NEW SPECIES OF ARISTOLOCHIA AND PARARISTOLOCHIA (ARISTOLOCHIACEAE) FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW-GUINEA

In preparation for a forthcoming revision of the family Aristolochiace ae in Australia and New Guinea, a total of 14 new species and two new subspecies are described. Due to the fact that Aristolochiaceae within the region fall into two distinctive, well-defined groups of species, it was considered necessary to examine the affinities of these within the family. One group belongs to Aristolochia, whereas the other is c learly accommodated in Pararistolochia, the latter previously regarded as being solely a tropical African genus. The distinction between Par aristolochia and Aristolochia is discussed. It is concluded that the A ustralia and New Guinea taxa were found to substantiate circumscriptio n of Pararistolochia. Two new species of Aristolochia (A. nauseifolia and A. goliathiana) are described, as well as 12 species of Pararistol ochia (P. alexandriana, P. australopithecurus, P. biakensis, P. kepara , P. manokwariensis, P. meridionaliana, P. paradisiana, P. peninsulens is, P. tithonusiana, P. sepikensis, P. sparusifolia, P. linearifolia). Two subspecies of P. meridionaliana (subsp. popondettensis and subsp. milnensis) are described. Eleven other taxa from Australia and New Gu inea are newly combined under Pararistolochia: P. deltantha F. Muell., 1868; P. dictyophlebia Merr. & Ferry, 1948; P. dielsiana O.C. Schmidt , 1923; P. engleriana O.C. Schmidt, 1927; P. gracilifolia O.C. Schmidt , 1923; P. laheyana Bail., 1912; P. momandul K. Sch., 1889; P. praeven osa F. Muell., 1861; P. pithecurus Ridl., 1914; P. schlechteri Laut., 1905; as well as P. decandra Ding Hou, 1983, from Borneo. (C) 1995 The Linnean Society of London.