Studies on Schismatoglottideae (Araceae) of Borneo XXIII: Piptospatha colata and P. deceptrix, taxonomic novelties from Borneo

Since the last full revision of Piptospatha (Bogner & Hay 2000) a combination of molecular and morphological research has resulted in generic changes, and recognition of a number of new taxa (Okada & Tsukaya 2010; Wong & Boyce 2010, 2012, in press; Wong et al. 2009, 2011).
Major herbaria with significant tropical Asian collections (e.g., BO, L, SAR, SING) abound in specimens of unnamed rheophytic aroids. These, however, frequently defy attempts at identification owing to their incomplete nature, and frequently inadequate preparation prior to preservation. Failing attempts to recollect at original localities or, in the case of older material the distinct possibility that such localities no longer support an indigenous ecology, such material will quite likely forever remain undetermined. Given this situation, it is ironic that fieldwork and subsequent cultivation of plants from Borneo continues to reveal numerous taxonomically novel rheophytic aroid species, which should come as no great surprise given that, has been noted on numerous occasions, many aroids are highly localised. Where possible, attempts are made to match cultivated novelties with preexisting herbarium specimens. However, often this not practicable owing to the problems highlighted above. Two such ‘unmatchable’ novelties belonging to the genus Piptospatha N.E.Br. are here described.