Monotagma septentrionale Hagberg & R.Erikss., 2011

Hagberg, Mats & Eriksson, Roger, 2011, New names in Monotagma (Marantaceae), Phytotaxa 20 (1), pp. 1-25 : 12-13

7. Monotagma septentrionale Hagberg & R.Erikss. , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2H )

Bracteis roseis et nodo inferiore synflorescentiae folio frondoso instructo Monotagmatis angustissimi similis, sed ab eo differt vaginis foliorum basalium non imbricatis (vs. arcte imbricatis) et scapo glabro (vs. lanato); etiam M. densiflori , M. yapacanensi et M. papillosi similis sed ab eis differt lamina foliorum apice valde obliquo.

Type:— VENEZUELA. Distrito Federal : Along trail between Guatire and La Sabana, 960 m, 20 June 1974, Jangoux 10164 (holotype VEN, isotype NY) .

Herb, basal parts unknown. Synflorescence 5–7-nodate with 13–40 florescences, lowermost node with a welldeveloped leaf, each subsequent node with a bladeless sheath, first internode 1–3.2 cm long, peduncle ± glabrous. Leaf at lowermost node with sheath 5–9 cm, puberulent along margins; petiole 0.1–0.9 cm long, glabrous; pulvinus 2.3–3.8 cm long, laterally ± flattened, puberulent adaxially, usually without annulus; blade ovate, ± coriaceous when dry, base truncate, apex acute to acuminate, oblique (apex displacement 1.8–3.3 cm), 26–50 × 11–15 cm, length from base to broadest part 10–13 cm, adaxial surface not papillose, hirtellous to puberulent along midrib and at apex, abaxial surface not papillose, hirtellous at apex. Main florescence 3.5– 10 cm long, with 5–16 ± distichous to unilaterally arranged bracts, first internode 0.6–0.9 cm long, peduncle 0.8–1.1 cm long; lowermost bract 1.9–2.2 × 0.9–1.1 cm, reddish, glabrous or puberulent at apex; first prophyll 12.5–15 mm long, glabrous; rarely with an interphyll ca 11.5 mm long. Flowers 3–4 per bract; pedicel 1–1.5 mm long; ovary ca 2 mm long, puberulent apically; sepals 10–11.5 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse; corolla tube 18– 20 mm long, outside glabrous, inside hirsute in mouth, lobes ca 5 × 2.5–4 mm, only slightly open, leaving a small pore at apex; outer staminode absent; stamen 4–5 mm long, appendage tapering to base of theca, theca 1.5–2 mm long; callose staminode 3.5–4 × ca 4 mm, with a shelf-shaped callus at ca 2 mm from apex, petaloid appendage absent; cucullate staminode 3–4 mm long, lateral appendage ca 2 mm long; style 2.5–3.5 mm long (tripped). Capsule 17–18 × ca 3.5 mm; seed ca 14.5 × ca 3 mm; aril 2–2.5 mm long, with two flattened unilateral lobes.

Distribution and habitat:—Known only from the coastal cordillera of northern Venezuela, where it is found at an elevation of about 1000 m.

Discussion:— Monotagma septentrionale is similar to M. angustissimum , M. densiflorum , M. yapacanensis , and M. papillosum in having reddish bracts and the lowermost synflorescence node provided with a leaf blade. It differs from M. angustissimum in having spreading basal leaf sheaths (vs. tightly imbricate) and a glabrous or slightly puberulent synflorescence peduncle (vs. lanate). It differs from the other three species in having strongly oblique leaf apices (apex displacement 1.8–4.5 vs. 0–1.5 cm) and longer sepals (10–11.5 vs. 3–9.5 mm).

Paratypes:— VENEZUELA. Miranda: Las Caracas–Careneiro , October 1962, García s. n. ( F, VEN) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Monotagma seeds (A–C), habits (D–E, G–H), and synflorescence (F). A, M. laxum (Hagberg et al. 330); B, M. rudanii (Hagberg et al. 331); C, M. tuberosum (Hagberg & Medin 362); D, M. exile (Cremers 8321); E, M. floribundum (Bamps 5222); F, M. paradoxum (Schunke 5739); G, M. roseum (Andersson 10616); H, M. septentrionale (Jangoux 10164).