Epirixanthes in Brunei Darussalam 
185 
Notes. The species was included in the Brunei Checklist (Coode et al., 1996) based 
on a single collection (Poulsen 3) originally identified as Epirixanthes pallida but 
which has been reidentified as E. papuana. Therefore Epirixanthes pallida should 
be excluded from the flora of Brunei Darussalam. Epirixanthes pallida is readily 
distinguished from the Bruneian species by large and very early caducous whitish 
or pinkish bracts. It seems that Epirixanthes pallida is a highland species and thus 
probably does not grow in lowland rainforests. Its known altitudinal range is from 
c. 600 m a.s.l. at the type locality up to c. 1200 m a.s.l. in the Kelabit Highlands of 
Sarawak. As its type locality (slopes of Gunung Api in Sarawak, Malaysia) is just a 
few kilometres from Brunei’s borders, it might potentially occur at higher altitudes in 
the Temburong district. It is, however, unlikely that Epirixanthes pallida occurs in the 
Tutong and Belait districts because of the generally lower terrain in these areas. Even 
though the type locality is on a limestone bedrock, we have observed the species in the 
Kelabit Highlands in Sarawak at several localities on sandstone bedrock. 
Epirixanthes confusa Tsukaya et al., Phytotaxa 266(2): 147 (2016). 
Global distribution. It is endemic to Borneo (Tsukaya et al., 2016). 
Notes. This species is a recent addition to the genus and was described from Imbak 
Canyon in Sabah, Malaysia (Tsukaya et al., 2016). It undoubtedly belongs to the group 
of species with free sepals and wide fruits which also includes Epirixanthes elongata, 
E. pallida and E. comp res sa Pendry, but differs by its long-persistent bracts. So far it 
is known only from the type locality. 
Epirixanthes compressa Pendry, Thai Forest Bull., Bot. 38: 184 (2010). 
Global distribution. It is endemic to Thailand (Pendry, 2010). 
Notes. This biogeographically remarkable species is narrowly distributed in south¬ 
eastern Thailand (Chanthaburi Province) and is, therefore, the only member of the 
genus which does not occur in Malesia. Tike the previous species, it belongs to the 
group of Epirixanthes with free sepals and wide fruits. 
Key to the species of Epirixanthes 
The following key is adapted from Van der Meijden (1988), Pendry (2010) and Tsukaya 
et al. (2016). 
la. Sepals free; fruit wider than long.2 
lb. Sepals connate for V^-A; fruit longer than wide or equal.5 
