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Issue: Vol. 718 No. 2: 18 Sept. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-09-18
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.718.2.6
Page range: 144-152
Abstract views: 1267
PDF downloaded: 12

Medinilla saxa (Melastomataceae: Sonerileae), a new, ultramafic rock-dwelling species from the Philippines

Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of the Philippines – Los Baños, College, 4031 Laguna, Philippines; Forestry Herbarium, Museum of Natural History, The University of the Philippines – Los Baños, College, 4031 Laguna, Philippines; Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, The University of the Philippines – Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of the Philippines – Los Baños, College, 4031 Laguna, Philippines
Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan 49401, U.S.A.
Luzon Medinilla Melastomataceae taxonomy ultramafic Eudicots

Abstract

A new species, Medinilla saxa Fernando, from ultramafic rocks on Luzon Island, Philippines is described and illustrated. The species is most similar to Medinilla whitfordii Merr. in its 3-plinerved leaves and inflorescence of terminal, erect cyme. It differs, however, in its low shrub growth habit of 10–30 cm tall (vs erect shrub or tree 3–5 m tall) and 4-merous flowers (vs 5–6-merous flowers). It is also compared with other similar species in the Medinilla whitfordii group with terminal cymose inflorescence.

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How to Cite

Fernando, E.S., Quimado, M.O. & Quakenbush, J.P. (2025) Medinilla saxa (Melastomataceae: Sonerileae), a new, ultramafic rock-dwelling species from the Philippines. Phytotaxa 718 (2): 144–152. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.718.2.6