Monotagma nutans Hagberg & R.Erikss., 2011

Hagberg, Mats & Eriksson, Roger, 2011, New names in Monotagma (Marantaceae), Phytotaxa 20 (1), pp. 1-25 : 22-23

17. Monotagma nutans Hagberg & R.Erikss. , sp. nov. ( Fig. 4D )

Inter species Monotagmatis arillo tubulari synflorescentiae nodis omnibus foliis frondosis instructis M. tuberosi similis ,

sed ab eo differt habitu procumbenti, absentia petiolo, lamina minore (3–9 × 1.3–3.5 vs. 6–12 × 2.4–4.1 cm), florescentiae bracteis brevioribus (1.1–1.4 vs. 1.5–2.1 cm), et corollae tubo breviore (9–11 vs. 15–24 mm).

Type:— PERU. Cuzco: Kosnipata valley, road from Pillawata (Pilcopata?) to Patria (Patrias?), Sitio Quitacalzón , 3700 ft, 10 February 1975, Plowman & Davis 5115 (holotype L, isotypes F, GH) .

Small herb 0.1–0.3 m tall. Rhizomes ± procumbent, with internodes 2.5–5 cm long, each node bearing 0–3 aerial shoots. Aerial shoots sometimes prostrate with basal nodes rooting; each shoot bearing a few cataphylls at base; cataphylls 4–6 cm long, membranous, margins ± hirtellous. Synflorescence 4–7-nodate with 5–17 florescences, first internode 1.2–15 cm long, peduncle 1.6–12 cm long, each node with a well-developed leaf, or the lowermost ones often minute or reduced to a bladeless sheath. Well-developed leaves with sheath 2–7 cm long, margins ± hirtellous, auriculate; petiole absent; pulvinus 0.05–0.1 cm long, ± terete, hirtellous adaxially, without annulus; blade narrowly ovate to ovate, base obtuse to ± truncate, apex caudate, centric, 3– 9 × 1.3–3.5 cm, adaxial surface ± papillose, puberulent to slightly hirsute throughout, abaxial surface not papillose, glabrous or hirtellous throughout. Main florescence 5–10 cm long, with 10–17 bracts, fruiting florescences bending towards ground, first internode 0.5–0.7 cm long, peduncle 0.6–2 cm long; lowermost bract 1.1–1.4 × 0.3–0.4 cm, thinly papyraceous, yellowish green, puberulent to hirtellous throughout or hirtellous apically; first prophyll 6–9 mm long, hirtellous to hirsute at least on back, ecarinate. Flowers 3–5 per bract, white or yellowish white; pedicel 0–0.5 mm long; ovary 1–1.5 mm long, hirtellous to hirsute apically, sometimes throughout; sepals 0.5–1 × ca 0.5 mm, ± quadrate with truncate apex; corolla tube 9–11 × ca 0.5 mm, outside hirtellous to hirsute towards lobes, inside hirtellous in mouth, lobes 2–3 × 1–2 mm; outer staminode 3.5–6 × 1.5–3.5 mm; stamen 1.5–2 mm long, theca 0.5–1 mm long; callose staminode 2–3 × ca 1.5 mm, fleshy throughout, without a specialized callus; cucullate staminode 2–3 mm long, appendage ca 1 mm long; style 1.5–2.5 mm long (tripped). Capsule 11–12.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm; seed 10.5–12.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm; aril 2– 3.5 mm long, tubular with two narrow and string-shaped, straight lobes, lobes sometimes included in the tube.

Distribution and habitat:— Monotagma nutans is distributed on the eastern slopes of the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes at 300–1100 m elevation, where it grows in clearings, along paths, etc., in primary forest as well as along roadsides.

Discussion:— Monotagma nutans is most similar to M. tuberosum , but differs by its ± procumbent habit, consistent lack of petioles, usually smaller leaf blades (3–9 × 1.3–3.5 vs. 6–12 × 2.4–4.1 cm), shorter bracts (1.1–1.4 vs. 1.5–2.1 cm), and shorter corolla tubes (9–11 vs. 15–24 mm). We have not found tubers in the material available.

Paratypes:— PERU. Cuzco: between Quince Mil and Santo Domingo , July 1957, Vargas 11699 (US) . Madre de Dios : 2–3 km W of Atalaya, December 1983, Foster & Wachter 7257 ( GB, MO) . Pasco: 10–12 km SW of Puerto Bermúdez, Pichis Valley , November 1982, Foster 8620 ( GB, MO) ; Cabeza de Mono, 10 km SW of Iscozasin, Palcazu Valley , June 1983, Gentry et al. 41548 ( GB, MO) ; April 1983, Smith 3706 ( GB, MO) . BOLIVIA. La Paz: Apolo–Charasani , km 52, June 1990, Beck & Foster 18545 ( GB, LPB) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Monotagma habits. A, M. aurantispathum (Treacy & Alcorn 625); B, M. spathulatum (Schunke 5523); C, M. congestum (Schultes 9951); D, M. nutans (Smith 3706).