The taxonomy and morphology of Schizomeria (Cunoniaceae) in New Guinea, the Moluccas and the Solomon Islands, with notes on seed dispersal and uses throughout the genus

Abstract

Schizomeria is a genus of forest trees or occasionally understorey shrubs represented by some seven species in New Guinea, one of which extends west to the Moluccas and two eastwards to the Solomon Islands; an additional two or three species occur in eastern Australia. In New Guinea, Schizomeria grows from lowland to subalpine forest, with most species occurring in the montane zone. This revision presents a key to the species, plus synonymy, descriptions, distribution maps, provisional conservation assessments and an index to collections for the taxa in New Guinea, the Moluccas and the Solomon Islands; local names are given in an Appendix. Species delimitation in New Guinea is not always straightforward and several taxa are quite variable, or have blurred boundaries, or both. Morphological characters that are useful in distinguishing among species include the type and distribution of the indumentum, the structure and position of the inflorescence (whether terminal, false-terminal or axillary) and the presence or absence of subspherical glands on the leaves. The flowers are polysymmetric, green, white or pale yellow, with small, 3-toothed petals; some species are andromonoecious. The subspherical or ellipsoidal drupes have a brown, orange, yellowish or whitish epicarp; they are dispersed by vertebrates, including cassowaries, fruit-bats and other arboreal frugivores including pigeons. The timber has some commercial value plus a number of local uses. Data for the Australian taxa are included in the discussions of dispersal and uses.