Hydnophytum trichomanes Jebb & C.R.Huxley, 2019

12. Hydnophytum trichomanes Jebb & C.R.Huxley View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 15 View Fig

Tuber grande. Caules complures, ad 60 cm. Radices ad nodos ramorum enatae. Lamina late lanceolata usque obovata, 11 per 6.5 ad 13 per 9 cm, apice acuto usque acuminato, basi sensim attenuata, coriacea textura; nervi 6 vel 8, irregulares. Petiolus ad 1 cm. Stipulae 1 ad 1.3 cm, triangulares, persistentes, tandem attriti, findentes et inter et intra petiolus. Inflorescentia grandis, binata, obtecti ingenti pulvino pilorum bractealium ad 2 cm in diamtero.Flos non bene cognitus,ad 4 mm; lobi ad 1.5 mm.Pyrenae obovoideae, 5 per 2.5 mm.

— Typus: Docters van Leeuwen 9566 (holo L; iso A, BO, K), New Guinea, Papua Province, Mamberamo river , Albatross bivak , July 1926 .

Etymology. For the exceptional pulvinate inflorescence hairs.

Tuber to 30 cm, surface smooth. Entrance holes scattered, conical 0.1–1 cm diam internally. Cavities large, to 10 cm across.

Stems several, to 60 by 0.3–1 cm, branching. Internodes 1–9 cm, round in section, with two narrow ridges, ferruginous when young. Roots arising at both sterile and fertile nodes, up to 20 cm in length, becoming branched and ramifying amongst the bract hairs. Lamina broadly lanceolate to obovate, 11 by 6.5 to 13 by 9 cm; apex acute to acuminate; base tapering; leathery in texture; midrib caniculate above, thickening markedly towards the petiole; veins 6–8, irregular, with secondary veins not parallel to more distinct primary veins. Petiole caniculate above, 0.5–1 cm; stipules 1–1.3 cm, triangular, persistent, becoming worn; splitting both inter- and intra-petiolarly. Inflorescence large, paired, obscured by a massive pulvinate cushion of bract hairs to 2 cm across, the flowers arising from an area to 0.6 cm across on the stem. Flowers [1 – undeveloped flower]. Calyx 1 mm, entire. Corolla to 4 mm; lobes triangular to 1.5 mm, a ring of hairs at mouth of tube. Anthers at apex of tube. Pollen 3-porate, 45 µm, brochi <1 µm, pores unbordered, vesicles small. Stigma bifid, above level of anthers. Fruit 6.5 by 3 mm, obovate. Pyrenes obovoid to club-like, to 5 by 2.5 mm, rounded at apex, tapered towards base, abaxially rounded, adaxially flat to concave.

Ecology & Habitat — Forest, 100–250 m. Docters van Leeuwen’s notes mention that the freshly collected tuber contained water in its cavities.

Distribution — Indonesia (Papua Province).

Conservation status — Vulnerable (VU) under criteria D2 with the two localities over 200 km apart.

Additional specimen examined. Barclay s.n. (K) Japen Island, Jobie.

Note — The very large cushions of bracts exceed two or three times the diameter of the stem.