Chlorohiptage T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, 2024

Van Do, Truong, Lu, Ngan Thi, Le, Anh Tuan, Lam, Mai Xuan Thi, Trinh, Xuan Thi, Deguine, Jean-Philippe, Hoang, Thao Thi & de Almeida, Rafael Felipe, 2024, Chlorohiptage (Tetrapteroids, Malpighiaceae), a distinct new genus endemic to Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data, Plant Ecology and Evolution 157 (2), pp. 125-136 : 125

Chlorohiptage T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida gen. nov.

Figs 2 , 3 , 4

Type species.

Chlorohiptage vietnamensis T.V.Do, T.A.Le & R.F.Almeida, sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Distinguished from Hiptage by its floral buds valvate (vs imbricate), petals pale-green to yellowish-green (vs white to yellow) with margins erose and velutine (vs dentate to fimbriate and glabrous), stamens 9 long + 1 short (vs 9 short + 1 long), styles 3 (vs 1-2), shorter than filaments of the stamens (vs longer than filaments of the stamens), mericarps with 1 lateral wing, 3-lobed (vs 3 free lateral wings).

Description.

Woody scandent shrubs; xylopodium absent; axillary buds densely sericeous; indumentum throughout the plant ranging from sparsely sericeous to glabrous; stipules absent. Leaves opposite, never reduced in the inflorescences; petioles cylindric, eglandular, sparsely sericeous; blade elliptic to ovate, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire, apex obtuse to acute, sometime retuse, abaxially 2-4-glandular along midvein near the base. Thyrses solitary, mostly terminal; cincinni 1-flowered; bracts present; peduncles present; bracteoles present. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, chasmogamous; pedicels elongate; sepals not concealing petals during enlargement of bud, erect at anthesis, all sepals abaxially eglandular; petals clawed, pale-green to yellowish-green, densely velutine at margins, limb narrowly falcate to obovate, base truncate to subcordate, margin erose, apex acute, claw plane, all petals patent to deflexed at anthesis. Androecium 10, stamens all fertile; filaments connate at base, curved, 9 long and more slender stamens + 1 short and stout stamen, glabrous; connective conspicuous, apparently glandular; 9 anthers monomorphic, 1 anther larger, erect at apex, glabrous. Gynoecium with 3 carpels connate their whole length in flower, separating during fruit development, styles 3, slender, cylindric, curved, equal, convergent, shorter than stamens, apex of styles truncate, punctiform, stigma terminal, capitate. Schizocarp breaking apart into 3 winged mericarps, separating from a short torus; mericarps with dorsal wing absent; lateral wing 1, developed, 3-lobed; wings coriaceous, margin entire; nut slightly ridged; areole cylindrical. Seeds angular-globose; embryos not seen.

Etymology.

The name Chlorohiptage is the combination of the Greek words “chlorós” (= green) and “hiptamai” (= to fly), referring to the unique green flowers of this Hiptage look-alike new genus.

Notes.

Chlorohiptage is endemic to open subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forests and limestone-steeped mountains in Central Vietnam at ca 100-250 m.

Figures

Figure 2. Comparison of morphological traits of Chlorohiptage T. V. Do, T. A. Le & R. F. Almeida, gen. nov. with Hiptage and Aspidopterys. A - D. Chlorohiptage. A. Leaves with two basal glands. B. Close up of a thyrse. C. A flower without petals showing the androecium and gynoecium structure and eglandular calyx. D. Close up of a mericarp. E - H. Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz. E. Leaves with two basal glands and marginal glands. F. Close up of a thyrse showing glandular calyces. G. Flower showing the androecium and gynoecium structure and petal with fimbriate margins. H. Close up of mericarp. I - K Aspidopterys tomentosa (Blume) A. Juss. I. Leaves eglandular. J. Floral bud showing eglandular calyx. K. Flower showing the androecium and gynoecium structure and petals with margin entire. L. Shape of mericarp. Photographed and designed by Truong Van Do, Anh Tuan Le, and Rafael Felipe de Almeida.

Figure 3. Photos of Chlorohiptage vietnamensis T. V. Do, T. A. Le & R. F. Almeida, sp. nov. from the original population in the natural habitat. A. Habitat. B. Habit. C. Branch bearing thyrses. D. Close up of a thyrse. E. Branch bearing mature mericarps. Photographed and designed by Truong Van Do and Anh Tuan Le.

Figure 4. Photographic plate of Chlorohiptage vietnamensis T. V. Do, T. A. Le & R. F. Almeida, sp. nov. A. Leaves with two basal glands (indicated by red arrows). B. Close up of a thyrse. C. Open flower. D. Shape of petals. E. Flower without petals showing the androecium and gynoecium structure and the eglandular calyx. F. Close up of a 3 - styled gynoecium. G - I. Close up of the androecium structure. J. Immature mericarp. K. Shape of the mature mericarp. Photographed and designed by Truong Van Do, Anh Tuan Le, and Rafael Felipe de Almeida (scale bars 1 mm).