Hypselodelphys lopei, 2012

Ley, Alexandra C. & Classen-Bockhoff, Regine, 2012, Five new species of Marantaceae endemic to Gabon, Adansonia (3) 34 (1), pp. 37-52 : 50-51

Hypselodelphys (K. Schum.) Milne. -Redh.

All 8 species of this genus are lianescent. The architecture of the vegetative shoot is the same in all species as depicted for H. lopei A. C. Ley , sp. nov. in Figure 7 . All species of the genus have a characteristic interruption before the petiole goes into the midrib and are best distinguished by the morphology of their fruits ( Fig. 8 ). Leaf morphology, leaf pubescence and flower colour have been experienced to be very variable within species and thus do not serve as unique characters for an unequivocal determination at species level (see also Koechlin 1964; Dhetchuvi 1996a; Jongkind 2008).

1. Inflorescence internodes long (7-15 mm) and glabrous .............................................. 2

— Inflorescence internodes short (c. 5 mm), glabrous or velutinous ................................ 3

2. Inflorescence multi-branched with numerous partial inflorescences arising from the base and many sterile, persistent bracts; fertile bracts closely overlapping, acutely acuminate, about 3 cm long; only known from Cameroun...................................... H. zenkeriana

— Inflorescence rarely branched and only few sterile bracts ............................................ 3

3. Fruit acutely triangular, each side about 4 cm long with median and lateral ledges, muricate-very short spines; widespread ............................................................. H. violacea

— Fruit with three round lobes without ledges, muricate – long spines; leaves large, wide along its whole length, up to 35 cm long and 17 cm wide; restricted to Lower Guinea and Congolia ............................................................................................. H. scandens

4. Fruit with oval lobes slightly flattened with lateral ledges running around; surface verrucous; so far only known from Central Gabon................................................ H. lopei

— Fruit lobes round with or without longitudinal ledges, muricate ................................ 4

5. Fruit round without ledges ......................................................................................... 5

— Fruit round with longitudinal ledges .......................................................................... 6

6. Fruit muricate – short spines; inflorescence glabrous; leaves generally small, up to 25 cm long and 9 cm wide; widespread ................................................................ H. poggeana

— Fruit muricate – long spines; inflorescence internodes and bracts are densely velutinous; distribution restricted to Upper Guinea....................................................... H. velutina

7. Fruit with round lobes; leaves triangular pointed, up to 25 cm long and 10 cm wide; often whole plant very hairy; distribution restricted to Lower Guinea................... H. hirsuta

— Fruit lobes strongly acute, flattened; distribution restricted to Upper Guinea................ .............................................................................................................. H. triangularis

A B

D

H

C

F

I

Figures

FIG. 7. — Hypselodelphys lopei A. C. Ley, sp. nov.: A, habitus (liana); B, leaf; C, flower; D, fruit (note the verrucous surface with short spiny tips). A-D, A. C. Ley 141. Abbreviations:br, bracteole;fs, fleshy staminode; o, ovary; os, outer staminode; p, petal; pa, petaloid appendage of fertile theca; s, sepal. Scale bars: A, 10 cm; B-D, 1 cm.

FIG. 8. — Fruits of Hypselodelphys (K. Schum.) Milne.-Redh. species: A, B, H. triangularis Jongkind (from Jongkind 2008); C, H. ve- lutina Jongkind (from Jongkind 2008); D, H. violacea (Ridley) Milne-Redh. (from Koechlin 1964); E, H. violacea (from Hepper 1968); F, H. poggeana (K.Schum.) Milne-Redh. (from Koechlin 1964); G, H. lopei A. C. Ley, sp. nov.(drawing from this paper); H, H. scandens Louis & Mullenders (from Koechlin 1964); I, H. hirsuta (Loes.) J.Koechlin (drawing by A. C. Ley). Scale bar: 1 cm.