Taxonomic appraisal of Fagraea ceilanica (Gentianaceae), and description of a new tree species from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, western New Guinea

Abstract

A new rainforest understorey tree, Fagraea christinae Y.W. Low & V.A. Albert (Gentianaceae), is described here based on three collections from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, western New Guinea. The new species was previously included in the species complex F. ceilanica Thunb. s.l. Fagraea christinae is superficially similar to F. annulata Hiern and F. berteroana A. Gray ex Benth. in having stamens inserted upon a fleshy ring on the inner surface of the corolla tube, but differs from those two taxa in having crenate bracteoles and calyx lobes. The new species is provided with line drawings, field photographs and a distribution map.