Wittmackia portoricensis (Mez) Aguirre-Santoro (2017: 638)

Aguirre-Santoro, Julián, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Caribbean-endemic species of Wittmackia (Bromeliaceae), Phytotaxa 336 (2), pp. 101-147 : 134-136

14. Wittmackia portoricensis (Mez) Aguirre-Santoro (2017: 638) . Basionym: Hohenbergia portoricensis Mez (1896: 136) . TYPE:— PUERTO RICO. Naguabo: Sierra de Naguabo ad arbor. in sylv. prim. montis Piedra pelada, 26 April 1885, P. Sintenis 1321 (holotype B!)

Hohenbergia attenuata Britton in Britton & Wilson (1923: 134). TYPE:— PUERTO RICO. Naguabo: Sierra de Naguabo, Río Icaco and adjacent hills, 465–720 m, 30 July to 5 August 1914, J.A. Shafer 3567 (holotype NY!, isotype GH [fragment]!).

Plant epiphytic, cespitose, solitary; rosette semierect. Leaves 58–88 cm long, coriaceous; sheaths conspicuous, oblong, 9–18.8 × 3.8–7.7 cm, pale brown, lepidote on both surfaces, serrulate; blades lingulate, 39–71 cm long, 2.5–4.1(–5.5) cm wide at the base, 2–5.1(–6.4) cm wide in the middle, green to cinereous-green, smooth, lepidote on both surfaces, more densely on the abaxial side, median canalicule present, apex initially acuminate to rounded, then ending in a sharp and acuminate mucro, margins serrate, the teeth evenly distributed, triangular to hook-shaped, perpendicular to antrorse, green, 0.6–0.9 mm long. Inflorescence central, pendulous; peduncle almost completely exposed out of the rosette, stout, pliable, 31–35 cm long, 2.5–6 mm in diameter, green, floccose, central internodes 3.6–5.8 cm, distal internodes 3.2–7.4 cm; peduncle bracts shorter to equaling the internodes, distal ones surpassing the internodes, marcescent, membranaceous, nervose, green, the central erect, lax, lanceolate, 3.4–6 × 0.6–0.8 cm, floccose abaxially, glabrescent adaxially, apex acuminate, margins serrulate, the teeth irregularly distributed, the distal ones forming an angle of 30º–60º with the rachis, lax, lanceolate, 3.5–5.5 × 0.5–0.8 cm, floccose on both surfaces, apex apiculate, serrulate, the teeth irregularly distributed; fertile part of the inflorescence subcylindrical, 18–35.5 cm long, 4.3–8.8 cm wide in the middle, 1-divided, branches 7 to 14 in number, rachis slightly flexuose, green, 7.2–31 cm long, 2.5–3.5 mm in diameter, floccose. Primary bracts similar to the peduncle bracts, gradually diminishing in size towards the apex of the inflorescence, diverging from the rachis, marcescent, membranaceous, nervose, shorter to longer than the branches; the basal ones lanceolate, 4–6.5 × 0.5–0.6 cm, green, floccose on both surfaces, apex attenuate, serrulate, the teeth irregularly distributed; the apical ones lanceolate to ovate, 1.7–2.1 × 0.4–0.6 cm, green, floccose on both surfaces, apex acuminate to attenuate, margins serrulate, the teeth irregularly distributed. Spikes ovoid to cylindrical, 1.8–3.4 cm long, 2.2–2.6 cm wide in the middle; stipes exposed, 12–21 mm long, 1.5–2 mm in diameter, terete, floccose, 10–15 flowered; rachis straight, 1.8–3.4 cm long. Floral bracts gradually diminishing in size towards the apex of the spike, partially enfolding the ovaries, imbricate, diverging from the rachis, slightly concave, coriaceous, ovate, 6.6– 10.2 × 4.7–9 mm, green, nervose, ecarinate, floccose on both surfaces, minutely serrulate, apex acuminate, gradually turning into a sharp mucro of 3.5–8.8 mm long. Flowers diverging from the rachis, 6.6–10.2 mm long, sessile. Calyx dorsiventrally compressed; sepals coriaceous, triangular, asymmetrical, 3.8–5.8 mm long, 2.4–4 mm wide at the base, the unwinged side 0.8–1.3 mm wide, the winged side 0.8–2.8 mm wide, green, nervose, sparsely floccose, entire, apex initially acute, then ending in a sharp and acuminate mucro of 1.7–2.7 mm long. Corolla tubular, apically spreading; petals oblongue to subspatulate, 8.8–10.7 × 1.2–1.5 mm, white, glabrous, entire, apex acute; petal appendages absent. Stamens included; filaments flattened, 6.2–7.7 mm long, 0.1–0.5 mm in diameter, white; anthers elliptical, 1.8–2.5 × 0.4–0.6 mm, white, apiculate. Ovary ovoid, dorsiventrally compressed, 2.8–5.5 mm long, 4–5.8 mm in diameter, green, sparsely floccose; epigynous tube 0.4–1.4 mm long; ovules more than 30 per ovary, globose. Style longer than the stamens, 8.5–10.2 mm long, white; stigma white, 0.9–1.3 mm long. Fruits globose, 10–12.5 mm long, 5.2–8.6 mm in diameter, bluish, sparsely floccose. Seeds more than 20 per fruit, club-shaped, 2.1–2.2 × 0.5 mm, reddish ( Fig 16 ).

