8. Hydnophytum ferrugineum P.I.Forst. — Fig. 9; Map 3

Hydnophytum ferrugineum P.I.Forst. (2001) 103. — Type: P.I. Forster PIF21406 et al. (holo BRI (3 sheets + spirit); iso K, MEL), Australia, Queensland, Cook District, Timber reserve 14, Leo Creek, 9 July 1997.

Hydnophytum sp.1 Huxley, in Buckley (1982) 72.

Tuber globose to 30 cm diam, silvery in colour, covered by entrance holes. Stems 1–3, branching, internodes 1.5–4.5 cm, nodes swollen. Leaves variable in size. Lamina oblong-lanceolate to obovate, 3.5 by 1 to 6 by 2.5 cm; apex rounded; base cuneate; midrib prominent on both sides; veins 4 or 5. Petiole 0–0.6 cm. Inflorescence sunken, with a mass of brown bract hairs to 1.2 cm across. Flowers [1]?not heterostylous. Corolla tube 2–3.5 mm; lobes 2 by 1.5 mm; with a broad ring of hairs at mouth of tube; anthers 1.2 by 0.5mm within mouth of tube; stigma immediately above anthers.

Ecology & Habitat — Canopy epiphyte of ridge forest, 100 m.

Distribution — Endemic to Australia (Queensland).

Conservation status — Vulnerable (VU) under criteria D2 with only the type locality known. Forster (2001) has previously classified this taxon as Vulnerable under former guidelines as VU, C2, D1, D2.

Note — We had intended assigning this taxon as a further variety of H. petiolatum [11], and Brass 19885 is labelled as the type of ‘ H. petiolatum var. australiense ’. However, Forster (2001) has since published the taxon as a species, and the name and rank are retained here.