Tovomita iaspidis L. Marinho & Amorim, 2015

Marinho, Lucas, Fiaschi, Pedro & Amorim, André Márcio, 2015, A new species of Tovomita Aubl. (Clusiaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Phytotaxa 207 (2), pp. 193-199 : 194-198

Tovomita iaspidis L. Marinho & Amorim , sp. nov. (Clusiaefoliae informal group) ( Figs. 1–3 )

Tovomita iaspidis L. Marinho & Amorim differs from other species of Tovomita by the combination of oblong to oblanceolate and coriaceous leaf blades, with 8–15 pairs of secondary veins 2–5 mm distant from each other, parallel intersecondary veins which are indistinguishable in thickness from secondary veins, inflorescences with a single or three dichasia, floral buds 4–6 mm long, pale green, orbicular to oblong, sepals 4, ovate and concave, petals 4, greenish, concave and patent, stamens 40–45, white, 4–5 mm long, linear, pistillode 2–2.5 mm long, reddish, conical to botuliform. Moreover, it differs from Tovomita glazioviana by the patent (vs. reflexed) petals of the staminate flowers, and the reddish (vs greenish) and larger (2–2.5 mm vs ca. 0, 5 mm long) pistillodes.

Type:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Almadina, Serra do Corcovado/São Domingos, coletada em área aberta no alto da serra (trilha do Carvoeiro), 14º41’S, 39º35’W, 25 January 2014, fl. ♂, L. C. Marinho, L. Daneu, L. C. Gomes & A. M. Amorim 620 (holotype CEPEC!, isotypes HUEFS! RB!).

Trees or treelets 5–10 m tall, with prop roots; cortex reddish, latex whitish to yellow. Proximal internode 9.5–11.5 cm long, remaining internodes 4–7.5 cm long. Leaves grouped at branch distal portion, opposite, dark green adaxially, light green abaxially, in young leaves sometimes purplish-red adaxially; petioles 3–10 mm long, sometimes red; blade coriaceous, 3.4–11.5 × 1.2–5.2 cm, oblong to oblanceolate, cuneate to decurrent, margin entire and flat, slightly revolute in sicco, apex acute to slightly acuminate. Midvein prominent abaxially, flat adaxially in vivo and in sicco; secondary veins 8–15 pairs, 2–5 mm distant from each other, prominent abaxially in sicco, not visible on both surfaces in vivo, grouping near the blade margin, forming an angle of approximately 60º with the midvein; intersecondary veins 8–15 pairs, parallel and indistinguishable in thickness from secondary veins; latex canals immersed on both surfaces in vivo, abaxially conspicuous in young leaves in sicco. Inflorescence a single or compound dichasium with up to three dichasia, with nine flowers. Floral buds 4–6 mm long, pale green, orbicular to oblong in outline. Flowers with the pedicel 1.1–1.7 cm long, articulate; bracteoles 2, early deciduous, not seen; sepals 4, decussate, base truncate, margin entire, apex rounded; external sepals 5.5–6 × 4–5 mm, pale green, fleshy, orbicular to oblong, concave; internal sepals 6–7 × ca. 5 mm, light green, slightly fleshy, oblong, concave, patent; petals 4, light green, oblong, membranous, base truncate, margin entire, apex rounded; the 2 external petals 8–8.5 × 5–5.5 mm, concave, patent; the 2 internal petals 8–8.5 × ca. 4 mm, patent. Staminate flowers with 40–45 stamens, 4–5 mm long, linear, inner ones slightly longer than outer ones; filaments white; anthers 0.5–0.8 mm long, as wide as the filaments; pistillode 2–2.5 mm long, reddish, conical to botuliform; stigmas red, elliptic, sessile. Pistillate flowers and fruits not seen.

Comments: — Tovomita iaspidis belongs to informal group Clusiaefoliae, based mainly on the leaves with numerous secondary and intersecondary veins, which are almost indistinguishable from each other in thickness.

Tovomita iaspidis occurs in sympatry with T. glazioviana Engl. (1888: 445) , sharing with this species the numerous (40–45), linear, white stamens. However, the staminate flowers of T. glazioviana have reflexed petals and the pistillode is greenish and diminutive (ca. 0.5 mm long), while in T. iaspidis the petals of the staminate flowers are patent and the pistillode is reddish and larger (2–2.5 mm long). Despite their similar leaf morphologies, the leaf veins of T. glazioviana are visible in vivo, while in the new species they are inconspicuous.

