CYCAS-TAITUNGENSIS SHEN,C.F., HILL,K.D., TSOU,C.H. AND CHEN,C.J., SP-NOV (CYCADACEAE), A NEW NAME FOR THE WIDELY KNOWN CYCAD SPECIES ENDEMIC IN TAIWAN

The cycad that forms two rather extensive, though highly local, popula tions in the Taitung region of Taiwan has been identified as Cycas tai waniana Carruth. since its first collection in 1920. This name was pro posed in 1893 for a single specimen collected by Swinhoe and labeled a s a plant from Taiwan. Our examination of the type collection, however , clearly indicated that the type individual is of a cycad species res tricted to Guangdong and some nearby areas, and that this cycad is ver y different from the cycad native to Taitung, Taiwan. Thus, the mainla nd species is truly C taiwaniana. It is better called Guangdong cycad, and the species endemic in Taiwan called Taitung cycad, to avoid conf usion. The name C. taiwaniana is typified and the history of its appli cation is discussed. A new name, C. taitungensis, is proposed for the Taitung cycad, with notes on its distribution, ecology, and affinities , and a comparison between it and the Guangdong cycad.