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the occurrence of this species in Puerto Rico.

Distribution, habitat, and phenology:— Wittmackia portoricensis is endemic to Puerto Rico occurring widely in the island at 200–970 m elevation ( Fig 2 ). It grows as epiphyte in the understory and edges of moist forests. This species occurs sympatrically with W. antillana . Collected in flower from November to March.

Conservation status:— Wittmackia portoricensis is categorized here as Vulnerable (VU B1ab(iii); IUCN 2001) because it mostly occurs in medium elevation, moist forests within protected state forests and national parks in Puerto Rico. The populations outside these protected areas are more vulnerable as they inhabit isolated mountains that are prone to human activities, such as construction and agriculture.

Taxonomic comments and affinities:— Cedeño-Maldonado (in Acevedo-Rodríguez & Strong 2005) indicated that the holotype was destroyed; however, this information is erroneous. Wittmackia portoricensis is similar to W. penduliflora but differs from this species in its shorter and narrower leaves (39–71 × 2–5.1(–6.4) cm vs. 82–100 × (6.5–)7.9– 1 cm); more slender stipes (1.5–2 mm vs. 2–3 mm in diameter); serrate primary bracts (vs. entire); shorter petals (8.8–10.7 mm vs. 10.8–18 mm long); absence of petal appendages (vs. presence); and shorter filaments (6.2–7.7 mm vs. 7.8–11 mm long). The synonymization of Hohenbergia attenuata into W. portorcensis by Cedeño-Maldonado (in Acevedo-Rodríguez & Strong 2005) is supported here as it was observed that acuminate and obtuse leaves occur even within the same individual.

