fine fibres; petiole 40-65 cm long, 2-4 mm wide at the base to 2?2.5 mm across towards the apex, adaxially flattened to shallowly channelled towards the base, abaxially rounded, unarmed; lamina fan-shaped in outline, 30-50 cm wide, divided into 9-11 segments, narrowly wedge-shaped or with slightly curved lateral margins, all segments with 1-3 adaxial ribs, more or less equal in length 20-35 cm, indentations leading to adaxial ribs 2-3 mm long, those leading to abaxial splits considerably shorter, mid-segment truncate, 6-9 mm wide at apex, basal segment obliquely truncate at apex, usually wider than the mid-segment. Inflorescences 1 or 2 in one palm individual, shorter than leaves, 20-60 cm long, carrying one spicate, partial inflorescence; prophyll 10-12 cm long and up to 10 mm wide, loosely fitting, splitting on one side; peduncle as measured to insertion of rachis bract 8-20 cm long; peduncular bracts lacking; rachis bract tubular, 5-9 cm long and up to 7 mm wide, covered with scattered ferruginous ramenta basally, loosely fitting to weakly inflated towards the apex, with 2 or 3 splits, 5-12 mm long; peduncle of partial inflorescence equal to or slightly exceeding rachis in length; rachilla 6-8 cm long, 1-2 mm wide. Flowers solitary, hermaphroditic, bullet-shaped 2.5-3 mm long; flowers borne on elevated points, subtending bract c. 1 mm long, bracteole more or less conspicuous at a lateral position, pedicel very short, calyx 2.2-2.8 mm long, hyaline distally, with three 0.4-0.6 mm long pointed lobes; corolla 2-2.2 mm long, splitting deeply to c. 5 mm above the base; androecium fused to corolla for 0.5-0.6 mm, staminal ring c. 0.5 mm high; anthers inconspicuously inserted in 2 levels, 0.5-0.6 mm long; ovary 0.7-0.8 mm long, attenuate apically; style 0.6-0.7 mm long; locules in lower half. Fruits globose, 8-10 mm diam., green; seed 6-8 mm diam.; endocarp smooth; endosperm homogeneous. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

    Materials Examined

    • Additional specimens studied: Indonesia. West Papua: Heatubun 332 (K!, MAN!), Kaimana regency (previously Fakfak regency), Teluk Etna district, km 45 logging road to Lake Jamur; Heatubun 334 (MAN!), idem. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

    Bibliography

      A. Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434
      B. World Checklist of Arecaceae