Leaf micro-morphological characteristics of selected Vatica species (Dipterocarpaceae) from Kubah National Park, Sarawak

Genus Vatica L. is one of the largest groups in the family Dipterocarpaceae with 71 species have been botanically described, distributed from India, Sri Lanka to Myanmar, Indochina, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines. Borneo with 35 species has the largest representative. In Sarawak, 32 species have been recorded, occurring especially in mixed and upper dipterocarp forests and also non-saline habitats from sea level up to about 1,800 m altitude. Kubah National Park is among the richest site for genus Vatica in Sarawak with 11 species recorded. The Vatica species are distinguished from other genera of Dipterocarpaceae by the absence of looped intra-marginal nerves on leaf, winged fruits encloses less than half of the nut, glabrous anthers and stout style. However, in term of inter species within its genus, Vatica is the most difficult dipterocarp to be identified, which explains why this common genus so poorly known. This study was conducted to examine leaves characteristics particularly its micro morphology to differentiate some selected Vatica species from Kubah National Park. Leaves samples were observed via Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM). The characteristics and indumentums were compared between each species and noted. Results show that leaf micro morphology characteristics are significantly useful to differentiate the species level and intra-specific level

Mapania sapuaniana (Cyperaceae), a new sedge species from Sarawak

Mapania sapuaniana, a spectacular new sedge species from Lanjak Entimau, Sarawak, is described and illustrated. It is closely related to M. richardsii and M. bomeensis but differs in having broad leaves with a distinct pseudopetiole, reddish purple or maroon coloration on the underside of the leaf and petiole and an inflorescence composed of several spikes

A revision of genus Vatica L. (Dipterocarpaceae) in Borneo I:Taxa in Sabah and Sarawak

A taxonomic revision of the genus Vatica L. (Dipterocarpaceae) in Borneo focusing on taxa Sabah and Sarawak is presented herein. A total of 46 taxa from 40 species is recognised and grouped into three sections. The sections are sect. Vatica 17 taxa (12 species), sect. Sunaptea 22 taxa (21 species), sect. Pachynocarpa with four species, and Vatica pentandra which has five stamens is not placed in any section due to lack of information of the fruit calyx characteristics. Full descriptions of species are excluded as they are presented elsewhere

A review of Scaphochlamys (Zingiberaceae) from borneo, with description of eleven new species

In the present paper, the genus Scaphochlamys from Borneo is revised. Twenty-four species are recognised, of which 11 are new species: S. durga, S. graveolens, S. hasta, S. lanjakensis, S. lucens, S. nigra, S. multifolia, S. penyamar, S. pseudoreticosa, S. scintillans, and S. uniflora. Scaphochlamys depressa is treated as a synonym to S. argentea. The Bornean species are arranged into six informal groups based on morphological characteristics: Anomala Group, Calcicola Group, Graveolens Group, Limiana Group, Petiolata Group, and Polyphylla Group. The paper includes an overview of morphological characteristics, identification keys to groups and species, and species descriptions. A discussion of the recently recognized generic segregate, Borneocola is included. © 2017 Magnolia Press

NOTES ON MAPANIA LATIFOLIA UITTIEN (CYPERACEAE) FROM LONG BANGA, SARAWAK

Cyperaceae is one of the largest family in the Monocotyledon plant group consisting of 106 genera and approximately 5600 species throughout the world. Mapania is among the important understory genus in this family. To-date about 40 species of Mapania have been recorded for Sarawak that includes 13 newly described species. Mapania latifolia is one of four species with foliaceous involucral bract recorded in Southeast Asia and its distributed in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. This species tends to show tremendous variations among the populations from different elevations and localities. This preliminary study is to investigate the variation of M. latifolia from Long Banga and to compare it with the collections from other places in the Heart of Borneo project areas

Mapania multiflora, a distinctive new species of Cyperaceae (Mapanioideae) from Borneo

Mapania multiflora is described and illustrated. It is vegetatively similar to taxa with broad leaves and pseudopetioles, such as M. cuspidata. However, it is reproductively similar to sect. Thoractostachyum with a paniculate inflorescence and furrowed fruit. The DNA is similar to M. bancana in sect. Thoractostachyum, in the three sampled cpDNA regions: atpH-F, trnL-F and psbA-trnH. However, it is identical to none of these due to its unique combination of vegetative, reproductive and molecular characteristics

STUDY ON THE FRUIT MORPHOLOGY OF MAPANIA SPECIES (CYPERACEAE) EASTERN NORTH OF SARAWAK

The study of fruit morphology of Mapania species from Eastern North of Sarawak is presented in this paper. The samples were collected from various localities in the Eastern North of Sarawak, includes Lambir Hills National Park (LHNP), Bukit Sembiling Nature Reserve (BSNR), Ulu Mentawai, Mulu National Park (UMMNP), Long Banga (LB) and Tama Abu Production Forest (TAPF). Matured fruits were obtained by dissecting the spike. Morphological characteristics were observed use USB Portable Microscopes (500x) and parameters were measured use digital caliper. The morphological characteristics were compared and analyzed. Fruits of M. meditensis were the biggest (9 mm long, 4.25 mm diam.) and the smallest fruit was M. debilis (2.45 mm long, 1.5 mm diam.). Overall the fruit morphological was very useful to differentiate the species level particularly the sizes, exocarp appearance and the present of costae