Revision of the genus Gymnacranthera (Myristicaceae)

In Gymnacranthera, a small genus of Southeast Asian Myristicaceae, at present 7 species have been accepted, one (G. forbesii) with 2 and another ( G. farquhariana) with 4 varieties. One species, G. canarica, occurs in S. India, the remainder of the species is distributed in the area from S. Thailand east to E. New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago; the genus is absent from Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Species distinction is difficult because the androecium, which provides good characters in most other Southeast Asian Myristicaceae, is particularly uniform in Gymnacranthera. Two new species, G. ocellata from Borneo and G. maliliensis from Celebes, have been described. Some of the varieties are new combinations. The Indian G. canarica is distinct by globose fruits and by the anthers of which the large free apical portions are ± spreading, rather than erect or incurved. The Malesian G. bancana differs from the other Malesian species by its stout habit, conspicuous tomentum, and large flowers (male perianth 4-6 mm long) with relatively small androecium. The name of one common species, by Sinclair named G. eugeniifolia (with 2 varieties), is presently changed into G. farquhariana, an old name proposed by Hooker f. & Thomson. The distinction of Gymnacranthera among the other Southeast Asian genera of the Myristicaceae is discussed, the androecium newly described and pictured, and an ample genus description and full taxonomic treatment of all species is presented. An index of all names pertaining to Gymnacranthera is given at the end.