Agapetes brevipedicellata Y. H. Tan & S.S. Zhou, 2017

Zhou, Shi-Shun, Yang, Bin, Tong, Yi-Hua, Ding, Hong-Bo, Li, Ren, Maung, Kyaw Win & Tan, Yun-Hong, 2017, Agapetes brevipedicellata (Ericaceae), a new species from Putao, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar, Phytotaxa 331 (1), pp. 117-123 : 118

Agapetes brevipedicellata Y. H. Tan & S.S. Zhou , sp. nov. ( Figures 1–2 )

Agapetes brevipedicellata is similar to Agapetes pseudogriffithii with stout, fleshy, apically cupuliform pedicels, but differs from it by having nearly fleshy branchlets, linear-lanceolate leaves, stout, fleshy, bracteate peduncles, and pale greenish pedicels and calyx tinged with pale pink, and stems and branchlets with prominent leaf and inflorescence scars.

Type:— MYANMAR. Kachin State: Putao District, Upper Shankhaung village. Epiphytic shrubs in tropical montane forests, 97º 17 ʹ 42 ʺ E, 27º 25 ʹ 29 ʺ N, 450 m, 27 April 2016, Myanmar Exped. 20160001 (holotype HITBC, isotypes HITBC!, RAF!).

Epiphytic shrubs. Branchlets pendulous, nearly fleshy, with inconspicuous white lenticels, 0.8–1.2 cm diam., glabrous. Leaves dense, spirally arranged; petioles 2–3 mm long or subsessile, glabrous; leaf blade coriaceous, linear-lanceolate, 15.8–18.5 × 2–2.4 cm, apex narrowly acuminate, base rounded, glabrous, margins entire and revolute, midvein impressed adaxially, raised and impressed abaxially, secondary veins inconspicuous. Inflorescences corymbose, axillary or on leafless old branchlets; corymbs 2–8-flowered, sometimes solitary, peduncle stout, fleshy, 4–4.5 cm long, pale greenish tinged with pale pink, inconspicuously verruculose, inflorescence bracts broadly ovate, suborbicular or scalelike; floral bracts triangular or ovate-triangular, 2.5–4.5 × 2–3.4 mm, glabrous; pedicels stout, fleshy, pale greenish tinged with pale pink and turning pinkish red at maturity, 0.8–1.0 cm long, glabrous, inconspicuously verruculose, articulate with calyx, expanded and cupuliform apically; bracteoles basal, 2–3.5 mm, triangular or ovate-triangular. Calyx tube ca. 1.2 cm long, pale greenish or light blue tinged with pale pink, glabrous; limb divided to near middle; lobes triangular or narrowly triangular, ca. 5 mm long. Corolla pale pinkish, inside white, with reddish transverse zigzag bands, tubular, ca. 1.6 cm long; lobes erect, ca. 2 mm, pale greenish yellow, triangular or ovate-triangular. Stamens 10, 1.2–1.4 cm long; filaments flat, 3–4 mm long, white, subglabrous; anthers 0.9–1 cm, thecae maroon, ca. 3 mm long, papillate, tubules brownish yellow, 6–6.5 mm long, without spurs, with apical pores. Style pale green, glabrous, ca. 1.6 cm long, slightly exerted from connate anther tubules; stigma punctate. Fruit unknown.

Phenology:— Flowering from April to June.

Distribution and habitat:— This new species is known from Upper Shankhaung village, Putao District, Kachin State, where it grows epiphytically on the canopy trees of tropical lower montane rain forests at an elevation of ca. 400– 600 m. ( Figure 3 ).

Etymology:— The species epithet refers to its stout, fleshy and short (ca. 1 cm) pedicels.

Affinities:— This species is similar to Agapetes pseudogriffithii Airy Shaw (1935:40) (types at BM and isotypes at A), particularly in the stout, fleshy, apically cupuliform pedicels and the tubular corolla, but differs in its shorter corolla tube (ca. 1.6 cm long vs. 2–3 cm); pale pinkish corolla (vs. pinkish, crimson, carmine, or orange); shorter anthers (0.9–1 cm long vs. ca. 2.1 cm long), and nearly fleshy, pendulous twigs (vs. slender, erect); linear-lanceolate leaves 15.8–18.5 × 2–2.4 cm (vs. oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 6–14 × 1.5–3.5 cm); stout, fleshy, bracteate peduncles (vs. slender, not fleshy, without inflorescence bracts). ( Table 1, Figures 1–2 ).

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): MYANMAR. Kachin State: Putao District, Naungmung Township, near Masabu village , 97°44 ʹ 46 ʺ E, 27°29 ʹ 49 ʺ N, 600 m, 6 May 2017, Myanmar Exped.1434 ( HITBC) ; Putao District, along the road to Alang Khar village , 97°39 ʹ 46 ʺ E, 27°17 ʹ 25 ʺ N, 550 m, 5 December 2015, Myanmar Exped. 20150031 ( HITBC) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Agapetes brevipedicellata Y. H.Tan & S.S. Zhou.A–B. Habit.C. Flowering branchlet. D. Inflorescence.E. Inflorescence with flowers in apical view. G. Inflorescence with flowers in lateral view. H. Leaves showing abaxial and adaxial surfaces. I. Flowers showing pedicel, calyx and style. J. Corolla opened to show outer surface. K. Flowers showing pedicel, calyx and corolla. L. Stamens.

FIGURE 2. Agapetes brevipedicellata Y. H. Tan & S.S. Zhou.A. Habit. B. Leaves showing abaxial and adaxial surfaces. C. Inflorescence. D. Flowers showing pedicel, calyx and corolla. E. Flowers showing pedicel, calyx and style. F. Corolla opened to show outer surface. G. Stamens in lateral and dorsal view.All from Myanmar Exped. 20160001 (HITBC) and drawn by Zheng-Meng Yang.

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Agapetes brevipedicellata in Myanmar.