Alloplectus martinianus, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Ecuador

3 Pages·1999·2 MB·

by  J F Smith

Alloplectus martinianus, a New Species of
Gesneriaceae from Ecuador
James F. Smith
Department of Biology, 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT. Alloplectus martinianus, a new species blades lanceolate, 4.0—13.9 X 1.1-3.3 cm, apices
of Gesneriaceae from Ecuador, is described. The acute, bases cuneate, margin entire or serrulate,
species is distinctive for its long narrow leaves, adaxially green, pannose with reticulations on epi¬
densely villous short corollas, and unusual reticu¬ dermis (Fig. IF) (reticulations may not be promi¬
lations on the adaxial epidermis of the leaf. nent on all leaves), abaxially green to rose, densely
tomentose with yellow trichomes, pubescence of
This paper describes a new species of Alloplectus veins abaxially colored pink or red-purple. Petioles
from Ecuador that is readily distinguished because 0.5-2.4 cm, tomentose. Inflorescences of 2—5 flow¬
of the combined character states of long narrow ers in axils of both leaf pairs (Fig. 1A), floral bracts
leaves, short pedicels, densely villous short corol¬ lanceolate, 3.0 X 1-1.3 mm, apex acute, margin
las, and unique reticulations on the adaxial epi¬ entire, tomentose. Pedicels 0.5—0.9 cm, erect in
dermis of the leaves. leaf axil, tomentose. Calyces campanulate, clasping
Alloplectus Martins has a history of taxonomic corolla at base, lobes elliptic, equal in size, 0.8—
confusion with Columnea L. (Wiehler, 1983), which 1.8 X 0.20-0.50 cm, apex acute, margins entire or
lias not been resolved with modern molecular tech¬ serrulate at apex, green, exterior and interior to¬
niques (Smith & Sytsma, 1994a, b, c; Smith & Car- mentose. Corollas yellow, gibbous at base, slightly
roll, 1997). These two genera are distinguished by ventricose (Fig. IB), 1.3-1.7 cm long, 1.5—3.0 mm
the dehiscent fleshy fruits in Alloplectus and inde- at base, 3.5—3.8 mm at widest point, 2.5-2.6 mm
hiscent berries in Columnea (Wiehler, 1973, 1983). before limb, exterior densely villous with golden-
This diagnostic fruit character is useful on fresh yellow trichomes, interior mostly glabrous but with
and live material, but plants without fruits are fre¬ white capitate trichomes dorsally and distally (Fig.
quently difficult or impossible to identify. In addi¬ 1C). Lobes equal, 2.0 X 2.0 mm, semi-orbicular.
tion, herbarium specimens with only immature Stamens included, filaments white, glabrous, ad-
dried fruits are difficult to determine as being de¬ nate to corolla base for 2.5 mm then connate for
hiscent or not. Such confusion has been the case 3.5 mm at base, anthers quadrate, 1.0—2.0 X 1.0—
lor the species described here. Specimens of this 2.0 mm. Nectaries of 2 dorsal fused glands. Ovaries
species have been attributed to Columnea by the tomentose, 3.0 mm long, conical, styles reddish,
author and by other specialists in the Gesneriaceae. glabrous to slightly pubescent at base, stigmas sto-
The occurrence of fruits in one specimen (Gentry matomorphic, papillose. Fruits globose, 6-10 mm
12590) shows the dehiscence typical of Alloplectus diam., red, villous. Seeds fusiform, red-brown to al¬
and has permitted the proper placement of this spe¬ most black, twisted, striate, 0.8 mm long.
cies.
Distribution. Known only from 1200 to 2500 m
Alloplectus martinianus J. F. Smith, sp. nov. elevation in Ecuador from a small geographic area
TYPE: Ecuador. Napo: road from Baeza to in Napo province; flowering March to December
and fruiting in May to November.
Tena, 5 km S of Baeza, mountain rain forest,
26 June 1983, Bohlin A’ Bohlin 698 (holotype, Alloplectus martinianus is superficially and mor¬
US; isotype, GB). Figure 1. phologically similar to Columnea formosa (C. V.
Morton) C. V. Morton, to which specimens were ear¬
Differt ah Alloplecto boliviano (Britton) Wiehler pedi- lier attributed. It differs from the latter species in
cellis brevioribus, foliis angustioribus.
several respects. First of all, the fruits are appar¬
Epiphytic or terrestrial, woody-based herbs with ently dehiscent, although this character state was
erect stems to 1.5 m long, 3—8 mm diam. (Fig. 1A), not immediately obvious from the initial specimens
red-brown, appressed trichomes sericeous, denser examined. However, it was clear from the fruits of
toward apex. Internodes 0.4—5.0 cm long, leaf scars Gentry 12590 that this is a species of Alloplectus.
raised from the nodes. Leaves opposite, subequal. Additionally, the pedicels of the new species are
No VON 9: 419-421. 1999.
420 Novon
Figure 1. Alloplectus rnartinianus J. F Smith. —A. Habit. —B. Flower with ealyx cut open to show corolla base. —C.
Corolla interior with stamens. The bases ol the stamens were torn in the specimen this illustration was based on. and
therefore do not reflect the lull degree of connation seen in other flowers (see text for full description). —I), Gynoecium
with calyx and nectaries. —E. Uniseriate trichome. —F. Adaxial leaf surface. From Bohlin & liohlin 69B.
Volume 9, Number 3 Smith 421
1999 Alloplectus martinianus from Ecuador
conspicuously shorter than in C. formosa and other (QCNE, US); 17 km from Cosanga, 24 Aug. 1990, Jar-
amillo, Grijalva A- Grijalva 12142 (QUA); 11 km E of El
species of Columned, and the corolla is smaller and
Chaco. 22 Mar. 1989, Huttel 1634 (OCA, QCNE); Santa
shorter than in most species of Alloplectus. Allo¬
Lucia tie Bermejo, 15 Dec. 1998, Alvarez, Brito, Romero
plectus martinianus is also superficially similar to & Guerrero 969.4 (QCNE); environs of Baeza, Jan. 1979.
Alloplectus bolivianos (Britton) Wiehl. However, the Besse. Tan & Halton 1156 (SEE).
latter species has longer pedicels, corollas, and pet¬
Acknowledgments. I thank Lewis Eslick for the
als and broader leaves. Additionally, A. bolivianus
illustration of this species, Steven G. Martin for his
is generally much less pubescent than A. martini¬
support, Laurence Skog for comments on the man¬
anus. Lastly, the reticulate epidermal pattern read¬
uscript and for forwarding several specimens for my
ily seen on many specimens at 10X magnification
study, and an anonymous reviewer for comments on
on the adaxial surface of the leaves is distinctive
the manuscript. Funding for this research was made
and not known from any other species of Alloplec¬
available through NSF grant DEB-9317775 and a
tus. It should be noted that this feature is not al¬
faculty research associates program grant from Boi¬
ways present on all leaves of a collection. The pat¬
se State University.
tern may be influenced by the age and condition of
the leaf at the time of collection, as well as how it
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