16. Hydnophytum buxifolium Merr. & L.M.Perry — Fig. 19

Hydnophytum buxifolium Merr.& L.M.Perry (1945) 22. — Type: Brass 12681 (A), New Guinea, Papua Province, 18 km southwest of Bernhard Camp, Idenburg River, Feb. 1939.

Tuber subglobose, to 10 cm or more across. Entrance holes conical, 0.3–1 cm across. Stems few, branched, to 30 by 0.4 cm; internodes 0.5–1 cm, up to 3 cm when sterile, ± quadrangular. Lamina elliptic-rhomboid; 0.6 by 0.3 to 1.3 by 0.6 cm; apex acute; base tapered; leathery. Petiole 0.1 cm; stipules minute, caducous. Inflorescences surrounded by bracts. Flowers [1] not heterostylous. Calyx to 1.5 mm, margin undulate. Corolla tube to 3 mm, lobes 1.5 mm, a ring of hairs within mouth of tube. Anthers exserted, <1 mm in length. Stigma obscurely 2-lobed, at level of anthers. Fruit and pyrenes not known.

Ecology & Habitat — High-level epiphyte in mossy forest, 2 150–2 600 m. Tuber not inhabited by ants.

Distribution — Indonesia (Papua Province).

Conservation status — Vulnerable (VU) under criteria D2 with only two locations known about 110 km apart.

Additional specimens examined. Mangen 1763 (A, L), S4°25' E139°40', Valentijn Mts, S slopes of main range, trail from base camp to Koruppun village; Mangen 2163 (A, L), S4°17'E139°30',Valentijn Mts trail from Koruppun to Angguruk, ‘Angolagna’ forest camp.