New or noteworthy Philippine plants.

Abstract

growing on exposed windswept ridges at an elevation of about 1,200 m. A species of the section Pleiostigma, evidently related to Freycenetia sphaerocepJiala Gaud., but abundantly distinct. Pandanus ltjzonensis Merrill, sp. nov. § Vinsonia. Plates I, II. An. arborescent species about 8 m. high, with very long, narrow leaves and solitary, globose, pendant fruits, 8 to 10 cm. in diameter. Trunk erect, 10 to 12 cm. in diameter, much branched above, the branches spreading or ascending, the ultimate ones 2 cm. in diameter. Leaves 1.5 to 2 m. long, 2.5 to 3 cm. wide, glabrous, the apex very long narrowly acuminate, the margins strongly antrorsely toothed throughout, the midrib beneath, below with stout retrorse, curved spines, smooth in the middle, and above with small antrorse spines, the upper surface glabrous except near the apex where there are two rows of small, scattered teeth between the margins and the midrib, the margins at the apex finely serrate. Staminate inflorescence 20 to 30 cm. long, fleshy, branched, the branches thick, ascending, the lower ones 8 cm. long, each branch subtended by a broad, thin bract, 8 cm. wide, the lower one abruptly contracted and the tip foliaceous, 30 cm. long, or longer, the second and third bracts abruptly acuminate, the tips more or less foliaceous, the upper bracts much smaller, acute. Stamens 4 to 9, the filaments united into a fleshy tube 4 to 8 mm. long; anthers 2 mm. long. Pistillate inflorescence unknown. Fruit solitary, the peduncle triangular, gradually thickening upward, 1 cm. thick above, 20 cm. long. Drupes 30 to 60 in each head, yellowish red when ripe, ovate or obovate, 3 to 4 cm. long, 2 to 2.5 cm. thick, smooth and shining, sharply 5 angled, the upper third free, convexly pyramidal, the apex flattened, 5 to 10 mm. in diameter, slightly sulcate, the stigmas flattened, often obscure. Seeds 6 to 10.

Robust Phylogeny of Tetrastigma (Vitaceae) Based on Ten Plastid DNA Regions: Implications for Infrageneric Classification and Seed Character Evolution

“…Li., on the basis of rugulose or tuberculate seeds with a rounded to elliptic chalaza in the middle of the dorsal surface of the seed. There have been several other regional studies concerning the taxonomy of Tetrastigma (Gagnepain, 1910 , 1944 ; Merrill, 1912 , 1916 , 1918 ; Craib, 1931 ). However, the significance of seed morphology in Tetrastigma taxonomy has not been thoroughly examined in these studies.…”

Taxonomic novelties and changes in Philippine Timonius (Rubiaceae, Guettardeae)

“…This species is distinguished by its variable leaf morphology, elongated staminate flowers and ellipsoid fruits that are crowned by a cylindric and elongated calyx (Merrill 1920 publ. , p. 318). However, there are no significant morphological differences between T. valetonii and T. panayensis .…”

“…Later, Merrill (1920 publ. 1921) described T. panayensis based on specimens from Libacao on the island of Panay, a locality that is close to Sibuyan Island (ca 100 km). This species is distinguished by its variable leaf morphology, elongated staminate flowers and ellipsoid fruits that are crowned by a cylindric and elongated calyx (Merrill 1920 publ.…”

“…Additionally, the description of fruit characteristics for both taxa provided by Elmer () and Merrill (1920 publ. 1921) were based on materials at different stages of maturity. Field observations also show that the persistent calyx crown of the fruits of T. valetonii is elongated, but sometimes appears short and truncate (Fig.…”

Three new species of Begonia sect. Baryandra from Panay Island, Philippines

“…Elmer Merrill was the first to explore Begonia in Panay Island, describing six new species, B. collisiae Merr., B. lancilimba Merr., B. obtusifolia Merr., B. panayensis Merr., B. rubrifolia Merr., and B. serpens Merr. (Merrill 1919 ). There were no further reports on the begonias of Panay since then (Rubite and Madulid 2010 ).…”