Miersia putaendensis A. Cádiz-Véliz, 2021

Cádiz-Véliz, Arón, 2021, Miersia putaendensis sp. nov. (Gilliesieae, Amaryllidaceae), a new species endemic to Central Chile, Phytotaxa 502 (3), pp. 230-236 : 231-235

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/phytotaxa.502.3.2
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/89723F37-B649-736E-C6CC-B6ABAF8F9F97
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Miersia putaendensis A. Cádiz-Véliz
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Miersia putaendensis A. Cádiz-Véliz View in CoL , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 3B View FIGURE 3 1–2 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 )

Diagnosis: — Miersia putaendensis differs from Miersia leporina Ravenna by its hyaline-white gibbous staminal tube with frontal purplespotted lobe and its floral appendages which are directed frontward, entire, linear to cuneiform, dorsally purple-spotted, and apically deflexed.

Type: — CHILE. Valparaíso: Provincia de San Felipe de Aconcagua, Comuna de Putaendo , Cuesta El Manzano, Quebrada Estero El Arrayán, 32°30‘12“S 70°47‘19“W, 850 m of elevation, 09 August 2020, A GoogleMaps . Cádiz-Véliz 548 (holotype: JBN 4069 View Materials !; isotypes: EIF 14041!, SGO!, CONC!,) .

Description:—Herbaceous geophytic plant from a bulb. Bulb spherical to ovoid, 1‒2 × 1‒2.5 cm; cataphylls 1.5‒2.5 × 1.5‒2.5 cm. Leaves 1‒2(3), linear, 20‒30 × 0.3‒0.4 cm, with five parallel veins. Scape 1(2), cylindrical, hollow, 20‒30 × 0.25‒0.3 cm, longitudinally striated; spathe 2-valvate, herbaceous, oblong, acuminate, 1.2‒2 × 0.6‒1 cm; bracts fused 1/3‒1/2 of its length. Inflorescence a pseudo-umbel with 2‒5 zygomorphic flowers; pedicels unequal, longitudinally striated, 1.2‒8.5 × 0.01‒0.15 cm. Tepals 6, free, membranous, greenish, occasionally with purple tones, with 3‒5(7) inconspicuous green-purple veins edges hyaline, lanceolate, acuminate, base rounded, 1.6‒2.5 × 0.25‒0.3 cm, apex reflexed in its distal third, somewhat coiled at the tip. Outer tepals 3, 2 upper, 1 lower. Inner tepals 3, upper one leaned towards the front, with purple wide edges along 1/3‒1/2 of its length from the base, 2 tepals laterally pointing downwards. Appendages 2, 8‒12 × 1‒1.5 mm, fused along 1/3 of its length to the upper area of the staminal tube, the distal 2/3 free, whitish or greenish, linear to cuneiform, entire, apex truncate and deflexed, with 4‒6 uneven teeth, with a purple dorsal region varying in size. Stamens 6, fused forming a staminal tube, 5‒8 (length) × 1‒1.5 (width) × 5‒8 (height) mm, gibbous, hyaline-white, with lateral depressions and folds, a white frontal lobe, 2‒3.5 (length) × 2‒3.5 (width) ×1.5‒3 (height) mm, with a purple spot varying in intensity, a central depression forming an arc immediately below the lobe, lower portion forming a tube 1.5‒2 × 1‒1.5 mm, directed towards the front and enclosing all anthers at the apex; anthers 6, yellow, <0.7 mm long; style declinate, 6‒7 mm long; stigma capitate, reaching the anthers or slightly exerted, projecting up to 1 mm; ovary superior, spherical to ovoid, trilocular, 1‒2 mm long. Capsule obpyramidal, 1‒1.3 × 1.5‒1.7 cm, 3-valved, connate along the basal 1/2, each valve with thickened edges, surface slightly rugose and greenish, style generally as a remnant. Seeds numerous, pyramidal, whitish, 2‒2.5 × 2 mm, papillose surface, mature seeds unknown.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to Putaendo, the locality where the species was discovered.

