A new discovery among old specimens : Describing and illustrating a new species of Planchonella (Sapotaceae) from Fiji

Planchonella is a large, monophyletic genus in Sapotaceae, containing around 110 tropical shrubs and tree species. A new endemic species to Fiji, P. foveata, accompanied with an identification key to the genus, is here described and illustrated. Considering it mainly occurs in lowland habitats its preliminary IUCN status is assessed as Endangered (EN). Planchonella foveata is phylogenetically more closely related to Micronesian and Malukan taxa than to any other species in Fiji. Planchonella foveata is characterised by the presence of many fovea, pit-like structures on the abaxial leaf surface. This is a trait which it shares with P. vitiensis, but which is absent from other species in the archipelago. The nature of these fovea is also different in the two species. However, P. foveata is easily recognised from P.vitiensis by its longer corolla, its leaves being scattered along the branches, hairy tufts on the outer sepals, and greenish flowers. The up-to date key changes the concept of Planchonella in the archipelago and identifies all ten accepted species of the genus in Fiji.