New combinations for two species in the genus Synima (Sapindaceae, Cupanieae) from Queensland (Australia)

Synima Radlk. is a small genus of Sapindaceae distributed in Australia, Indonesia (Moluccas and Western New Guinea) and Papua New Guinea with three species currently accepted. The genus can be recognized by its crested scales on the petals, a pericarp that dries thin and wrinkled, and the seed which has a fleshy, yellow-orange sarcotesta that is either small and basal or ± enclosing the seed. Previous taxonomic studies expressed doubts regarding the generic placement of two species belonging to the genus Sarcotoechia Radlk.: Sarcotoechia serrata S.T. Reynolds and Sarcotoechia heterophylla S.T. Reynolds. A phylogenetic framework has shown that Sarcotoechia is paraphyletic and Sarcotoechia serrata is sister to Synima. Further morphological evidence (e.g., crested petals) support the transfer of the latter two species to Synima and the new combinations are proposed here: Synima heterophylla (S.T. Reynolds) Callm. & Buerki and Synima serrata (S.T. Reynolds) Callm. & Buerki. A key to all species of Synima is presented.