Studies on Homalomeneae (Araceae) of Borneo VII: Homalomena debilicrista, a new species from Malaysian Borneo, and observations of its pollination mechanics
Homalomena debilicrista Y.C.Hoe is described and illustrated as a species new to science from the Matang massif sandstone formation, Kuching Division, NW Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It represents the sixth species of the informal Hanneae Complex, a morphotaxon apparently endemic to Borneo and compose...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Publishing Technology
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/7247/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/7247/1/Chen%2C%20Hoe%20Yin.pdf |
| Summary: | Homalomena debilicrista Y.C.Hoe is described and illustrated as a species new to science from the Matang massif sandstone formation, Kuching Division, NW Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It represents the sixth species of the informal Hanneae Complex, a morphotaxon apparently endemic to Borneo and composed wholly of nomenclaturally novel species. Inflorescence events, notably spathe movement mechanisms, and interactions with insect visitors were observed and recorded to determine pollinator/s as part of an on-going programme accumulating data on pollinator guild niche partitioning in Homalomena. Six insect taxa visited the inflorescences during anthesis: (1) Coleoptera — Chrysomelidae (Chaloenus schawalleri), Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae (Parastasia bimaculata), Nitidulidae (genus undetermined), and Staphylinidae (genus undetermined) - and (2) Diptera, two species of Colocasiomyia (Drosophilidae). Empirical data strongly implicate P. bimaculata and possibly C. schawalleri to be the pollinators of Homalomena debilicrista. A key to the so-far described species of the Homalomena Hanneae Complex is presented, and the new species is illustrated. |
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