XVI International Botanical Congess
The biodiversity of the flora of Mount Jaya, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, the highest mountain between the Himalayas and the Andes, is considered. An outline is given of the major plant groups found in the area as part of ongoing studies of this 'botanical goldmine'.The biodiversity is interpreted in relation to diversity in tropical ecosystems and the recent history of extensive glaciations and geological changes. Examples are presented from preliminary studies of species radiations in groups including the Cyatheaceae, the Actinidiaceae and the genus Rhododendron. Comparisons are made with Mount Kinabalu. Similarities in geological history, plant diversity and patterns of speciation are emphasized. These two areas, among the most botanically diverse on earth, are centered in areas of both geological and ecological instability.