Ceratozamia totonacorum Mart.- Dominguez & Nic.-Mor., Brittonia 69 (4): 518. 2017

Martinez-Dominguez, Lili, Nicolalde-Morejon, Fernando, Vergara-Silva, Francisco & Stevenson, Dennis Wm., 2022, Monograph of Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae, Cycadales): an endangered genus, PhytoKeys 208, pp. 1-102 : 1

32. Ceratozamia totonacorum Mart.- Dominguez & Nic.-Mor., Brittonia 69 (4): 518. 2017

Figs 27G , 28B

Type.

Mexico. Puebla: Mun. Jonotla, 600 m, 9 Jun 2015, L. Martínez-Domínguez & F. Nicolalde-Morejón 618 ♀ (holotype: CIB! [acc. # 16735UV]) .

Description.

Stem 10-45 cm long, 10-25 cm in diameter, epigeous, erect and decumbent. Cataphylls 2-5 × 1.2-2.5 cm wide at the base, persistent, triangular, reddish brown, densely brown tomentose at emergence, glabrous at maturity, apex acuminate. Leaves 10-63, 100-265 cm long, descending, brown at emergence, with brown trichomes, glabrous at maturity. Petiole 30-80 cm long, terete, straight, green in mature leaves; with 10-40 thin prickles, 0.05-0.25 cm long. Rachis 85-185 cm long, terete, straight, green in adult leaves, with prickles. Leaflets 11-33 pairs, opposite to subopposite, insertion in one plane, oblong, longitudinally planar, not basally falcate to occasionally falcate, papyraceous, flat, green with adaxial side glabrous and abaxial side glaucous, distal end with entire margins, acuminate and symmetrical at the apex, attenuate at base, with conspicuous and light-green veins; median leaflets 17-40 × 2.7-4.2 cm, 2-5.6 cm between leaflets; articulations 0.5-1.3 cm wide, green. Pollen strobili 28-31 cm long, 5.0-6.0 cm in diameter, generally solitary (up to 2), cylindrical, erect, greenish yellow at emergence, yellow with brown trichomes at maturity; peduncle 9-12 cm long, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, tomentose, light brown; microsporophylls 1.5-2.7 × 0.9-2.0 cm, obconic with a non-recurved distal face and a lobate fertile portion, infertile portion 0.39-0.57 cm long and rounded with straight horns 0.19-0.25 cm long, 0.52-0.69 cm and a right angle between the horns. Ovulate strobili 20.5-28.7 cm long, 8.4-9.3 cm in diameter, solitary, cylindrical, erect, light green and glaucous, with orange to light brown trichomes at emergence, green with yellowish brown trichomes at maturity, acuminate apex; peduncle 10-11.2 cm long, 1.5-2.4 cm in diameter, erect or pendulous, tomentose, light brown; megasporophylls 64-120, 8-10 orthostichies with 8-13 sporophylls per orthostichy, 1.6-2.3 × 2.6-3.6cm, with a prominent distal face, horns straight and 0.55-0.80 cm long, 1.45-1.80 cm between horns with a right angle between the horns. Seeds 2.5-3.5 (4) cm long, 0.88-1.6 cm in diameter, ovate, sarcotesta whitish red when immature, cream to light brown at maturity.

Distribution and habitat.

Ceratozamia totonacorum occurs in the Sierra Norte de Puebla and the mountain region in Hidalgo and Veracruz States, Mexico (Fig. 24D ). It occurs in cloud forest and the transition zone between evergreen tropical forest and cloud forest on rocky outcrops in exposed walls up to 80 m tall at 600-1,800 m.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is in reference to the Totonaco ethnic group of Santiago Ecatlán in Sierra Norte of Puebla, Mexico.

Common names.

Mexico. Puebla: Kun (Totonaco ethnic group) ( Martínez-Domínguez et al. 2017b).

Uses.

In Sierra Norte of Puebla, the residents use the leaves of this species in local rituals to make “arcos” and altars (Fig. 28B ) ( Martínez-Domínguez et al. 2017b).

Preliminary conservation status.

Based on total populations and the potential distribution and reduction of vegetation in the area for Ceratozamia totonacorum , we recommend that it should be listed as “Vulnerable” in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Discussion.

Ceratozamia totonacorum is distinguished from C. delucana by its brown leaves at emergence, but this color disappears in the mature leaves which become green; besides, the leaves are descending. The ovulate strobilus is yellowish green with brown trichomes.

Specimens examined.

Mexico. Hidalgo: Mun. Huehuetla, 1,150 m, 2 Jun 1976, A.P. Vovides 23 (XAL) . Puebla: Mun. Atlequizayan, 1 Apr 2014, 867 m, L. Caamaño Onofre & A.B. Cerón Carpio 4995 (XAL). Mun. Cuetzalan del Progreso , 1,470 m, 1 Nov 2017, L. Martínez-Domínguez et al. 1180-1189 (CIB). Mun. Jonotla, 760 m, 13 Feb 2014, F. Nicolalde-Morejón et al. 1948 (CIB); 600 m, 13 Feb 2014, F. Nicolalde-Morejón et al. 1949-1955 (CIB), 1956 (MEXU), 1957 (NY), 1958 - 1965 (CIB); 1,006 m, 14 Feb 2014, F. Nicolalde-Morejón et al. 1966, 1967 (CIB); 600 m, 9 Jun 2015, L. Martínez-Domínguez & F. Nicolalde-Morejón 619 (CIB). Mun. Pahuatlán, 1,800 m, 12 Jan 1987, G. Toriz et al. 226 (MEXU). Mun. Tlapacoya, 1,010 m, 14 Feb 1985, E. Meza P. 14 (XAL). Mun. Zacapoaxtla, 1, 365 m, 30 May 2014, L. Camaño-Onofre 5329 (XAL) . Veracruz: Mun. Tlachichilco, 1,300 m, 12 Sep 2001, A. Rincón G. et al. 2584 (XAL), 2585 (MEXU, XAL) .

Figures

Figure 24. Distribution of Ceratozamia species. A C. santillanii B C. subroseophylla C C. tenuis D C. totonacorum.

Figure 27. Plants of Ceratozamia in habitat. A C. norstogii B C. oliversacksii C C. robusta D C. sabatoi E C. santillanii F C. tenuis G C. totonacorum H C. vovidesii I C. zaragozae.

Figure 28. Leaves of Ceratozamia are used for religious ceremonies A C. morettii used during local celebrations in La Estrella (Chiconquiaco municipality, Veracruz, Mexico) B C. totonacorum used during " San Judas Tadeo " festivities in La Union Atioyan (Nauzontla municipality, Puebla, Mexico).