Andeimalva peruviana Dorr & C.Romero, 2018

Dorr, Laurence J., Romero-Hernandez, Carolina & Wurdack, Kenneth J., 2018, A new large-flowered species of Andeimalva (Malvaceae, Malvoideae) from Peru, PhytoKeys 110, pp. 91-99 : 95-96

Andeimalva peruviana Dorr & C.Romero sp. nov. Figure 2

Type.

PERU. La Libertad: Bolivar, alpine bogs around Rio Negro and Pampa Uchulala along road to Bambamarca, 07°13'51"S, 077°38'21"W, 3750 m, 3 June 2015 (fl), C. Vega Ocaña 419 with R.W. Bussmann, N. Paniagua Zambrana, F. Díaz Llajo & F. Díaz Vega (holotype: MO-2423556!; isotypes: HAO, US-01184179!, USM).

Diagnosis.

Differs from Andeimalva mandonii (Baker f.) Kearney in having larger stipules (13-15 × 5-8 mm versus 5-12 × 1-2 mm) that are broadly subulate (not filiform), and larger calyx lobes (1.7-2.1 × 1-1.8 cm versus 0.5-1 × 0.3-0.5 cm) and petals (3.5-4.5 × 2.5-3.2 cm versus 1.5-3 × 1.5-2 cm).

Description.

Shrubs, 1.5-3 m tall; young stems densely lanate and appearing white, glabrescent and dark brown to almost black in age. Stipules subulate with broader cordate base, 13-15 mm long, 5-8 mm wide, lanate with appressed stellate hairs, venation with 3 prominent parallel primaries running their length and up to 8 at base, persistent beyond life of leaf. Leaves simple, spirally arranged, petiolate, petioles 4-6 mm long, lanate; blades lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 5-8.2 cm long, 0.8-1.8 cm wide (lower leaf measurements due to serial size reduction toward the apex of flowering branches), base cordate, slightly asymmetric, apex acute, discolorous, drying dark green to brown above and whitish-tan below, bullate above with scattered sessile stellate hairs of varying sizes, the arms on the larger hairs ascending, midrib above densely pubescent and appearing white, densely lanate below with sessile stellate hairs and larger stalked, multi-rayed stellate hairs, the arms on the larger hairs spreading, stalks dark-colored, margin crenate-serrate, venation pinnate with 13-18 secondaries per side. Flowers solitary or in 2 –3(– 4)-flowered axillary or pseudo-terminal cymes, ca. 5-7 cm in diameter at anthesis, pedicellate, pedicels to 0.5 cm long; involucral bracts (2-)3, 1-1.8 cm long, 0.5-0.8 cm wide, inserted just below calyx, densely stellate pubescent, hairs near margin long-stalked and multi-rayed. Calyx lobes broadly deltoid, acuminate, slightly unequal in size, 1.7-2.1 cm long, 1-1.8 cm wide, pubescent within especially toward base, stellate-pubescent on the outside with small and large multi-rayed hairs. Petals obovate, unequal in size within the flower, 3.5-4.5 cm long, 2.5-3.2 cm wide, slightly to markedly asymmetric, deep mauve or dark magenta-purple, apex slightly undulate, unguiculate, glabrous except appressed simple hairs near base within and claw margins densely pubescent. Staminal column 2.8-3.2 cm long, sparingly pubescent throughout with simple hairs; anthers numerous (100+), 0.7-1.4 mm long, clustered at upper half of column; free portion of filaments (1 –)1.6–5(– 6) mm long. Carpels 10, cells uniovulate. Stigmas 20, capitate, scarcely exceeding the anthers at anthesis. Mericarps and seeds unknown.

Distribution and ecology.

At present, known only from the type locality where it occurs in alpine bogs at 3750 m.

On the label of the type specimen there is a slight discrepancy regarding the political subdivision for the locality. Google Earth Pro mapping (8 June 2011 imagery, https:// www.google.com/earth/) places the coordinates cited on the label (presumably derived from a GPS device and for a logical locality near a road crossing of a wet drainage) in San Martín, and just over the eastern border delineated for La Libertad. However, we cannot verify how well Google Earth Pro finely draws political boundaries in relation to those that might appear on official government maps of such remote regions.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the name of the country (Peru) where the new species is found.

Preliminary conservation status.

Following the criteria and categories of IUCN (2017), Andeimalva peruviana is given a preliminary status of Vulnerable (VU D2) due to population very small or restricted (area of occupancy <20km2 and number of locations <5). While the type of locality is quite remote and unexplored habitat occurs nearby, the general area has no protected regions and might be subject to habitat degradation from grazing or changes in hydrology. The latter includes human modification to its drainage system or climate change affecting montane precipitation.

Figures

Figure 2. Illustration of Andeimalva peruviana. A Habit B detail of leaf below C detail of leaf above: note bullate surface D stalked and sessile stellate trichomes from leaf blade below E involucral bracts subtending calyx (only 3 calyx lobes visible) F petal G staminal column: note stigmas scarcely exserted at apex H style with 20 capitate stigmas I detail showing two stigmas J detail showing two anthers (Source: Vega Ocana 419, US).