Licuala

Abstract: Two questions are addressed: 'How many species of fungi can occur on a single host palm?' and 'What are the implications of this for global estimates of fungal diversity?' Fungal diversity estimates found in the literature are reviewed. Data on the numbers of fungi occurring on the above-ground tissues of six individual palms in the genus Licuala in Australia and Brunei Darussalam (Borneo) are provided. A total of 189 species of fungi were isolated and/or collected from the six palms. In addition, 53 'morphospecies' of mycelia sterilia were isolated, giving a total of 242 taxa from the 2672 isolates/collections made. The three palms in Australia (sampled once) yielded 100 species (each palm supporting an average of 54.7 taxa), while the three palms in Brunei Darussalam (sampled three times) yielded 172 species in total (approximately 111.3 taxa each). The magnitude of global fungal diversity, estimated at 1.5 million species, is discussed. Our results indicate that 33 to 1 would be a more accurate estimate (than 5.7 to 1) of the ratio of host specific fungal to palm species in the tropics. We therefore propose that global estimates of fungal diversity, based on temperate studies, require revision upwards.

Abstract: Three new species of palms (Arecaceae) in the genera Areca (A. songthanhensis), Licuala (L. dakrongensis) and Pinanga (P. nuichuensis) from Vietnam are described and illustrated. Comparisons are made and differences with similar species are pointed out.

Abstract: Southeast Asia is recognised as an outstanding centre of plant diversity (Mittermeier et al. 1999). Malesia, which stretches from the Malay Peninsula to New Guinea (van Steenis 1950, Marsh et al. 2009, Raes and van Welzen 2009, Fig 7.1), alone contains an estimated 42 000 species of vascular plants (Frodin 2001). The rich biodiversity of the region is frequently attributed to the complexity of its geological history, but despite increasingly detailed tectonic models (Hall 1998, 2001, 2002, 2009, this volume, Chapter 3) the origins of the region’s flora and its biogeographic patterns are still incompletely understood and remain a focus for ongoing research (e.g. Roos et al. 2004, Brown et al. 2006, Marsh et al. 2009, van Welzen and Slik 2009). Palms occur throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and contain an estimated 2400 species in 183 genera (Dransfield et al. 2005, Govaerts and Dransfield 2005). Their wide distribution, diversity of distribution patterns coupled with high rates of endemism have prompted several biogeographic analyses (Moore 1973a, 1973b, Dransfield 1981, 1987, Uhl and Dransfield 1987, Dransfield 1988, Baker et al. 1998, Dransfield et al. 2008) although most of these pre-date phylogenetic research in palms. In the past, some authors have argued that palm distribution patterns reflect geological history more closely than other plant families because of the apparent ancientness of palms and their limited dispersal capabilities, inferred from the relatively large size of palm seeds (Dransfield 1981, Uhl and

Abstract: Phruensis brunneispora is a new genus and species occurring on decaying trunks of the palm Licuala longecalycata in Sirindhorn Peat Swamp Forest, Thailand. We compare the genus with other aquatic ascomycetes with falcate septate ascospores: Pseudohalonectria and Ophioceras. Asco- spores differ from species in these genera in being brown with lighter end cells. Also, the ascus pore is subapical, with a channel leading to the apex. Lol- lipopaia minuta differs from Phruensis brunneispora in that the ascomata are borne in a stroma, asci have an apical pore and the ascospores are hyaline. No genus was found to accommodate the new species. Molecular analysis of rDNA ribosomal 18S con- firmed the exclusion of the new species from Pseu- dohalonectria, and Ophioceras and Lollipopaia minuta formed a sister group with it. Phruensis brunneispora and Lollipopaia minuta grouped in the Diaporthales with 100% bootstrap support. Therefore, both mor- phological and molecular evidence supports erect- ing a new genus to accommodate this taxon. A hy- aline Phialophora-like anamorph was formed when single ascospores were plated out on agar. The tax- on is described and illustrated with light micro- graphs.