Cayaponia domingensis (Cogn.) H.Schaef. & M.Nee, 2012

Schaefer, Hanno & Nee, Michael H., 2012, Melothria domingensis (Cucurbitaceae), an endangered Caribbean endemic, is a Cayaponia, PhytoKeys 18, pp. 45-60 : 49-52

Cayaponia domingensis (Cogn.) H.Schaef. & M.Nee comb. nov.

Melothria domingensis Cogn. in Urb., Symb. Ant. 1: 451. 1899. TYPE: Haïti: Ouest: prope Port-au-Prince in montibus Furcy del Tête, bois de pin [west Haiti, near Port-au-Prince, Furcy del Tête mountain, pine forest], 1800 m. Nov 1896, L. Picarda 1503, BR. [basionym]

Description.

Monoecious climber with 3-4 m long, slender, grooved stems ( Fig. 1A ); leaves triangulate-cordate, often deeply 3(-5)-lobed, shortly tomentose on both sides, glabrescent above, margin finely dentate; petioles 10-20 mm, striate; tendrils simple. Flowers probably diurnal (based on herbarium specimens with open flowers), solitary or in few-flowered fascicles in the leaf axils ( Fig. 1B ), the staminate and pistillate coaxillary, shortly pedicillate; corolla pale yellow, inner petal surface white; calyx glabrous, broadly campanulate; stamens inserted near the base of the tube; filaments distinct, two anthers 2-thecous, one 1-thecous; ovary globose, glabrous; style erect, linear, inserted on a basal nectary; stigmas 3, dilated, reflexed; staminodes 3, minute; fruit globose, glabrous, 10-20 mm diam., with thin, leathery wall, dark green turning orange with greenish white mottling; fruiting pedicels 10-30 mm long ( Fig. 1C ); seeds 6, broadly ovoid, 5 × 4 × 2.5 mm; testa light brown, smooth ( Fig. 1D ).

Phenology.

Flowering and fruiting specimens have been collected in April, June, August and September.

Distribution.

Endemic to the Greater Antilles, island of Hispaniola, and perhaps Puerto Rico (one record from Ponce, Toro Negro Commonwealth Forest, between Cerro Maravillas and Monte Jayuya, along road off highway 143, 1190-1200 m, 26 Feb 1993, Breckon et al. 4427, NY, specimen not seen).

Habitat.

According to specimen label information, the species occurs in rainforest, thickets and disturbed areas of cloud forest 1200-2200 m a.s.l., on limestone rocks with Ardisia Gaertn., Brunellia Ruiz & Pav., Buddleja L., Cestrum L., Coccoloba P.Browne, Cordia L., Daphnopsis Mart., Garrya Douglas ex Lindl., Heterotrichum M.Bieb., Lobelia L., Meliosma Blume, Miconia Ruiz & Pav., Myrsine L., Palicourea Aubl., Persea Mill., Ocotea Aubl., Trema Lour., Turpinia Raf., and Weinmannia L.

Conservation status.

Listed as in danger of extinction ("peligro de extinción”) on an informal webpage for the flora and fauna of Hispaniola ( Marcano 2009). The available information on distribution, population size, and threats does not seem sufficient for a formal classification following IUCN red list criteria.

Local names.

Mirliton blanc, Mirliton marron, Mirliton sauvage ( Barker and Dardeau 1930; Liogier 1986).

Specimens examined.

Dominican Republic. Baoruco: Sierra de Neiba, Sabana del Silencio, 18°39'07"N, 71°33'26"W, 2201 m, 19 Jun 2003 (fl., fr.), P. Acevedo-Rodríguez et al. 13011 (NY); Elías Peña: Sierra de Neiba, near La Doscientos, Hondo Valle, 1750- 1850 m, 5-7 Sep 1968, A.Liogier 12501 (NY, US); Sierra de Neiba, near La Doscientos, S of Hondo Valle, 1750-1850 m, 5-7 Sep 1968, A.Liogier 12563 (GH, NY). Independencia: Sierra de Neiba, between Ángel Félix and Aniceto Martínez, 18°41'37"N, 71°46'56"W, 1867 m, 24 Jun 2003 (fl., fr.), P. Acevedo-Rodríguez et al. 13274 (GH, NY); Sierra de Neiba, along the Carretera Internacional near the crest of the ra nge, along the Haitian border, vic. the San Rafael and Independencia border, 18°39'00"N, 071°37'48"W, 1700-2000 m, 9 Aug 1967, G.J.Gastony, G.C.Jones & D.H.Norris 640 (GH, NY, US); near Sapotén, above El Aquacate, Duvergé, 1500-1700 m, 4-5 Jan 1972, A.Liogier 18359 (F, NY); Sapotén, El Aguacate, Duvergé, 1300 m, 25 Jun 1977, A.Liogier & Liogier 27009 (NY); Sierra de Neiba, 30 km above Sabana Real on road paralleling the Haïtian border, 18°40'00"N, 71°46'00"W, 1845 m, 18 Apr 2003 (fl., fr.), M.Nee & J.C.Montero Castro 52304 (MO, NY). La Vega: near La Ciénaga, N of Constanza, 1700 m, 16 May 1959, Jiménez 4010 (US); La Nevera, from Valle Nuevo to San José de Ocoa, 2100 m, 18 Oct 1968, A.Liogier 13134 (NY); cabezadas de Ciénaga de la Culata, Constanza, 1650 m, 16 Oct 1968, A.Liogier 13072 (NY); Loma Redonda, Ciénaga de la Culata, Constanza, 1600-1950 m, 23 Sept 1969, A.Liogier 16015 (NY, US). Pederales: Sierra de Bahoruco, sección Los Arroyos, 18°25'54"N, 71°74'45"W, 1500 m, 10 Jul 2007 (fl., fr.), T.Clase, L.Raz, D.Castillo, L.Reinoso & E.Soto. 4539 (MO); above Los Arroyos, along the International Highway from Pedernales to Duvergé, 1500-1600 m, 8 Nov 1969, A.Liogier 16775 (NY, US). Peravia [now San José de Ocoa]: 33.9 mi. N of the Parque Central de San José de Ocoa on the road to Constanza, 1800 m, 7 Jul 1982, T.A.Zanoni, M.M. Mejía & J.D.Pimentel B. 21376 (MO, NY, U). San José de Ocoa: La Horma Arriba, 1800-2000 m, 1 May 1972, A.Liogier 18595 (F, NY); La Nevera, 2100 m, 22-23 Oct 1976, A.Liogier & Liogier 25690 (NY). Santiago: upper Río Bao valley, at the base of La Pelona, 1700 m, 1-7, A.Liogier 12908 (NY). Haïti. Ouest: Fourcey, Massif de la Selle, ca. 1750 m, 5 Aug. 1924 (fl., fr.), E.L.Ekman 1319 (B, S, US). Massif de la Selle; Parc National Morne la Visite; Morne d › Enfer, eastern slopes and ridge, 1850-1880 m, 14 May 1984, W.S.Judd 4669 (FLAS).

Figures

Figure 1. Cayaponia domingensis (Cogn.) H. Schaef. & M. Nee A habitus with leaves, tendrils, staminate and pistillate flowers, and young fruits B pistillate flowers C fruit D seeds; scale bar: 5 mm. Photographs of A. H. Liogier 12563 (GH) by H. Schaefer.