Mischocarpus ailae Guymer (Sapindaceae), a new 
species from the Mount Warning caldera, Australia 
G.P. Guymer 
Summary 
Guymer, G.P. (2009). Mischocarpus ailae Guymer (Sapindaceae), a new species from the Mount 
Warning caldera, Australia. Austrobaileya 8(1): 91-95. Mischocarpus ailae from south-east 
Queensland and north-east New South Wales is described as new with notes on its distribution, 
habitat and conservation status. A key to the Australia species of Mischocarpus is provided. 
Key Words: Sapindaceae, Mischocarpus , Mischocarpus ailae , Mischocarpus lachnocarpus , 
taxonomy, Australian flora, Queensland flora, new species, identification key 
G.P. Guymer, Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Resource Management, 
Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia. Email:gordon.guymer@derm.qld.gov.au 
Introduction 
The genus Mischocarpus Blume (tribe 
Cupanieae Blume, family Sapindaceae) has 
20 species and is distributed throughout Asia, 
from India and China to Melanesia and eastern 
Australia (Van der Ham 1977; Reynolds 1985a, 
1985b). Australia has 11 species (10 endemic) 
that occur from Cape York, Queensland to the 
central coast of New South Wales. A critical 
examination of Mischocarpus specimens at 
the Queensland Herbarium has revealed that 
the southern populations previously referred 
to M. lachnocarpus (F.Muell.) Radik, in 
south-east Queensland and north-east New 
South Wales represent a quite distinct new 
species and it is formally described here. 
Material and methods 
The information presented in this paper 
is based on examination of herbarium 
collections at the Queensland Herbarium 
(BRI) and National Herbarium of New South 
Wales (NSW) and observations of plants in 
the field. The descriptions are modelled on 
those of Reynolds (1985a, 1985b). 
Taxonomy 
Mischocarpus ailae Guymer, species 
nova differt a Mischocarpo lachnocarpo 
capsulis majoribus luteis globularibus (14- 
18 mm longis), arillo luteo aurantiacove, 
praesentia petalorum et filamentis pilosis. 
Accepted for publication 6 October 2009 
Typus: New South Wales. North Coast: Mt 
Warning, 8 March 2009, D.A.Halford Q9671 & 
G.P.Guymer (holo: BRI; iso: BRI, K, L, MEL, 
NSW). 
Mischocarpus lachnocarpus auct. non 
F.Muell., Floyd (1977, 1989, 2008); Van der 
Ham (1977, [south east Queensland and New 
South Wales specimens]); Reynolds (1983 
[excluding the illustration], 1985a & 1985b, 
[Springbrook Plateau & New South Wales 
specimens, & illustrations]); Harden (1991, 
[excluding the illustration of the capsule]); 
Logan River Branch SGAP (2005); Leiper et 
al. (2008). 
Illustrations : Reynolds (1985a, p. 99, fig. 21A, 
B; 1985b, p. 172, fig. 31, all as M. lachnocarpus ); 
Logan River Branch SGAP (2005); Leiper et 
al. (2008). 
Small trees 3-10 m high, stems up to 10 cm 
diameter at breast height with smooth grey or 
brown bark; young growth, branchlets, leaf- 
axes and inflorescences densely ferruginous 
villous with simple erect hairs 0.1-0.6 mm 
long; branchlets striate. Leaves with 2 (3 or 4) 
leaflets; leaflets opposite, coriaceous, elliptic 
or oblong-ovate, 5.5-13 x 2-5 cm (length: 
width ratio 3:1 to 2:1), slightly shiny, dark 
green above, paler below, slightly bullate, 
glabrous except for puberulent midrib and 
sometimes lateral veins above, pubescent 
below, dense along the midrib and lateral 
veins, mid-dense to sparse elsewhere, hairs 
simple up to 0.2 mm long (up to 0.5 mm along 
