85 
Halford & Ford, New species of Morinda 
and young branchlets glabrous (versus mostly 
hispidulous for M canthoides). Morinda 
constipata differs from M. retropila in having 
tuft-domatia (versus domatia absent for 
M. retropila ), glabrous stems, (versus retrorse 
hairs on the stem for M. retropila ), glabrous 
pedicels and ovary (versus hairy pedicels 
and ovary for M. retropila), and usually a 
compound syncarpous drupe (versus always 
a simple drupe for M. retropila). Collections 
of M. constipata have in the past been 
misidentified as M. umbellata but it differs 
from that in having 2 or 3-flowered capitula 
in axillary or terminal clusters on glabrous 
peduncles 1-3 mm long (versus 5 or 6-flowered 
capitula in terminal clusters on hispidulous 
peduncles 3-20 mm long for M. umbellata). 
Razafimandimbison et al. (2009) have 
inferred a close phylogenetic relationship 
between Morinda constipata and M. 
jasminoides. Morinda constipata is easily 
distinguished from that species in having 
tuft-domatia (versus crypt-type domatia 
for M. jasminoides), interlateral venation 
distinctly raised on both leaf surfaces (versus 
interlateral venation obscure or only slightly 
raised for M. jasminoides), flowers sessile in 
2 or 3-flowered capitula or flowers pedicellate 
(versus flowers always sessile in 5 to 10- 
flowered capitula for M. jasminoides), and 
corolla tube 1.8-3 mm long (versus corolla 
tube 4-6 mm long for M. jasminoides). 
Notes : Morinda constipata occupies a similar 
niche to M. podistra Halford & A.J.Ford, 
although these species have non-overlapping 
distributions. Both species flower and fruit in 
the understorey and the twining stems rarely, 
if ever, reach the low canopy. In addition, 
M. constipata like M podistra produces 
locally dense masses of wiry twining stems. 
Conservation status: Morinda constipata 
is known only from three locations and has 
an extent of occurrence of only 72 km 2 , 
which would fit such criteria to be classified 
as (at least) Vulnerable (ICUN 2001). 
However, there is no evidence to support a 
decline in population sizes or extent, and 
no suggestion of human activities adversely 
affecting current populations. All existing 
collections of M. constipata have been made 
in Wooroonooran National Park within the 
World Heritage Area of the Wet Tropics. 
Morinda constipata is not considered at risk 
or under threat at this time. 
Etymology: The specific epithet is from Latin 
constipatus, crowded closely together, and 
refers to the flowers arranged in axillary and 
terminal clusters in this species. 
Morinda retropila Halford & A.J.Ford, 
species nova similis M. canthoidi (F.Muell.) 
Halford & R.J.F.Hend. et M. constipata 
Halford & A.J.Ford. Ab ambobus pagina 
abaxiali folii pallenti et aliquantum 
cremea differt; paginas abaxiales virides 
et M. canthoides et M. constipata habent. 
M. retropila foliis chartaceis anguste 
ellipticis vel anguste ovatis (vice foliorum 
coriaceorum ovatorum usque oblongo- 
ovatorum), venatione interlaterali obscura 
utrinque folii (vice venationis elevatae), 
domatiis in axillis venarum lateralium 
carentibus (vice domatiorum praesentium), 
ramulis juvenibus pilis retrorsis praeditis 
(vice pilorum patentium) a M. canthoidi 
differt. De proprietatibus quae distinguunt 
M.retropilum aM. constipata vide diagnosem 
M. constipatae. Typus: Queensland. Cook 
District: Wooroonooran National Park, start 
of Bartle Frere walking track, 27 November 
2001, P.I.Forster PIF27757 & A.M.Young 
(holo: BRI; iso: CNS distribuendi). 
Morinda sp. (Boonjee) (Cooper & Cooper 
1994: 194). 
Rubiaceae gen. nov. sp. (Boonjee) (Cooper & 
Cooper 2004: 452). 
Gen.(Aql24851) sp. (Boonjie L.J.Webb+ 
6837A) (Forster & Halford 2007: 176). 
Morinda sp. 1 (Razafimandimbison et al. 
2009: 881). 
Morinda hypotephra auct., non F.Muell. 
(Reynolds & Halford 1994: 297; Reynolds & 
Halford 1997: 182). 
Illustrations: Cooper & Cooper (1994: 
195), as Morinda sp. (Boonjee); Cooper & 
Cooper (2004: 452) as Rubiaceae gen. nov. sp. 
(Boonjee). 
