Erythroxylum cogolloi Jara, 2015

Jara-Muñoz, Orlando A., 2015, A new species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae) from Colombia and emendation of Erythroxylum plowmanianum, Phytotaxa 201 (2), pp. 172-176 : 172-174

Erythroxylum cogolloi Jara sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 ).

Similar to Erythroxylum acuminatum Ruiz & Pavón (1957: 136) but differing in shorter petioles, (1.5–3.5 mm vs. 6–9.3 mm in E. acuminatum ), and secondary veins not impressed adaxially (vs. impressed in E. acuminatum ).

Type: — COLOMBIA. Antioquia: Municipio San Luís, Cañón del Río Claro , sector nor-occidental, margen derecha, sector sur, 6º2’0’’N – 74º55’0’’W, 03 December 1983, A. Cogollo 1036 (holotype, COL!; isotypes, JAUM!, MO!) .

Small tree or shrub to 6 m tall. Branchlets erect-patents, brown to dun, longitudinally striate at apex; lenticels few. Cataphylls persistent, similar to stipules, 1.2–3.8 mm long, 0–6 at the internodes. Stipules persistent, triangular to lanceolate, 1.8–3.1 mm long, prominently striate, 3–6 striations on each side, brown, pale and membranaceous at the margin; apex acute with two erect setae on each side ca. 0.5 mm long. Leaves persistent. Petioles weakly canaliculate, 1.8–2.7 mm long. Blade elliptic, 5.5–9.3 × 2.1–3.6 cm, firmly membranaceous, apex acuminate, acumen rounded, base cuneate, margin entire, drying adaxially dark green, abaxially brown; midrib raised and acute adaxially, prominent and rounded abaxially; secondary veins 9–12 per side, diverging 65–80° from midrib, straight, then arching irregularly, anastomosing 1–2.5 mm from margin; veinlets barely raised. Flowers in axils of cataphylls, 1–2 per node. Bracteoles ovate, concave, 0.6–1.2 mm long, pale, acuminate at apex, setae 0.3–0.4 mm long. Pedicels pentagonal, 3.4–4.3 × 03– 0.6 mm. Calyx 1.2–1.5 mm long, lobes triangular, 1.1–1.3 mm long. Petal lamina oblong to ovate 2.1–2.2 × 1.1–1.2 mm, apex incurvate, claw 0.7–1.1 mm long, ligule bilobed, 0.8–1.1 mm long, each lobe consisting of distal well-developed auricle and a proximal auricle fused with the distal auricle on the inner side. Staminal cup 0.6 mm long, 2/3 as long as the calyx, margin entire. Brevistylous flowers: filaments sub-equal, ca. 2.6 mm long. Anthers ovateelliptic, 0.25 × 0.2 mm. Styles free, ca. 1.1 mm long, stigma depressed capitate. Longistylous flowers: not seen. Ovary obovoid, truncate at the apex, near equal to the stamina cup, ca. 0.6 mm long. Drupe ovoid to ellipsoid, 8.2 × 5.2 mm; endocarp terete, smooth, unilocular, lacking endosperm.

Distribution and habitat: —This species grows on the foothills of the Middle Magdalena River Basin, between 214 and 815 m. This mountainous region is characterized by tropical wet forests with rainfall between 2000 and 5000 mm and streams (“quebradas”) that flow into the Magdalena River.

Discussion:— Erythroxylum cogolloi belongs to section Rhabdophyllum O. E. Schulz (1907: 28) because it has striated stipules and triangular calyx lobes. The most morphologically similar species to E. cogolloi is E. acuminatum , which grows in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil (Acre) primarily in dry forests at 100-1100 m ( Plowman 1989).

The broadly distributed species Erythroxylum citrifolium Saint-Hilaire (1829: 94) , is also similar to E. cogolloi , however both species can be distinguished based on gross morphological characters. E. citrifolium has more than five flowers per node (vs. 1-2 in E. cogolloi ). E. citrifolium plants are usually trees of more than 8 m high (vs. small trees or shrubs to 6 m in E. cogolloi ). Finally, Erythroxylum fimbriatum Peyritsch (1878: 162) , can be separated from E. cogolloi by its stipules with recurved and fimbriated apical setae (vs. erect and not fimbriated in E. cogolloi ).

Etimology: —The epithet honors the Colombian botanist Alvaro Cogollo (JAUM), who first collected this species and developed an intensive study program and conservation effort for the flora of Cañón de Rio Claro (Antioquia).

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— COLOMBIA. Antioquia: Municipio Puerto Triunfo, A. Corredor s.n. ( UDBC) ; Municipio San Luís, Cañón del Río Claro , north-west sector, left side, 02 September 1984, A. Cogollo 1905 ( COL, JAUM) ; Caldas: Municipio Victoria, Pradera sector, forest beside Pradera , on slopes that descent to river La Miel , 800-815 m, 5º23’30’’N, 74°54’23.5’’W, 28 October 1997, R. Sanchez 3523 ( COL, JAUM) ; Municipio Samaná, right side of river Moro , La Mula sector, January 2006, F. Cardona 1595 ( HUA) ; Santander: Municipio de Girón, vereda Sogamoso, hacienda Trigueros , 214 m, 7°4’26.3’’ N, 73°21’35.1’’W, 14 December 2010, E. Rodriguez 1783 ( COL, UIS) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Erythroxylum cogolloi.A. Branches, B. Detail of apical branch with stipules and cataphylls, C. Flower without petals, D. Petal in adaxial view, E. Fruit in lateral view, F. Fruit in cross section.