Timonius leopoldii J.Chen & K.M.Wong, 2014

Chen, Junhao, Wong, Khoon Meng, Ent, Antony Van Der & Tan, Hugh T. W., 2014, Nine new species of Timonius (Rubiaceae) from Kinabalu Park, Borneo, Phytotaxa 181 (3), pp. 138-150 : 145

Timonius leopoldii J.Chen & K.M.Wong , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2H )

Similar to Timonius mutabilis ( Korthals 1851: 212) Walpers (1852: 765) , but differing by the pubescence of the lower lamina (patent-hairy vs. appressed-hairy), shorter calyx lobes in fruits (1–1.5 mm vs. 1.5–5 mm long), and fruits with a wrinkled (vs. smooth) pericarp when dry.

Type: — BORNEO. Sabah: Kinabalu Park, Bukit Ampuan , 23 November 1978 (♀ plant), Leopold SAN 89494 (holotypes SAN; isotype SAR, SING) .

Tree to 9 m tall; trunk to 15 cm dbh; bark pale brown. Stipules triangular, with two lateral ridges converging at the apex, imbricate. Leaves opposite; petioles 8–10 mm long, 1–1.5 mm in diam.; blades narrowly elliptic, 6.1–9 × 2.8–3.5 cm, base cuneate, apex cuspidate, margins plane, subcoriaceous to coriaceous, lower surface with dense patent hairs, upper surface plane (not bullate); secondary veins 5 or 6 on each side of the midrib, 11–14 mm apart from each other; tertiary veins not prominent on lower surface. Inflorescences: female plants with 2–3 flowers per inflorescence, peduncle length unknown, peduncular bracts unknown; male plants unknown. Calyx lobes in female flowers 4, shape, length and pubescence outside unknown; in male flowers unknown. Corolla unknown. Fruits globose, 8–10 mm in diam., densely appressed-pubescent; peduncles 1.3–3.3 cm long, subglabrous to sparsely pubescent; persistent calyx lobes broad-triangular (length about the same as basal width), 1–1.5 mm long.

Etymology: —The specific epithet honours Mr. Leopold Madani, who was a key botanical collector in the Forest Research Centre, Sandakan, Sabah, and who collected the holotype.

Distribution: —Probably endemic to Kinabalu Park.

Habitat: —Lower montane forest, on ultramafic substrates.

Proposed conservation status: —This species is here classified as Data Deficient ( IUCN 2001) because there is insufficient information about its population size and geographic range. It is known only by the type specimens, and may be threatened; however, its conservation status can only be confirmed when more data will become available.

Figures

FIGURE 2. A. Female inflorescences of Timonius beamanii, Dolois SNP 16277 (SNP). B. Female inflorescence of T. borneensis, Wong WKM 3231 (BRUN). C. Male inflorescences of T. beamanii, Jusimin 560 (SNP). D. Male inflorescence of T. borneensis, Talib SAN 84768 (SING). E. Leaves of T. bullatus, Chew et al. RSNB 184 (SAN). F. Leaves of T. polyneurus, Teysmann 8361 (K). G. Solitary fruits of T. bullatus, Chew et al. RSNB 184 (SING). H. Infructescences of T. leopoldii, Leopold SAN 89494 (SAN). Scale bars: 1 cm. [Photos: A, C, D, E, and G, J. Chen; B, F, and H, K.M. Wong]