Poikilogyne cordifolia (Cogn.) Mansf., a newly recorded genus and species of Melastomataceae for Australia

摘要

Melastomataceae is a diverse family of plants in the order Myrtales (A.P.G. 2009). The family comprises more than 4500 species and 150 genera (Renner 1993) and exhibits its highest diversity in the Neotropics, with secondary centres of diversity occurring in the Malesian and African regions (Renner 1993; Cellinese 2007). Even though Cape York Peninsula, Queensland is relatively close to the Malesian region it harbours only five indigenous Melastomataceae species from four genera (Bostock & Holland 2010). Approximately 60% of the Australian Melastomataceae flora has been introduced by humans via the horticultural trade, including the significant environmental weeds Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don, Mikania micrantha Kunth and Miconia calvescens DC. (Bostock & Holland 2010). Therefore, upon receiving an attractive and unidentified Melastomataceae collected from Cape York Peninsula it was initially expected that it belonged to a weedy horticultural species. Closer examination of the buds, leaf type, fruit type and anthers indicated that it belonged to the widespread New Guinea species Poikilogyne cordifolia Mansf. and that it is likely to be indigenous. It is the first record of the genus Poikilogyne Baker f. outside Malesia.