Austrobaileya 8(3): 431-434 (2011) 431 SHORT COMMUNICATION Luvunga monophylla (DC.) Mabb. (Rutaceae): a new species for Queensland David G. Fell13 & David J. Stanton2 '3D Environmental, P.O. Box 337, Alstonville NSW 2477, Australia. Email: [email protected]; Corresponding author 23D Environmental, PO Box 959, Kenmore, Queensland 4069, Australia. The genus Luvunga Buch.-Ham. ex Wight Darwin Coastal Bioregions of the Northern & Arn. contains twelve species occurring Territory. The habitat in these areas includes in Asia, Malesia and Australia (Hyland et monsoon forest, deciduous vine thicket and al. 2003). Luvunga monophylla is the sole semi-deciduous vine thicket on coastal dunes Australian representative of Rutaceae subtribe and basalt scree slopes (Pedley 1987; Russell- Triphasiineae in the tribe Aurantieae Rchb. Smith & Dunlop 1992; Liddle et al. 1994; (Mabberley 1998); however, infrafamilial Department of Planning & Infrastructure relationships in this part of the family remain 2010). It is also found in the Philippines, to be fully resolved utilising molecular data Indonesia (Java) and Timor-Leste (Hyland et and this group may not be recognized in the al. 2003; Cowie 2006). future (Kubitzki et al. 2010). A survey of the vegetation of the Torres Luvunga monophylla (DC.) Mabb. is Strait Islands, north Queensland, Australia, a facultatively deciduous, spiny shrub or was carried out in 2007 (Stanton et al. climber, 0.5-3 m high with white, cream, 2008). The survey’s primary objective was yellow flowers, obovoid fleshy fruit to 10 mm to map vegetation communities at 1: 25,000 diameter, and one or two seeds per fruit (Pedley and Regional Ecosystems at 1: 50,000, 1987; Russell-Smith & Dunlop 1992; Hyland supplemented by floristic inventory and et al. 2003; Department of Environment and collections of voucher specimens for Conservation 2010). It was first collected from Australian herbaria. Collections of Luvunga Australia in the Sir Edward Pellew Group of monophylla from lama (also known as Yam islands, Gulf of Carpentaria, in December Island) were made in October 2007 (Fell 8851 1802 by Robert Brown during Flinders’ & Stanton [BRI]). This occurrence extends Investigator circumnavigation of Australia its geographical range eastwards from the and was collected in Timor by J.B.L.C.T. eastern Arnhem Land coast of the Northern Leschenault de la Tour during Baudin’s Territory. 1800-1803 expedition in Le Geographe and lama (Yam Island) Le Naturaliste (Mabberley 1998). lama is a continental island of 186 ha located It has now been recorded on lama (Yam at 9°54'S 142°46'E. It is situated 91 km north- Island), Torres Strait which is the first record north-east of Cape York Peninsula and belongs of the species for Queensland. Prior to this to the Central Group of Torres Strait Islands. collection it had been recorded from Australia The island is the homeland of the Iamalgal in the North Kimberley and Dampierland people. As at the 2006 Census, the population bioregions of Western Australia (Department was 309, of whom over 90% were Indigenous of Environment & Conservation 2010) and in (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007). Land the Arnhem Coast, Central Arnhem, Tiwi, tenure is Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) and Gulf Coastal, Gulf Fall and Uplands and Native Title. Accepted for publication 8 August 2011 432 Austrobaileya 8(3): 431-434 (2011) The primary geology of the island is granite Deciduous vine forests and semi-deciduous with a range of Holocene aged landforms vine thickets (RE3.12.35a and RE3.12.21a) fringing its margins. Coarse-grained granite, are extensive on the lower exposed rocky which forms the dominant landform feature, slopes and feature canopy species such as represents the most easterly extension of the Erythrina insularis F.M.Bailey, Antiaris Badu Granite batholith. Soil development is toxicaria var. macrophylla (R.Br.) Corner, typically skeletal, with large granite boulders Terminalia subacroptera, Canarium on lower slopes and littoral margins. Small australianum, Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum, areas of acid volcanic rock form a headland Acacia auriculiformis, Manilkara kauki (L.) in the island’s east. Holocene features include Dubard, Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq. subsp. ridges of coralline sand and fine-grained americanus, Diospyros sp. (Mt White PI. estuarine deposits associated with a broad Forster PIF14415), Sterculia quadrifida R.Br. embayment on the island’s northern coast and Premna dallachyana Benth. (Willmott & Powell 1977; Stanton et al. The habitats in which Luvunga monophylla 2008). occurs are in good condition and at the time of Remnant vegetation occurs over 75% survey were relatively undisturbed and free of of the island with the balance supporting weeds. A conservative estimate of population regrowth, exotics, bamboo groves and cleared size for Luvunga monophylla is between 50 land. Broad vegetation types are deciduous and 100 individuals. The area of extent is 50 and semi-deciduous vine forest and thicket, ha. Acacia dominated open forests and woodlands, Discussion shrublands and shrubland complexes, coastal dune complexes, grasslands and mangrove The nature of the disturbance history in the forest (Stanton et al. 2008). Acacia open forest is unknown, although the community would be expected to burn in hot Luvunga monophylla on lama conditions. Old charred stumps indicate that Our vegetation survey recorded Luvunga it is occasionally burnt, largely in a wildfire monophylla at eight sites on the island, regime. Resilience to fire is documented within open forest dominated by Acacia from Northern Territory populations of auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth. and in Luvunga which have an ability to resprout deciduous vine forest and semi-deciduous from epicormic and basal lignotubers and vine thicket. These vegetation types occur display less than 30% mortality rate when on rocky granitic hillslopes and the Acacia subject to 100% leaf scorch. Life span is over dominant vegetation is considered to have 20 years with first seeding occurring between developed in response to past disturbance. 