82 
Materials and methods 
The study is based upon the examination 
of herbarium material from BRI and CNS 
(formerly QRS) with field observations by the 
second author. All specimens cited have been 
seen by one or both authors. Measurements 
of the floral parts and fruits are based on 
material preserved in 70% ethanol. Common 
abbreviations in the specimen citations are: 
L.A. (Logging Area), N.RR. (National Park/ 
Reserve), S.F.R. (State Forest Reserve) and 
T.R. (Timber Reserve). The abbreviation RE 
in the distribution and habitat notes refers to 
Regional Ecosystem, descriptions ofwhich can 
be viewed at (in this case); www.epa.qld.gov. 
au/ proj ect s/redd/landzone. eg i?bioreg ion=7. 
Extent of occurrence estimates were 
derived from the validation of original 
collection localities. These data points were 
loaded into ESRI ArcView 3.2 and the 
draw polygon feature was used to calculate 
the area between the points. The area of 
occupation estimates were principally 
derived from a digital Regional Ecosystem 
map supplemented by the second author’s 
knowledge of vegetation types and habitats 
within the Wet Tropics bioregion (referred to 
as the Wet Tropics hereafter) (Environment 
Australia 2005). 
Taxonomy 
Morinda constipata Halford & A.J.Ford, 
species nova similis M canthoidi (F.Muell.) 
Halford & R. J.F.Hend. et M. retropila Halford 
& A.J.Ford. Ab ilia foliis chartaceis anguste 
ellipticis in ambitu apice longe acuminatis 
instructis (vice foliorum coriaceorum 
ovatorum usque oblongo-ovatorum in ambitu 
apice breviter acuminato instructorum) 
ramulis juvenibus glabris (non hispidulis) 
differt. A M. retropila caespodomatiis 
praeditis (vice domatiorum carentium), 
caulibus glabris (vice pilorum retrorsorum in 
caulibus), pedicellis ovariisque glabris (vice 
pedicellorum ovariorumque pubescentium), 
plerumque drupis compositis syncarpis 
parata (vice semper drupae simplici) 
differt. Collectiones antea pro M. umbellata 
L. determinatae sunt autem ab ilia capitulis 
2- vel 3-floris in fasciculis axillaribus 
terminalibusve in pedunculis glabris 1-3 mm 
Austrobaileya 8(1): 81-90 (2009) 
longis portatis (vice capitulorum 5-6-flororum 
in fasciculis terminalibus in pedunculis 
hispidulis 3-20 mm longis portatorum) 
differt. Typus: Queensland. Cook District: 
National Park Reserve 904, Wooroonooran, 
just S of tower 9, Mt Bellenden Ker cableway, 
17 October 2003, A. FordAF4184 & J. Holmes 
(holo: BRI; iso: CNS; L, K, MEL, MO, NSW, 
SUNIV distribuendi). 
Morinda sp. (Bellenden Ker) (Cooper & 
Cooper 2004: 446). 
Morinda sp. (Bellenden Ker W.Cooper+ 1526) 
(Forster & Halford 2007: 177). 
Morinda sp. 2 (Razafimandimbison et al. 
2009: 881). 
Wiry twining vine to 7 mhigh, androdioecious. 
Stems to 7 mm diameter. New growth pale 
green. Branchlets terete, glabrous. Leaves 
petiolate, opposite; stipules interpetiolar, 
sheathing, 2-3 mm long, produced into a 
narrow triangular lobe, glabrous, fragmenting 
as node thickens; petioles 3-7 mm long; blades 
discolorous, ± chartaceous and thin, narrow- 
elliptic, 6-9.5 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm wide, 
glabrous; adaxial surface shiny, dark green; 
abaxial surface paler than adaxial surface; 
venation brochidodromus with 5-7 lateral 
veins per side of midvein, slightly raised 
on adaxial surface, prominent on abaxial 
surface; midvein conspicuously raised on 
adaxial surface, prominent on abaxial surface; 
interlateral venation raised on both surfaces; 
apex acuminate; base obtuse to acute; margins 
entire; tuft-domatia present in lateral vein 
axils on abaxial surface. Flowers usually 3 or 
4-merous, bisexual or unisexual (male only), 
sessile, in 2 or 3-flowered capitula, the flowers 
joined by the base of the gynoecium or rarely 
pedicellate. Capitula pedunculate, in axillary 
or terminal clusters; peduncles 1-3 mm 
long, glabrous; bracts in connate pairs, cup¬ 
shaped, produced into a short triangular lobe, 
glabrous. Calyx tube truncate or irregularly 
dentate, 0.4-0.6 mm long, 1.6-1.7 mm across, 
green, glabrous. Corolla valvate, clavate in 
bud, deciduous, purplish in colour at base 
especially in bud and extending towards 
throat, otherwise white, glabrous on abaxial 
surface; tube 1.8-3 mm long, slightly widened 
at the apex, glabrous inside proximally, 
