Iguanura grandis Henderson, 2025

Henderson, Andrew, 2025, A revision of Iguanura (Arecaceae, Arecoideae, Areceae), Phytotaxa 690 (2), pp. 135-188 : 161

12. Iguanura grandis Henderson , sp. nov. Type:— MALAYSIA. Sarawak, Bkt. Raya, Kapit District, 3 rd Division, 31 March 1969, G. Smith S.27712 (holotype SAR!). Plate 5.

Stems length, diameter, and branching not recorded. Leaf sheaths 10.7(7.0–13.5) cm long, tubular, mostly closed opposite the petiole, cleanly falling, covered with a thin layer of indumentum; ocreas scarcely developed; petioles not recorded; rachises not recorded; leaf blades divided, not rounded at the apex, with a deep split; leaf veins parallel; adaxial leaf veins prominent, rectangular in cross-section; pinnae number not recorded; middle pinna 29.0 cm long, 10.0 cm wide. Inflorescences branched to 2 orders; prophylls and peduncular bracts not recorded; peduncles length not recorded, not wooly tomentose; rachises not recorded; rachillae number not recorded, 34.0 cm long, 2.4 mm diameter, widely diverging from the rachis, proximal part of rachillae not with distantly spaced triads, glabrous or sparsely tomentose, not filiform with triads sunken in shallow, more or less closely spaced pits; rachilla bracts not elongate; distal triad bracteoles well-developed; distal part of flower pits glabrous; staminate flowers not recorded; fruits 14.8 mm long, 5.3 mm diameter, narrowly ovoid, curved, ridged, the surfaces drying smooth, white; endocarp circular in cross-section; endosperm not recorded.

Distribution and habitat:— Malaysia ( Sarawak) in primary forest, elevation not recorded ( Fig. 9 ).

Taxonomic notes:— Iguanura grandis is recognized as a phylogenetic species—see notes under I. curvata . It is characterized by its scarcely developed ocreas and narrowly ovoid, curved, ridged fruits. The type specimen (G. Smith S.27712) was cited by Kiew (1979) as I. curvata . However, apart from the scarcely developed ocreas, it differs in its much larger size. Middle pinnae are 29.0 cm long and 10.0 cm wide, and rachillae are 34.0 cm long and 2.4 mm diameter.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Distribution of Iguanura elegans, I. exilis, I. grandis, and I. lunata.