6-20 years (Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre 2010). The Acacia open forest habitat is endemic to lama and the Torres Strait Islands and is The fact that the Acacia dominant mapped as Regional Ecosystem 3.12.35f community is found only on lama presents (Stanton et al. 2008). Vine forest species another puzzle. The nearby continental islands such as Canarium australianum F.Muell., of Mabuyag (Mabuiag Island) and Gebar Terminalia subacroptera Domin, Bombax are dominated by open and closed forests of ceiba var. leiocarpum A.Robyns and Welchiodendron longivalve (F.Muell.) Peter Diospyros hebecarpa A.Cunn. ex Benth. G. Wilson & J.T.Waterh., although not a single are typical canopy associates. Groves of individual of this species was found on lama. the naturalised Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris This may suggest that forests on lama have Schrad.) and scattered Mango trees (Mangifera developed independently from forest types indica L.) occur throughout this habitat and on these neighbouring islands (Stanton et are indicative of a long history of traditional al. 2008). Extensive field surveys by Stanton use by local people. et al. (2008) in similar habitats across the majority of the Torres Strait islands did not locate Luvunga elsewhere. Fell & Stanton, Luvunga monophylla, new for Queensland 433 Prior to European contact the people Cowie (2006) records the taxon from of lama practised traditional horticulture dry deciduous forest in Timor-Leste, growing crops such as banana, yam and sweet noting that the forest type is under ongoing potato (Haddon 1935; Neal 1989; Fuary 1991) pressure from conversion to agriculture. with archaeological evidence suggesting that The heavy exploitation of dry deciduous some gardening took place on rocky hillslopes forests elsewhere in the Timor region (Neal 1989). It is likely that a combination of for swidden agriculture has resulted in human disturbance, wind and fire have played large-scale conversion to anthropogenic a role in the development of Luvunga habitat. grassland-Chromolaena shrubland (Cowie 2006). The extent of its occurrence and No uses are documented for Australian condition in habitats in the Philippines and populations of Luvunga monophylla. Java is not known. Specimens were shown to numerous members of the community during our visit to lama in Potential threats to the lama population November 2010. Although they recognized the include habitat disturbance from infrastructure plant, they stated that they had no name or use and residential development, weed incursion for it. In Java, it is occasionally cultivated as a and perhaps wildfire. Pressures on the limited hedge plant (Kruse 2001: 1013). In India, the availability of land suitable for housing and dried fruits of Luvunga scandens Roxb. are infrastructure development is intensified used in the production of a medicinal oil said by population growth and coastal erosion to be effective in treating dermal infections associated with regular tidal surges. This and baldness (Garg & Jain 1999) and the roots presents a considerable challenge for the and fruits are used for treatment of scorpion island community and planning agencies. stings (Lien et al. 2002). In combination, these threats represent a It is interesting to note that the occurrence risk of stochastic extinction of the species in of Luvunga monophylla across northern Queensland due to its small population size Australia appears to be coterminous with and highly localised occurrence. Accordingly, those areas visited in the past by Macassan the species should be assigned regional beche-de-mer fishermen from southern significance in the Cape York Peninsula Sulawesi in what is now Indonesia, Timor- Bioregion. Integration of ecological and Leste and between Cape Leveque in Western genetic studies will be required to determine Australia and the Sir Edward Pel lew Group the management requirements of Luvunga in the Northern Territory (Macknight 1969: 2, monophylla on lama. Further assessments of 27; Stacey 2007: 58). There is no firm evidence population size, phenology and recruitment is that this trade included Torres Strait, although achievable at the local level with the assistance there is an 1881 record of an Ambonese prau of the local ranger program. (boat) being driven into the region during Acknowledgements the northwest monsoon season (Anonymous 1881). This raises the possibility that Luvunga The field survey on lama was funded by the monophylla was introduced to Australia by Land and Sea Management Unit of the Torres human vectors. Strait Regional Authority. Access to lama was gratefully provided by the Magani Lagaugal Conservation status of Luvunga (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation. Advice monophylla on identification and species distribution In the Northern Territory this species is was provided by the staff of the Queensland assigned ‘least concern’ status under the Herbarium. 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