A generic record for Faika (Monimiaceae) in Papua New Guinea

The genus Faika Philipson (Monimiaceae) consists of the single species F. villosa (Kaneh. & Hatus.) Philipson, previously known only from Irian Jaya between the Vogelkop Peninsula and the Cyclops Mts (Philipson, 1986). A recent identification by Renner (of Takeuchi 10349 from the April River; A, LAE) indicates that Faika is also present in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The first author revisited this locality in August 2001 and obtained additional specimens, notes, and photos to document this new record. PNG now has eight genera of Monimiaceae s.s. (excluding Atherospermataceae and Siparunaceae; Renner, 1999): Faika, Kairoa, Kibara, Lauterbachia, Levieria, Palmeria, Steganthera, and Wilkiea. Faika villosa was originally described as Steganthera villosa Kaneh. & Hatus. but was anomalous in that genus because of well-developed glands on the inside of the female receptacle rim and innermost tepals (Philipson, 1985). Such glands characterise Kibara, Parakibara, Wilkiea, and a few other genera of Monimiaceae in which pollen is received on a hyperstigma, that is, a sticky surface that captures pollen but is not the actual stigma (Endress, 1979,1980). An ongoing molecular-phylogenetic analysis of the Monimiaceae has examined representatives of most genera except for the monotypic Faika, Lauterbachia, and Parakibara (Zanis & Renner, unpublished). Preliminary findings indicate that Palmeria is closer to Monimia from Mauritius and Reunion than to the remaining genera from New Guinea, thus arguing for at least two independent arrivals of Monimiaceae in New Guinea.