Endiandra macrocarpa D.Y.Zou, Lang Li & J.Li, 2023

Zou, Dian-yang, Cao, Guan-long, Zhang, Jin-guo, Li, Lang & Li, Jie, 2023, Endiandra macrocarpa (Lauraceae), a new tree species from south-western China, PhytoKeys 224, pp. 183-192 : 183

Endiandra macrocarpa D.Y.Zou, Lang Li & J.Li sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2

Diagnosis.

Compared to other Endiandra species occurring in south China and the adjacent regions in Indochina, this species is mainly characterised by its much larger ellipsoidal fruits (up to 11 × 6 cm), as well as glabrous branchlets and puberulent inflorescences.

Type.

China. Yunnan Province: Maguan County, Gulinqing Town, Houcao Village , in tropical montane forest near the village and is strongly disturbed by human activities, ca. 800 m a.s.l., 12 May 2022, flowering, Lang Li and Dian-yang Zou, 2022028 (Holotype: HITBC!; Isotypes: HITBC!) .

Description.

Trees evergreen, up to 15 m tall (Fig. 1A ). Bark brownish-grey. Branchlets brown, terete, with blunt ridges and striate when dry, glabrous, slightly warty. Leaves alternate; petiole 1-1.5 cm, concave-convex, glabrous; leaf blade greenish and opaque abaxially, green and shiny adaxially, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 5-16 × 3-7 cm, thinly leathery. Mid-rib elevated on both surfaces, but rather conspicuous abaxially, lateral veins 5-8 pairs, slightly elevated abaxially, conspicuous adaxially, veins and veinlets reticulate, base cuneate to obtuse, mostly asymmetric, apex acuminate with obtuse acumen or obtuse with acute acumen. Panicle axillary, 4-8(10) cm, puberulent (Fig. 1B ). Pedicels slender, 1-3 mm, thickened after anthesis. Flowers yellow, scented, ca. 3 mm. Perianth fleshy, unequal, outer ones slightly larger, broadly ovate, 3 × 2 mm (Fig. 2A ), adaxially pilose; inner ones smaller, ovate, 2.5 × 1.8 mm, adaxially densely villous (Fig. 2B ). Fertile stamens 3, triangular, ca. 2 mm, eglandular, puberulent; anthers thick, stalkless, 2-celled, cells extrorse, tightly adnate to each other; staminodes absent (Fig. 2C, E ). Ovary ovoid, ca. 1.2 mm; style short; stigma punctate (Fig. 2D ). Fruit ellipsoid or long ellipsoid, up to 11 × 6 cm, immature fruit green, yellow when mature, smooth, glabrous, apex bluntly apiculate (Fig. 1C, D ). Seed endocarp light brown with a darker brown network of both broad and fine, slightly raised veins. Fruit stalk brown, up to 5 mm in diam. at apex, glabrous.

Phenology.

Flowering from April to May and fruiting from July to October.

Distribution and habitat.

Currently known only from the type locality in Maguan County, Yunnan Province, south-western China (Fig. 3 ). Tropical montane forest in valley, on clay loam soil mixed limestone; ca. 800 m a.s.l.

Etymology.

The specific epithet " Endiandra macrocarpa " of the new species refers to its very large fruits compared to the other species within the genus Endiandra .

Preliminary conservation status.

Currently, E. macrocarpa is only known from the type locality in Maguan County, Yunnan Province, south-western China with only one mature individual. It is located in tropical montane forest near the village, which is strongly disturbed by human activities. So far, no other occurrence of this species in south-eastern Yunnan and the adjacent regions has been found or reported. Further in-depth field surveys are suggested in order to find more individuals and locations of the species. Thus, the preliminary conservation status of E. macrocarpa is not assessed in the present study.

Additional specimen examined.

China. Yunnan Province: Maguan County, Gulinqing Town, Houcao Village, in tropical montane forest near the village, strongly disturbed by human activities, ca. 800 m a.s.l., 26 August 2020, fruiting, Lang Li and Guan-long Cao, 2020158 (HITBC!); 25 April 2021, flowering, Lang Li and Guan-long Cao, 2021029 (HITBC!); 28 October 2021, mature fruits, Lang Li and Dian-yang Zou, 2021081 (HITBC!).

Figures

Figure 1. Morphology of Endiandra macrocarpa A tree habit B flowering branchlet C fruiting branchlet displaying immature fruit D mature fruits. Photographed by Lang Li and Guan-long Cao.

Figure 2. Morphology of a flower of Endiandra macrocarpa. A outer tepals, abaxial and adaxial side B inner tepals, abaxial and adaxial side C stamen, abaxial side D pistil E flower, top view F flower, longitudinal section. Photographed by Dian-yang Zou.

Figure 3. Distribution of E. macrocarpa (black triangle), E. hainanensis (red dot), E. dolichocarpa (green dot) and E. coriacea (yellow dot) in China.