Cynometra cebuensis F. Seidenschwarz 2013

Estrada, Jeremaiah L., Canonigo, Claudette I. & Gentallan Jr., Renerio P., 2024, Updated distribution and new emerging populations of Cynometra cebuensis F. Seid. (Fabaceae), a critically endangered endemic plant from the Philippines, Biodiversity Data Journal 12, pp. e 132439-e 132439 : e132439-

Cynometra cebuensis F. Seidenschwarz 2013

Materials

Type status: Holotype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CYNOC 20240615 ; occurrenceRemarks: Minglanilla, Cebu; recordedBy: Jeremaiah L. Estrada; individualCount: 17; lifeStage: wildling; reproductiveCondition: non-reproductive; establishmentMeans: endemic; occurrenceStatus: present; preparations: pressing / drying; disposition: critically endangered; occurrenceID: E6F92D2F-8E39-5E6F-BD96-F97FCBD76A92; Taxon: taxonID: Native; scientificNameID: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77132497-1#higher-classification; acceptedNameUsageID: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77132497-1#higher-classification; scientificName: Cynometra cebuensis ; acceptedNameUsage: Cynometra cebuensis F. Seid ; parentNameUsage: Fabaceae ; originalNameUsage: Cynometra cebuensis F. Seid ; nameAccordingTo: Seidenschwarz F (2013) Cynometra cebuensis , a new species of Leguminosae (Caesalpiniodeae) from the Philippines. Blumea 58: 19-20.; namePublishedIn: Seidenschwarz F (2013) Cynometra cebuensis , a new species of Leguminosae (Caesalpiniodeae) from the Philippines. Blumea 58: 19-20.; higherClassification: Plantae; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Streptophyta; class: Equisetopsida; order: Fabales ; family: Fabaceae ; genus: Cynometra ; specificEpithet: cebuensis ; taxonRank: species; verbatimTaxonRank: species; scientificNameAuthorship: Seidenschwarz; vernacularName: Nipot-nipot; nomenclaturalCode: ICN; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; taxonRemarks: Accepted name; Location: continent: Asia; island: Cebu; country: Philippines; stateProvince: Cebu; municipality: Minglanilla; locality: Camp 7, Minglanilla, Cebu, Philippines ; verbatimElevation: 450; minimumElevationInMeters: 400; maximumElevationInMeters: 600; verbatimCoordinates: 10 ° 19 ' 35 " N 123 ° 46 ' 26 " E; verbatimLatitude: 10 ° 19 ' 35 " N; verbatimLongitude: 123 ° 46 ' 26 " E; verbatimCoordinateSystem: Degrees, minutes, seconds,; decimalLatitude: 10.3243; decimalLongitude: 123.7755; georeferenceProtocol: Georeferencing Quick Reference Guide (Zermoglio et al. 2020, https://doi.org/10.35035/e09p-h128); Identification: identificationID: Cynometra cebuensis ; identifiedBy: Jeremaiah L. Estrada; dateIdentified: 2024-06 - 15, 10: 10 AM; identificationReferences: Seidenschwarz F (2013) Cynometra cebuensis , a new species of Leguminosae (Caesalpiniodeae) from the Philippines. Blumea 58: 19-20.; Event: eventID: \; samplingProtocol: Observation; samplingEffort: 3 observer hours; eventDate: 06-15 - 24; eventTime: 10: 00 AM; startDayOfYear: 01-01 - 24; endDayOfYear: 12-31 - 24; year: 2024; month: 6; day: 15; verbatimEventDate: 15 - Jun- 24; habitat: Dry forest over limestone; eventRemarks: The species grows in dry forest over limestone. Several wildlings were identified.; Record Level: type: Living plant; language: en; rightsHolder: Jeremaiah L. Estrada; institutionID: UPLB Philippine Herbarium of Cultivated Plants; collectionID: Estrada and Canonigo 004; institutionCode: UPLB; collectionCode: Plant; ownerInstitutionCode: UPLB; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen

Description

Morphology: The species is a treelet reaching up to approximately 12 m in height with no buttresses. The leaves are composed of (3 –) 4–6 leaflets arranged in pairs; the petioles are rugose, measuring 5–7 mm in length and both the rachis and petioles are covered in hairs. The leaflets are attached directly to the stem, dark green and have an ovate to oblong form, measuring between 2–5 (– 6) cm in length and 0.8–1.5 (– 2.2) cm in width. The leaflets feature a deeply notched tip and an asymmetrical base, with the acroscopic side being wedge-shaped or cuneate and the basiscopic side rounded or auriculate. The midrib is positioned 5–7 mm from the acroscopic edge and gives rise to 7–9 pairs of lateral veins. The margin of the leaflets is thickened ( Seidenschwarz 2013, Lillo et al. 2023) (Fig. 1 ).

Distribution

Cebu Island, Philippines. Tabunan Forest, Cebu City; Mt. Kapayas, Carmen, Cebu; Boljoon, Cebu; Mt. Lantoy, Argao, Cebu; Camp 7, Minglanilla, Cebu * (new record) (Table 1 ; Fig. 2 ).

Ecology

In contrast to its closely-related species, such as Cynometra copelandii and Cynometra warbugyii , which thrive near waterbodies ( Seidenschwarz 2013, Lillo et al. 2023), this species specifically flourishes in dry forests over limestone terrain at elevations of 400 m above sea level or higher. For the phenology of the species, flowering season occurs during the onset of the dry season, from March to April. Flowers are reported to last only a few days, which may be due to inadequate or rapid pollination, environmental conditions and photoperiodism. Its fruits are reported to develop within 3 months and fall from the trees in July ( Seidenschwarz 2013). Wildlings were discovered thriving in shaded areas of the forest, alongside other forest species. New populations of C. cebuensis were discovered in Mt. Lantoy, Argao, Cebu (Fig. 3 ); however, a larger population was found in Camp 7, Minglanilla, Cebu. Eighteen (18) wildlings were identified in Minglanilla during fieldwork in June 2024 (Fig. 4 ).

Conservation

Cynometra cebuensis was previously assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2021. It was listed as Critically Endangered under criteria B 1 ab (iii) and 2 ab (iii) due to its restricted geographic range, limited occurrence and habitat degradation brought about by non-regulated timber harvesting, land conversion and urbanisation. The forests over limestone where the species grows are surrounded by residential and agricultural areas, making its population highly vulnerable to anthropogenic activities and fires during the dry months (March to April).

Biology

C. cebuensis is known for its slow growth rate. Flowers typically develop nine years after planting in situ. After ten years, the species reaches an average height of up to 8 m and an average stem diameter of 9 cm. Additionally, it produces distinct pink, single-branched tassels several times a year ( Seidenschwarz 2013).

Notes

No fertile specimens were observed or collected during the study period in Argao and Minglanilla, Cebu. Voucher specimens were deposited at the Philippine Herbarium for Cultivated Plants at the Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños.

Figures

Figure 1. Cynometra cebuensis wildling from the forests of Argao and Minglanilla, Cebu (A) in its natural habitat showing its branch (B) and leaflets (adaxial, abaxial) (C-D).

Figure 2. The updated distribution map of Cynometra cebuensis in the Philippines with a new distribution record.

Figure 3. Population of Cynometra cebuensis in Argao, Cebu.

Figure 4. New emerging population of Cynometra cebuensis in Camp 7, Minglanilla, Cebu.