This original (type) material was not preserved and there are no known bred specimens.
The type material of Pleurocoelus may not be diagnostic as well, according to the author.
He was the author of numerous species and the collector of type material for many more.
All life stages are known, but the sole record of this species is the type material.
The type material has been lost, so a neotype from Fiji was designated in 2012.
It maintains type materials for about 400 plants which have been identified as new species over a period of time.
White probably collected the type material of B. spinulosa in 1792.
The specific name denotes the country of origin of the type material.
The type material has been lost, lacking a known inventory number, making it difficult to test the several hypotheses.
Indeed, the type material was collected at 700 m above sea level.