Abstract
Ardisia condensiflora Julius & Utteridge, a species of Primulaceae from Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, is described as new to science. Ardisia condensiflora sp. nov. belongs to Ardisia subgenus (§) Pyrgus on account of specialised lateral reproductive branches bearing a terminal inflorescence subtended by foliose bracts. Morphologically, the new species mostly resembles Ardisia singularis, with similar lateral branch and leaf morphology, and A. imbakensis, in having a short inflorescence axis with densely arranged flowers, but differs from these two taxa in inflorescence morphology, as well as in additional leaf and floral size differences. Ardisia condensiflora is found in a protected area, but with only two collections available, it is considered rare and is preliminarily assessed here as Vulnerable (VU D2).
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