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

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Distribution

This has been reported from a restricted area in the Merdey valley (now Moskona Utara district of Teluk Bintuni regency), in South-Central Bird?s Head Peninsula 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

  • The only New Guinea Licuala recorded so far with bifid leaves. The inflorescence structure is reminiscent of L. graminifolia from which it differs by normally having two partial inflorescences. Flowering material of this species has not yet been collected. (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 solitaria, foliis bifidis et inflorescentia partiali spicata. (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 grows in lowland forest to 500 m asl. (Heatubun, Ch. D. and Barfod A. 2008. Two New Species of Licuala (Arecaceae; Coryphoideae) from Western New Guinea. Blumea 53: 429-434)A

Conservation

  • Data deficient but probably under threat due to its restricted distribution. (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 entire, bifid leaves. (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 to medium-sized palm. Stem to 2 m high, to 3 cm diam., internodes very short. Leaves c. 18 in crown; petiole 13-30 cm long, 3?6 mm wide at the base to 3?6 mm across towards the apex, adaxial face flattened at the apex and shallowly channelled at the base, abaxial face rounded, greenish yellow in colour, armed; blade small, 17-20 cm wide, simple-bifid leaves, adaxial light green, abaxial whitish, c. 112 cm long, truncate at apex and 5?10 mm wide, lobe split 30?35 cm from apex to rachis, rachis c. 40 cm long. Inflorescences 1 or 2 in a single palm, shorter than leaves, 82-90 cm long, branched to only 2 first-order branches; peduncle 67-75 cm long; prophyll 21-25 by 1.5-2 mm; peduncular bracts lacking; rachis elongate, c. 16 cm long; rachis bract tubular, flattened, 2-keeled, 40-50 by 1 mm, covered with brown and black indument, mouth loosely sheathing, splitting on one side, apex pointed; first-order branches close to or slightly away from mouth of rachis bract (c. 12 cm); rachillae 8-12 cm long, 2-3 mm wide. Flowers unknown. Fruits globose, 7-10 mm diam., orange when mature; seed globose 5-8 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 specimen studied: Indonesia. West Papua: Heatubun s.n. (MAN!), Manokwari, Merdey district (now is Moskona Utara district of Teluk Bintuni regency), forest behind Merdey village. (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