Tovomita fructipendula (Ruiz & Pav.) Cambess. (1828: 419) , another species morphologically similar to T. iaspidis in terms of their white androecium and green petals, can be distinguished from T. iaspidis by having elliptic leaf blades (vs. oblong to oblanceolate), and narrower (2.5–5 mm wide vs. 5–5.5 mm wide) and straight reflexed petals (vs. concave patent in T. iaspidis ), and staminate flowers with white and diminutive (up to 0.5 mm long) pistillode (vs. larger and reddish in T. iaspidis ).

Tovomita iaspidis can be also found growing sympatrically with T. brevistaminea Engl. (1888: 446) in the Atlantic Forests of southern Bahia State, Brazil. However, the latter species can be readily distinguished by having reflexed (vs. patent) petals and laterally subclavate to terete (vs. linear) stamens. Likewise, T. mangle G. Mariz (1974: 367) can also grow sympatrically with T. iaspidis , but those plants have leaves typical of the Tovomita informal group Chrysochlamydifoliae, with inconspicuous intersecondary veins ( Mariz 1974).

In a palynological study of eastern Brazilian species of Tovomita, Marinho et al. (2015) described the pollen of T. iaspidis as semitectate and microreticulate, with sexine processes inside the pollen grains lumina.

Etymology:— The specific epithet “ iaspidis ” refers to the gemstone “jaspe” (in Portuguese) (in Latin “ iaspis ”, meaning “of jasper”) because of the reddish pistillode of staminate flowers.

Distribution and habitat:— Two populations of Tovomita iaspidis have been identified in rainforest remnants in southern Bahia State, Brazil. The location where the type specimen was collected, Serra do Corcovado/ Almadina, comprises an area of ca. 2500 ha, approximately 65 km inland from the coast. Coelho & Amorim (2014) carried out a floristic inventory there and found approximately 20 new species of endemic flowering plants. Tovomita iaspidis grows in the understory of low montane forests in areas of mid to high elevations (from 700 to about 800 m), usually in partially open sites exposed to direct sunlight.

Conservation status:— The proximity of the two areas where T. iaspidis is found (populations separated by ca. 200 km, see Fig. 1 ) makes their conservation status a question of some concern, and the new species should be considered endangered (EN) based on the following IUCN (2012) criteria: extent of occurrence less than 5000 km 2, with fragmented distribution at no more than five locations, with continuing declines in habitat area and quality (B1a, bi, iii). Furthermore, the harvesting of trees and the widespread use of the “cabruca” plantation system in the region, which removes the understory vegetation for cultivating cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L.) ( Coelho & Amorim 2014), may represent a serious threat to the conservation of this species. Unfortunately, none of the occurrence areas of Tovomita iaspidis is protected by a natural reserve.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — BRAZIL. Bahia: Almadina, Serra do Corcovado / São Domingos , acesso pela fazenda Aleluia , 14º41’S ; 39º35’W, 02 July 2014, ste., L. C. Marinho, L. Daneu, L. C. Gomes & A. M .

Amorim 841 (CEPEC). Wenceslau Guimarães , estrada de acesso ao Parque Estadual de Wenceslau Guimarães, ca. 6 km a partir da BR 101 , em ramal com plantio de Eucalyptus , 13º34’49’’S ; 39º42’17’’W, 05 July 2014, ste. A. M. Amorim, L. C. Marinho, L. Daneu & L. C. Gomes 8689 ( CEPEC, HUEFS) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Geographic distribution of Tovomita iaspidis (black circles).

FIGURE 2. Tovomita iaspidis. A—Detail of prop roots; B—Slashed trunk, showing reddish cortex and yellow latex; C—Detail of young petioles; D—Adaxial surface of young leaf; E–F—Branch showing adaxial (E) and abaxial (F) leaf surfaces; G—Inflorescence with floral buds in pre-anthesis; H—Staminate flower (left) and floral bud (right); I—Detailed view of the staminate flower, showing reddish pistillode (L.C. Marinho 620, source of the holotype). Photos by L.C. Marinho.

FIGURE 3. Tovomita iaspidis. A—Stem with staminate flowers and floral buds; B—Detail of articulated pedicel, showing bracteole scars; C—Floral bud, lateral view; D—Staminate flower and floral bud; E—External sepal in adaxial view (left), laterally inclined view (middle), and lateral view (right); F—Internal sepal in adaxial (left) and in lateral (right) views; G—External petal in adaxial (left) and lateral (right) views; H—Internal petal, adaxial view; I—Stamen; J—Pistillode (based on L.C. Marinho 620).