Eriocaulon insectum, a new species of Eriocaulaceae from Cape York, Queensland

Abstract

A new species of pipewort (Eriocaulon; Eriocaulaceae) from Cape York, Queensland was recently discovered. Eriocaulon insectum Baleeiro & R.W.Jobson is distinguished from all other species by its golden-brown inflorescence head, having female flowers with large, winged sepals with two black spots, four black, exerted stamens, with male sepals as a spathe, and seeds with 3–5 hyaline, T-shaped peg-like projections. Diagnostic characters are illustrated and tabulated with comparison to closely related species. A taxonomic key containing all known species from Cape York is provided, and habitat preference, distribution, and conservation status are discussed and compared to that of closely related species.