89 
Halford & Ford, New species of Morinda 
Notes: The flowers from the collections 
Cooper WWC1620 , Forster PIF27757 and 
Forster PIF21748 et al. are interpreted 
as being unisexual as they have pollen 
producing anthers but have a style reduced to 
two small subulate stigmatic lobes that only 
just extend beyond the annular disk, although 
the ovary is well developed with what appear 
to be functional ovules. The flowers from 
collections Ford AF3029 et al. and Forster 
PIF26530 & Booth appear to be bisexual with 
a well developed style, stigma, ovary and 
pollen producing anthers. Further flowering 
material and field investigations are required 
to assess what reproductive strategies are 
present in this species. This is a similar floral 
arrangement as reported in Morinda podistra 
(Halford & Ford 2004). 
Recently expanded leaves have a velvet¬ 
like appearance on the adaxial surface, even 
though the surface is glabrous. It has been 
described as having a taffeta-like shine 
(Cooper & Cooper 2004: 452). 
Conservation status : Most existing 
collections of Morinda retropila have been 
made within the World Heritage Area of the 
Wet Tropics. It has been collected in Daintree, 
Wooroonooran, Tully Falls, Maalan and 
Danbulla National Parks. Morinda retropila 
has an extent of occurrence estimated to be 
no less than 1550 km 2 and occurs over a large, 
but narrow, geographical area. Accordingly it 
is not considered at risk or under threat at this 
time. 
Etymology : The specific epithet is from Latin 
retro , backward, and pilus hair in reference 
to the retrorse hairs on the branchlets of this 
species. 
Acknowledgements 
The authors wish to thank Will Smith for 
the illustrations, Peter Bostock for providing 
the distribution maps and Les Pedley the 
translation of the diagnoses into Latin. Wendy 
Cooper and Matt Bradford collected critical 
material for interpretation and illustrations. 
Spiro Buhagiar of Transmission Holding 
Limited Australia (THL) is warmly thanked 
for facilitating access to Morinda constipata 
populations on Mt Bellenden Ker. Permits to 
collect in the Wet Tropics were issued by the 
Department of Environment and Resource 
Management (formerly EPA). 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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