Alseodaphnopsis putaoensis L.Li, Y.H.Tan & J.Li, 2020

Li, Lang, Tan, Yun-Hong, Meng, Hong-Hu, Ma, Hui & Li, Jie, 2020, Two new species of Alseodaphnopsis (Lauraceae) from southwestern China and northern Myanmar: evidence from morphological and molecular analyses, PhytoKeys 138, pp. 27-39 : 27

Alseodaphnopsis putaoensis L.Li, Y.H.Tan & J.Li sp. nov. Fig. 4

Diagnosis.

Alseodaphnopsis putaoensis is morphologically similar to A. rugosa , but phylogenetically closely related to A. hainanensis . It can be distinguished from them by its fruit stalk characters (apex slightly dilated, not fleshy, red and warty when fresh vs. apex dilated, nearly cylindric, fleshy, red and warty when fresh), much larger fruit (6-6.5 × 7-10 cm vs. ca. 2.5 × 3 cm and 1.2-2 cm), mature fruit color (brown vs. deep purple or black) and different fruiting phenology.

Type.

Myanmar. Kachin State: Putao County, on the way from Masabu to Namti, in tropical montane forest, 1000 m a.s.l., 13 May 2017, fruiting, Lang Li & Hui Ma MM271 (holotype: HITBC!).

Description.

Trees evergreen, up to 15 m tall. Branchlets terete, robust, 7-10 mm in diameter, brownish or dark brown, glabrous, wrinkled, with lenticels and leaf scars. Terminal buds glabrous. Leaves clustered at apex of branchlet, subverticillate; petiole robust, 2-3 mm thick, 2.5-4.5 cm long, concave-convex; leaf blade green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, oblong-obovate or oblong-oblanceolate, 18-35 × 6-9 cm, leathery, glabrous on both surfaces, midrib conspicuously elevated abaxially, impressed adaxially, lateral veins 8-12 pairs, veins and veinlets conspicuous, reticulate, elevated on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate, apex shortly acuminate. Flowers unknown. Infructescence subterminal, 8-10 cm, robust, glabrous, with only one well-developed fruit. Fruit large, oblate, 6-6.5 × 7-10 cm, immature fruit green, brown when mature, fruit stalk robust, 3-4 mm in diameter, apex slightly dilated, 5-6 mm in diameter.

Phenology.

Individuals with immature or mature fruits have been collected in May, fruiting may be from April to June.

Etymology.

The species is named after the type locality, Putao County, in Kachin State, Myanmar.

Distribution and habitat.

Currently known only from the type locality in Putao, Kachin State, northern Myanmar. Tropical montane forests on mountain slopes or in valleys; 600-1400m.

Preliminary conservation status.

During the field survey in Putao (Kachin State, Myanmar), several populations of A. putaoensis were found and at least two of them with more than 50 mature individuals (seedlings could be found near the mature individuals) each. In future field surveys, potential populations and more individuals are expected to be found in Putao and adjacent regions. Currently, some localities of A. putaoensis have not been legally protected. The habitat fragmentation, as well as ongoing road construction and continuous logging, are threatening its survival. Thus, the preliminary conservation status for A. putaoensis is suggested as vulnerable (VU C12a(i)) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN 2012).

Additional specimen examined (paratype).

Myanmar. Kachin State: Putao County, on the way from Masabu to Namti, in tropical montane forest, 900 m a.s.l., 13 May 2017, fruiting, Lang Li & Hui Ma MM254 (HITBC!).

Figures

Figure 4. Alseodaphnopsis putaoensis A habitat B branchlet with immature fruit C branchlet with immature fruit, immature and mature fruits. Photographed by Lang Li.