Philippine Journal of Science
142: (3) 89-93, Special Issue
ISSN 0031 - 7683
Medinilla dallciana (Melastomataceae: Dissochaeteae), a New Species from Luzon Island, Philippines
Edwino S. Fernando1,* and Danilo S. Balete2
1Department of Forest Biological Sciences
College of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of the Philippines
Los Baños, College, 4031 Laguna, Philippines
2Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
ABSTRACT
A new species, Medinilla dallciana Fernando & Balete (Melastomataceae: Dissochaeteae), with cauliflorous, compact inflorescences, borne on long, pendulous, and persistent peduncles from Luzon Island, Philippines, is described and illustrated. Its similarity with other Philippine species of Medinilla is discussed.
INTRODUCTION
The genus Medinilla Gaudich. ex DC. (Melastomataceae: Dissochaeteae) includes about 375 species (Mabberley 2008) of epiphytic and terrestrial shrubs and climbers occurring from Tropical Africa, Madagascar, to India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, southern China, Taiwan, throughout Southeast Asia, New Guinea, northern Australia, Micronesia, Solomons, and Vanuatu.
In the Philippines, regarded as one of the centers of diversity of the genus (Regalado 1995), Merrill (1913) early on accounted just 28 species, then later 125 species (Merrill 1923). In the most recent taxonomic revision of the Philippine species of this genus, Regalado (1995) recognized 80 species belonging to 12 species groups with 90% endemicity. Many of these species have ornamental features and some have long and widely been in cultivation (Steiner 1960, Madulid 1995, Rosario & Mendoza 1998, Boo et al. 2006). . . . . read more