Additional specimens examined:— PUERTO RICO. Without precise origin, originally collected on El Toro or El Yunque (labels lost). cultivated in Botany greenhouse, April 1983, Read s.n. (US!) ; cultivated SEL, 17 April 1993, Luther s.n. (SEL). Arecibo: Hato Arriba near Arecibo, 3 March 1914, Britton et al. 1987 ( NY!). Arroyo: Miramontes, 28 March 1930, Britton et al. 9538 (NY!, UPR!). Cayey: Bosque Estatal de Carite ; 1 km N of road 184, on road to antenas on Pico La Santa , 904 m, 18º06’39.9”N, 66º03’4.1”W, 13 November 2012, Aguirre-Santoro et al. 1817 (NY!, UPR!) ; on top of West Peak , Las Tetas, South of Cayey, 740 m, 14 March 1979, Liogier 28474 (NY!, UPR!) ; Guavate , 23 October 1979, Liogier et al. 29844 ( UPR!) ; Guavate Forest , 500 m, 2 March 1982, Liogier et al. 32812 ( UPR!) ; Las Tetas , 820 m, 10 March 1983, Liogier et al. 34031 (NY!, UPR!) ; barrio Cercadillo : SE. side, summit ridge of Cerro Avispa, 835–850 m, 5 November 1986, Proctor 42436 ( UPR!). Ciales: Bo. Toro Negro E slope of Los Tres Pichachos along ridge above upper jeep road through old coffee plantation from Rt 149 km 35.5, 700 m, 29 July 1993, Axelrod et al. 6700 ( US!). Cidra: Cerro de las Pinas, near Las Cruces, 600–720 m, 29 March 1922, Britton et al. 6879 ( NY!). Luquillo: Catalina-Yunque Trail, Luquillo Mountains, 600 m, 23–26 February 1923, Britton 7576 ( NY!) ; southern slope of El Toro. Luquillo Mts , 600 m, 21 March 1964, Liogier 10739 ( NY!) ; along El Toro Trail, Luquillo Mts , 650–700 m, 28 March 1979, Liogier et al. 28530 ( UPR!) ; El Verde , Luquillo Mts , 500 m, 14 January 1987, Liogier 36212 ( UPR!). Maricao: Maricao State Forest , Trail on an abandoned vacational center just in front of cabins Monte del Estado, 845 m, 18º8’27.7”N, 66º58’30.1”W, 15 November 2012, Aguirre-Santoro et al. 1822 (NY!, UPR!) ; Maricao State Forest , 800 m, 30 March 1964, Liogier 10769 ( NY!). Naguabo: Maizales , Sierra de Naguabo, Barrio de Maizales, 600 m, 7 March 1914, Britton et al. 2141 (F!, NY!, US!) ; Pico del Este , Luquillo National Forest, 1–6 April 1963, Howard et al. 15619 ( GH!) ; forest of lee side of East Peak , Luquillo Mts, 4 February 1969, Howard 17250 ( GH!) ; Sierra de Naguabo , 5 March 1914, Johnston 1577 ( UPR!) ; Luquillo National Forest , La Mina recreation area to summit of El Yunque on trails and service roads, 30 March 1969, Pfeifer et al. 2867 ( SEL!) ; Loma La Mina , Sierra de Naguabo, Summit of Loma la Mina, 945 m, 20 July 1914, Shafer 3336 (NY!, US!) ; Sierra de Naguabo , Loma Icaco, 210–675 m, 24 July 1914, Shafer 3401 ( NY!). Orocovis: Toro Negro State Forest. Cerro El Bolo. Trail close to the Park administrative station on road 143, 966 m, 18º10’3.3”N, 66º29’6.7”W, 14 November 2012, Aguirre-Santoro et al. 1820 (NY!, UPR!) ; Toro Negro Forest Reserve , Camino El Bolo , 860–970 m, 18º10.18’ N, 66º29.23’ W, 16 April 2011, Santiago et al. 4611 ( US!). Patillas: Sierra de Cayey : Carite Forest Reserve, Barrio Munoz Rivera, ridge 0.2–0.5 km S of road 184 at km 18.6, 18 June 1994, Proctor et al. 49375 ( US!). Trujillo Alto: from near Trujillo Alto, 13 March 1931, Britton 9706 ( NY!). Yabucoa: Sierra de Yabucoa, 400 m, 26 February 1922, Britton 6285 (NY!, US!, UPR!) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Geographic distribution of the Caribbean-endemic species of Wittmackia. A. Species occurring in Jamaica and Cuba, and species endemic to the western Caribbean. Star: W. caymanensis, triangle: W. mesoamericana, circle: W. penduliflora. B. Species endemic to Puerto Rico. Star: W. portoricensis, circle: W. antillana. C. Species endemic to Jamaica. Circle: W. laesslei, triangle: W. negrilensis, star: W. polycephala.D. Species endemic to Jamaica. Circle: W. rohan-estyi, triangle: W. spinulosa, star: W. urbaniana. E. Species endemic to Jamaica. Circle: W. fawcettii, triangle: W. jamaicana, star: W. inermis. F. Species endemic to Jamaica. Circle: W. abbreviata, star: W. distans, square: W. eriostachya.

FIGURE 16. Wittmackia portoricensis. A. General habit of the plant. B. Inflorescence. C. Spike and flower.D. Flower preserved in liquid. E. Sepals. F.Petal. G. Ovary in cross section. H. Seed. I. Apical portion of the stamen. J. Apical portion of the style and stigma. K. Fruit in longitudinal section (A–G, I–J: Aguirre-Santoro 1817; H, K: Aguirre-Santoro 1822. Photos of living specimens: J. Aguirre-Santoro).