The Araceae of Malesia I: Introduction

• Main Authors: Boyce, P.C, Wong Sin, Yeng
• Format: E-Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Nature Society 2012
• Subjects: QK Botany; SB Plant culture
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/7206/1/The%20Araceae%20of%20Malesia%20I%20Introduction%20%2810%25%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/7206/; http://www.aroid.org/gallery/wong/Araceae%20of%20Malesia%20I%20-%20The%20Genera%20-%20%5BMalayan%20Nature%20Journal%2064%281%29%2C%2033-67%5D%20-%20Boyce%20%26%20Wong%202012.pdf

A summary of the aroids of Malesia at the rank of genus and above is offered, covering 44 indigenous genera. Four additional genera (Caladium Vent., Dieffenbachia Schott, Syngonium Schott, and Xanthosoma Schott) are recorded as adventives. The aroid flora of Malesia currently encompasses 1105 indigenous species, with this figure based significantly on understanding of the flora of a few well-studied areas such as Peninsular Malaysia, Jawa , and parts of Malaysian Borneo. Large areas that remain very poorly known include Kalimantan (comprising more than 70% of the land surface area of Borneo), Sumatera, and much of the island of New Guinea. It is estimated that the total will readily exceed 1900 species. General notes on life-forms and taxonomically important morphologies are provided, together with a glossary. A key to Malesian aroid taxa at the rank of genus and above is presented.