Circumscription and relationships of Dimorphanthera (Ericaceae) with notes on some Papuasian species

Abstract

Evidence is given suggesting that Vacciniumsectio Pachyantha should be transferred to Dimorphanthera; new combinations are made for the taxa concerned. Evidence is also given that shows a close relationship between Dimorphanthera and Satyria: this genus pair has a tropical amphi-transpacific distributional pattern. Within Papuasia D. tridens and D. declinata are reduced to synonymy under D. kempteriana, D. brassii and D. clemensiae under D. anchorifera and D. gracilis under D. denticulifera; D. splendens is considered to be a variety of D. elegantissima; D. alba is removed from the synonymy of D. forbesii and kept specifically distinct; D. womersleyi var. continua, D. bracteata, D. glauca, D. longistyla, D. tedentii and D. viridiflora are new taxa described.