Hydnophytum morotaiense Jebb & C.R.Huxley, 2019

3. Hydnophytum morotaiense Jebb & C.R.Huxley View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 4 View Fig ; Map 1 View Map 1

Tuber laeve . Caules complures; internodia ad 7 per 0.8 cm. Lamina lanceolata,7.5 per 1.8 ad 15 per 4.5 cm,apice acuto,basi sensim attenuata.Petiolus 1.3 cm;stipulae triangulares,0.25 mm longae,caducae.Inflorescentia binati pulvini ad 1.5 cm in diametro.Flos non bene cognitus.

— Typus: Kostermans 985 (holo BO; iso A, K, L), Moluccas, Morotai Island , 25 May 1949 .

Etymology. For the type locality.

Tuber scarcely known, probably large; surface smooth. Cavities warted and smooth-walled. Stems several to 1 m in length; branched, drying striate; internodes 1.5–7 by 0.4–0.8 cm, angular. Lamina narrowly lanceolate; 7.5 by 1.8 to 15 by 4.5 cm; apex acute; base tapering; midrib prominent below, canaliculate above; veins 5–7, but often obscured, arched and joined near margin; thick and leathery, drying grey-green. Petiole to 1.3 cm, drying dark; stipules triangular to 0.25 cm, caducous. Inflorescence comprising 2 or 4 circular depressions with slightly raised rims, covered by a mass of brown bract hairs to 1.5 cm across. Flowers [1] fragmentary. Calyx 1 mm, entire. Corolla tube 0.8 mm, with a ring of hairs below the anthers lobes 0.6 mm, uncus to 0.3 mm. Anthers 0.4 mm, filaments 0.2 mm; half exserted from mouth of tube. Stigma at level of anthers. Fruit to 4.5 mm, oblong, with large disc remains surrounded by calyx remains. Pyrenes fusiform to ovoid, 3–4 by 1–1.5 mm.

Ecology & Habitat — Forest, 100–800 m. Tuber contents not recorded.

Distribution — Indonesia, North Sulawesi Province (Talaud Island) and North Maluku Province (Morotai Island).

Conservation status — Vulnerable (VU) under criteria D2. The two island populations are over 330 km apart.

Additional specimens examined. Lam 3602 (BO, L), Moluccas, Morotai Is, Mt Ligoir, Guguti, East of Pilano; Lam 2963 (BO, L), Talaud Island, Karakelang, SW slope of G. Duata.

Note — The lanceolate leaves and large bract cushions covering the inflorescence are reminiscent of Myrmephytum moniliforme C.R.Huxley & Jebb (Huxley & Jebb 1991c) , with which it could be confused. The inflorescence structure is similar to that of H. ovatum [4] and H. spathulatum [5].