75 
Halford & Ford, Coelospermum purpureum 
projected or inferred decline in population 
numbers as the vast majority of the Extent of 
Occurrence is within the Wet Tropics World 
Heritage Area. In addition, C. purpureum is a 
dominant and common shrub where it occurs, 
with the exceptions being at the extremes of 
its altitudinal range. 
Etymology : The specific epithet, from Latin 
purpureus, purple, refers to the colour of 
the leafy twigs, stipules and petioles of this 
species, when fresh. 
Acknowledgements 
The authors wish to thank Will Smith for 
the illustration; Peter Bostock for providing 
the distribution map; Les Pedley for the 
translation of the diagnosis into Latin; Aaron 
Davis for bringing this species to our attention; 
Sylvain Razafimandimbison for comments 
on the species relationships. Wendy Cooper 
and Helen Murphy gave generously of their 
time providing field assistance. Permits to 
collect in the “Wet Tropics” were issued by 
the Environmental Protection Agency. The 
curators and staff at BRI and CNS (formerly 
QRS) are thanked for allowing access to 
specimens and the use of their facilities. 
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