Orania bakeri A. P. Keim & J. Dransf., Kew Bulletin 67: 170 (2012)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
New Guinea present (A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190)A
Endemic to a small area in the eastern part of New Guinea, especially in the province of Madang. (A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190)A

Habitat

  • Rather swampy in lowland coastal tropical rainforest at an altitude of about 50 m above sea level. (A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190)A

Discussion

  • Apart from the thickness of the rachillae, number of stamens and staminodes, this species looks very similar to Orania macropetala. The distribution area of O. bakeri itself overlaps the distribution area of O. macropetala. It is just unfortunate that we have only one specimen of O. bakeri with fewer than 10 staminate flowers. Nevertheless, O. bakeri is regarded here as a distinct species from O. macropetala based ultimately on the fact that all specimens of O. macropetala observed in this current study, including the paratype (Lauterbach 2001), all possess nine to 14 stamens. (A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190)A

Conservation

  • Critically endangered (CR B1 B2). The species occurs in considerable numbers at its only known locality but the area is extensively logged and the estimated extent of occurrence is less than 100 km2. Certainly the quality of the habitat is in decline (W. J. Baker, pers. comm.). (A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190)A

Etymology

  • After William J. Baker, British palm taxonomist and collector of the type specimen. (A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190)A

Description

  • Large palm. Trunk c. 15 m tall. Leaves 8 in the crown, spirally arranged, c. 4 - 5 m long; leaf-sheath massive, c. 30 cm long, 14 cm wide, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface slightly covered with red-brown tomentum, margins massively disintegrating into fibres, fibres straight, c. 13.5 - 14 cm long each; petiole 1.1 m long, covered with red-brown tomentum; rachis c. 2.6 - 3.6 m long, in middle part c. 2.5 cm diam.; leaflets elongate-lanceolate, regularly arranged leaflets held in one plane, c. 40 - 45 in each side of rachis, in middle part of rachis distance between 2 leaflets c. 5.5 - 7.5 cm, c. 1.32 m long, 6 - 7 cm wide, adaxial surface glabrous, midrib thick, other ribs slender, abaxial surface slightly covered with white indumentum, midrib robust, other ribs slender but thicker than adaxial. Inflorescence spreading, branching to 2 orders; prophyll small, persistent, disintegrating into fibres; peduncle c. 40 cm long, with thin red-brown tomentum; peduncular bract 1, woody, c. 1.15 - 1.4 m long, including 32 cm acumen, 9 cm wide at near base, splitting in the middle, disintegrating into fibres when old, adaxially glabrous, abaxially with dense red-brown tomentum; first order branch c. 48 - 55 cm long, rachillae bract c. 8 - 9 mm long, rachillae robust, not conspicuously zigzag, c. 40.5 - 55 cm long, bearing 40 - 55 flower clusters, bearing triads on about proximal 1=2 and paired staminate flowers in the distal 1=2, the basal c. 2 cm devoid of flowers, triads c. 2 cm distant, rachilla with greyish white indumentum. Staminate flowers with calyx of 3 united minute sepals; corolla with 3 free petals, c. 10 × 3mm; stamens 6, filaments free, dark brown, c. 1.7 - 2.2 mm long, anthers elongate-lanceolate, pale creamy-yellow, free, c. 6.7 mm long; pistillodes absent. Pistillate flowers with calyx of 3 united sepals, c. 3 mm long; corolla with 3 free petals, c. 15 × 7 mm, yellowish cream, thick; staminodes 6, c. 3.5 cm long; gynoecium dark brown, c. 7 × 6 mm; stigma with 3 elongate lobes. Fruit globose or bilobed, c. 3.8 - 3.9 cm diam., olive green when young, dark brown when mature (W. J. Baker 1999 pers. comm.), stigmatic remains sub-basal; epicarp thin, smooth; mesocarp fibrous, c. 4 - 5 mm thick; endocarp hard, red-brown coloured, c. 2 - 3 mm thick; testa hard, 1 - 2 mm thick; endosperm white, c. 2.4 cm diam., with hollow inside. Embryo placed below middle line of seed. Eophyll bifid. (A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190)A

Materials Examined

  • PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Madang: Road between Bogia and Bosmun 2, Goinbang, near Bosmun 2, mouth of Ramu R. area, 18 Jan. 1996, W. J. Baker 581 (K!, holotype; LAE). (A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190)A

Bibliography

    A. A.P. Keim & Dransfield, J. 2012: A monograph of the genus Orania (Arecaceae: Oranieae). – Kew Bulletin 67: 127-190