Rhodamnia longisepala (Myrtaceae): An Endangered Species from Northeastern Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Rhodamnia longisepala N. Snow & A. J. Ford is described from the Windsor Tableland region of northeastern Queensland, Australia. All known collections occur in the Chowchilla Logging Area of State Forest Reserve 144. Since only nine plants are known over an area of 1 km2, the species is considered highly vulnerable. The new species is distinguished from others in Rhodamnia by the persistent and erect subulate sepal lobes of the fruit. The fruit droops at maturity, is covered by densely villous to hirsute hairs, and lacks a reddish stage en route to its purplish black mature color. Domatia are present on the abaxial leaf surface where the major lateral nerves join the midnerve near the petiole. Rhodamnia longisepala somewhat resembles R. rubescens in leaf morphology and pubescence, but the latter species is far more common and is distributed from southeastern Queensland to southeastern New South Wales.