During the environmental impact study for a proposed nickel mine near Weda Bay on Halmahera in North Moluccas (Maluku Utara Province), Indonesia, two unknown Euphorbiaceae were discovered. Morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses using four markers (plastid trnL-F and rbcL, and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer and external transcribed spacer) indicated that they should be recognized as constituting a new, distinct genus of two species, which are described and illustrated here as Weda fragarioides and Weda lutea. The new taxa are members of the Australasian tribe Ricinocarpeae in subfamily Crotonoideae, and they are most closely related to Alphandia. In contrast with the otherwise mostly sclerophyllous Ricinocarpeae, Weda possesses stellate to dendritic hairs, large, long-petiolate, glandular leaves, and inflorescences with a pair of large, leafy, subopposite bracts. The two narrowly distributed species are distinguished from each other by vegetative and floral features, molecular data, and elevational preferences. Leaf elemental analysis of Weda indicated manganese, but not nickel, accumulation. Newly resolved generic relationships and potential morphological synapomorphies within Crotonoideae are discussed, and the circumscription of Ricinocarpeae is expanded from 7 to 11 genera.

中文翻译：

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Weda，一个新属，包含来自 Halmahera（印度尼西亚北马鲁古）的大戟科 - 巴豆科的两个新种与澳大利亚部落 Ricinocarpeae 的系统发育关系

在印度尼西亚北摩鹿加群岛（马鲁古北方省）哈马黑拉岛 Weda Bay 附近拟建镍矿的环境影响研究期间，发现了两种未知的大戟科植物。使用四种标记（质体trnL-F和rbcL以及核核糖体内部转录间隔区和外部转录间隔区）的形态学比较和分子系统发育分析表明，它们应被视为构成两个物种的一个新的、不同的属，并对其进行了描述和说明这里有Weda fragarioides和Weda lutea。新分类群是巴豆亚科中的澳大拉西亚部落Ricinocarpeae 的成员，它们与Alphandia 的亲缘关系最密切. 在与其它的大多是硬叶Ricinocarpeae相反，韦达拥有星状树突状毛，大，长叶柄，叶腺体和花序具一对大，叶状，近对生苞片。这两个分布狭窄的物种通过植物和花卉特征、分子数据和海拔偏好相互区分。Weda 的叶片元素分析表明有锰的积累，而不是镍的积累。讨论了巴豆科内新解析的属属关系和潜在的形态突触，并将蓖麻属的范围从 7 属扩大到 11 属。