Ecology and distribution:— Miersia putaendensis inhabits south-facing hillsides, on cliffs or steep slopes with abundant vegetation, within the interior of Mediterranean sclerophyllous woodlands with Quillaja saponaria Molina (1782: 354) and Porlieria chilensis Johnston (1938: 253) , Lithraea caustica Hooker & Arnott (1833: 175) ( Luebert & Pliscoff 2017), and Colliguaja odorifera Molina (1782: 354) on relatively shaded sites under the canopy. It occurs across an elevational range of 830 to 920 m above sea level. The species distribution is restricted to the type locality ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ); within an area of ca. 500 m 2, its presence in surrounding areas has not been confirmed.

Phenology:— Flowering between July and August, in fruit between September and October.

Conservation status:— This new species grows within Chile’s most threatened region due to the high exploitation of natural resources ( Myers et al. 2000). There are human settlements related to the livestock farming of goat and cattle in the nearby areas, numerous low and medium scale mining projects can also be found (Cádiz-Véliz & Aliaga- Reyes 2019). Climbers also visit the area, being a potential risk for the individuals growing in the cliffs. However, the current population inhabits a slope in a good state of conservation, with abundant native vegetation. Due to the limited extension of the single known population, being lower than 100 km 2, M. putaendensis is proposed to be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) as it meets the B1 criterion ( IUCN 2012).

Taxonomic relationships:— Miersia putaendensis is morphologically similar to M. leporina in having two upper floral appendages. However, they differ in shape and arrangement. The former displays the floral appendages towards the front, and these are entire, linear, with a truncate apex, toothed, and deflexed. In the latter, the appendages are erect, entire or divided, and lanceolate. The species is also similar to M. cornuta by featuring a white gibbous staminal tube and reflexed tepals. Nonetheless, the latter has six floral appendages around a reflexed purple staminal tube, whereas M. putaendensis has two appendages, a white staminal tube with a purple spot with its lobe directed frontward.

Identification key to the species of Miersia View in CoL ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 )

1. Flowers with 2 appendages above the staminal tube..........................................................................................................................2

2. Entire or divided floral appendages, lanceolate and erect. Bluish-green staminal tube with an erect, short, upper lobe without a purple spot .......................................................................................................................................................... M. leporina View in CoL ( Fig.3A View FIGURE 3 )

- Entire floral appendages, linear to cuneiform, with a truncate toothed and deflected apex and oriented frontward. White staminal tube featuring an elongated frontal lobe with a purple spot on its apex...................................................... M. putaendensis View in CoL ( Fig.3B View FIGURE 3 )

- Flowers with 6 appendages around the staminal tube ........................................................................................................................3

3. Tepals clearly reflexed. Staminal tube with a globose deflected base. Floral appendages entire and filiform... M. cornuta View in CoL ( Fig.3C View FIGURE 3 )

- Tepals generally non reflexed. Staminal tube not globose at base. Floral appendages divided.........................................................4

4. Strongly zygomorphic flowers. Tepals acuminate, generally reflexed. Floral appendages flat, bifid, divided up to half of their length ................................................................................................................................................................. M. chilensis View in CoL ( Fig.3D View FIGURE 3 )

- Slightly zygomorphic flowers. Tepals acute, tips straight. Floral appendages filiform or flat, bifid to trifid....................................5

5. Tepals linear-lanceolate, generally with a purple central stripe. Appendages filiform, staminal and tepaline similar, bifid, 0.12-0.2 cm long. Staminal tube narrowed and exerted .................................................................................................. M. tenuiseta View in CoL ( Fig.3E View FIGURE 3 )

- Tepals external ovate or oval-lanceolate, obtuse, internal linear-lanceolate. Appendages flat, wide, bifid or trifid, tepaline flats, bifid or slightly lobed, 0.06-0.12 cm long. Staminal tube 3-lobed, not-exerted .................................................... M. minor View in CoL ( Fig.3F View FIGURE 3 )