Mapania sapuaniana Shabdin, 2013

Mapania sapuaniana Shabdin View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 2 View Fig , 3 View Fig

Similar to M. richardsii except leaf-blade oblong, 7–10.5 cm wide, with a distinct pseudopetiole between leaf-blade and sheath.Also similar to M. borneensis Merr. but leaf-blade 7–10.5 cm wide and inflorescence with more than 1 spike. — Typus: Meekiong Kalu et al. MK1801 (holo SAR; iso HUMS, K, RNG),Borneo, Malaysia, Sarawak,Kapit Division,Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sungai Joh, c. 140 m alt., 27 Mar. 2009.

Etymology. The specific epithet honours Haji Sapuan, Senior Deputy Director of the Sarawak Forestry Department for his excellent endeavour in leading the 2008 Lanjak Entimau Scientific Expedition.

Moderately robust to robust, shortly rhizomatous perennial; rhizome 2–3 cm long. Cataphylls elliptic to lanceolate, 5.5–13 by 3–5 mm. Culms several, erect, lateral, 5–15 by 0.2 cm, glabrous, maroon or dark purplish red. Leaves basal, up to 55 cm long; leaf-blade oblong, 13–38 by 7–10.5 cm, apex abruptly narrowed and auriculate with narrow tip of 2 – 3 cm long, base gradually narrowed into a short pseudopetiole which widens again into the sheath, coriaceous to subcoriaceous, papery when dried, upper surface yellowish green and shiny, lower surface reddish purple with maroon nerves (in living material), 3-nerved, secondary nerves distinct, flat in cross-section, margins entire to scabrid near apex; pseudopetiole 10–16 by 1.5–3 cm; sheath oblong-lanceolate, 4.5–8 by 0.6–1.6 cm, apex very gradually narrowed, coriaceous, reddish green to maroon with minute blackish stripes. Involucral bracts several, glumaceous, ovate-lanceolate, 8–10 by 5–7 mm, apex acute or nearly blunt, basal bract shorter, acute, maroon or purplish red, coriaceous, glabrous, nerves distinct. Inflorescences terminal on lateral culms from rhizomes or axil of basal-most leaves, 2– 3, composed of 3–5 distinct spikes; spike elliptic, 8–11 by 5–8 mm, apex obtuse, maroon to purplish red; spicoid bracts ovate, 3–7 by 2–3.5 mm, obtuse, coriaceous to subcoriaceous, maroon or purplish red, glabrous, midrib green; floral bracts 6, free, lowest 2 bracts ovate or linear-oblong, 5.5–6 by 0.5–1 mm, acute, maroon or purplish red, keeled, wingless, hispid, upper bracts linear-lanceolate, 5–6 mm long, flat to ± keeled, glabrous; staminate flowers 3 per spicoid, anthers linear, whitish, 2–2.5 mm long; stigma branches 3; style 4 mm long. Fruit not known.

Distribution — Borneo, Sarawak, Kapit Division.

Habitat — Lowland mixed dipterocarp forest along stream- sides, on wet slopes and on rocky slopes in pockets with thick leaf litter, thriving in deep shade; 140 m.

Conservation status — Currently this species is only record- ed by the Joh River, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS), Sarawak and is probably endemic to the area, since it has not been found before on several fieldtrips that we have conducted in other places in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. The species occurs in a 1 km 2 area, with fewer than 100 individuals. Growing localised to this particular area, we therefore believe it to be Vulnerable (VU D2) following the IUCN (2001) Categories and Criteria.

Note — Mapania richardsii and M. borneensis are the taxa closest to M. sapuaniana , differing primarily in leaf size, absence/presence of pseudopetiole and number of spikes per inflorescence.

The three species may be separated using the following key:

1. Leaves without a distinct pseudopetiole, the leaf-blade gradually narrowed into a sheath............ M. richardsii View in CoL

1. Leaves with a distinct pseudopetiole between leaf-blade and sheath....................................... 2

2. Inflorescence with only 1 spike; leaf-blade 1.8–3.6 cm wide................................... M. borneensis View in CoL

2. Inflorescence with more than 1 spike; leaf-blade 7–10.5 cm wide.............................. M. sapuaniana View in CoL