Squamellaria vanuatuensis Jebb & C.R.Huxley

55. Squamellaria vanuatuensis Jebb & C.R.Huxley View in CoL — Fig. 59 View Fig

Squamellaria vanuatuensis Jebb & C.R.Huxley in Chomicki & S.S.Renner (2016) 17. — Type: G. McPherson, M. Tuiwawa, & R. Rigault 19437 (holo PVNH; iso MO, NOU, P, SUVA), Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo Island , West coast of Cumberland Peninsula above village of Penarouf , 17 Nov. 2006 .

Etymology. For the type locality.

Tuber flattened, to 40 cm across, red-brown in colour. Cavities relatively large. Stems several, to 60 by 0.2–0.5 cm. Internodes 1.5–5 cm. Lamina ovate; 4 by 2.2 to 5.5 by 3.3 cm; apex acute; base rounded; succulent; pale green; venation obscure, 6 or 7. Petiole 2 cm; stipules to 0.15 cm, rounded, papery, caducous. Inflorescence paired, sessile, covered by papery, triangular bracts to 1 cm in length, forming a mass 1.5 cm across. Flowers [1]?heterostylous. Calyx 4-dentate, 3 mm, teeth to 1 mm. Corolla in bud 2.5 mm overall.Anthers 1.2 mm. Pollen 3-colpate, 57.5 μm across; reticulation medium, brochi 1–2 μm. Stigma 2-fid, above level of anthers. Fruit and pyrenes unknown.

Ecology & Habitat — Forest.

Distribution — Vanuatu (Espiritu Santo Island, Maewo,Pentecost, Efate and Erromanga islands).

Conservation status — Near Threatened (NT). This species is found on five of the islands of Vanuatu. These islands are still covered by some 75 % forest cover and conservation at community level is a high government priority. Other information: AOO 847 km 2 (using an auto-value cell width of 11 km).

Additional specimens examined. L. Bernardi 13238 (G), Erromanga, in the vicinity of the Nouankao Camp, 5 Aug. 1971; Green in RSNH 1274 (K), S18°54' E169°11', Erromanga; Morrison s.n. (K), Efate, summit of Mt Macdonald, Undine Bay; P. Cabalion 2731 (P), Efate, Mt McDonald; Bourdy 532 (K) Maewo, Saritamita; P. Cabalion 2528 (P), Pentecoste, Eikol.

Note — This species is geographically isolated. Although superficially similar to H. mayuense [32], it differs in its short petiole, and pale-coloured, delicate bracts. Bourdy 532 (K), which was intended to be the type, has been annotated as ‘ Hydnophytum vanuatuense ’.