Plant discoveries from PABITRA-related exploration in Papua New Guinea

AbstractUnlike many of the archipelagic stations comprising the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA) network, the flora of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is exceedingly speciose and in a remarkable state of preservation. Sites targeted for PABITRA action in PNG are unexplored or have only very limited botanical documentation. Vegetation sampling under such a combination of circumstances is highly problematic, particularly with respect to identification of sterile material from plot enumerations. The country team has thus pursued a study plan based on intensive collection and taxonomic evaluation, conducted prior to establishment of transects. Sterile vouchers can be determined to an acceptable level of confidence when matched to fertile specimens obtained from comprehensive exploration. Substantial numbers of new taxa are being revealed by the PABITRA assessments as a collateral benefit of this procedure. The following narrative summarizes the discoveries which have resulted from ongoing investigations in poorly known environments, and discusses some implications for future floristic work in Papuasia