Sphyrospermum xanthocarpum Pedraza, 2013

Luteyn, James L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola, 2013, Nomenclature, taxonomy, and conservation of the neotropical genus Sphyrospermum (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae), including five new species for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, Phytotaxa 79 (1), pp. 1-29 : 25

Sphyrospermum xanthocarpum Pedraza , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1F , 6 )

Folia coriacea carnosa, lanceolata vel elliptica, 1.7–3 × 0.6–1 cm. Flores solitarii, axillares, 5-meri; corolla campanulata, 4.7–5 cm longa, flavo-viridis; stamina 10, 3.4–3.5 mm longa. Bacca obscure flava, embryone seminali viridi. A Sphyrospermo flavifloro foliis longioribus et magis angustioribus atque corollis magis brevioribus distinguenda.

Type: — COLOMBIA. Quindio: Mpio. de Filandia , Vereda el Roble, Escuela el Roble, 1950 m, August 2004 (fl, photo of fr), Vargas 14729 (holotype COL!; isotypes FMB!, HUA!, HUQ!, MO!, NY!) .

Epiphytic shrubs with multiple, pendent branches 0.5–1.2 m long, the branches, leaves, bracts, bracteoles and flowers with more or less erect eglandular hairs, 0.5–1 mm long; stems terete, smooth, densely pubescent. Leaves adpressed, coriaceous and fleshy, lanceolate or elliptic, 1.7–3 × 0.6–1 cm, base obtuse, apex acute and blunt, margin flat, lamina puberulent on both surfaces, glabrate; obscurely 3-plinerved, midrib impressed above, lateral nerves ascending, tertiary veinlets branching openly but abaxially obscured; petiole 2–3 mm long, puberulent. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary, not exceeding the subtending leaves; floral bract apparently one, chartaceous, ovate, acute, 0.4–0.7 mm long, ciliolate with eglandular or glandular hairs otherwise glabrate; pedicel 2.5–4 mm long, sparsely pilose to glabrate; bracteoles 2, nearly basal, subopposite, ovate, acute, 0.4–0.7 mm long, ciliolate with eglandular or glandular hairs otherwise glabrate. Flowers 5- merous, diplostemonous; calyx 2.5–3.5 mm long, urceolate and conspicuously constricted between tube and limb, pilose with eglandular hairs; tube terete, 1.6–2.3 mm long; limb erect, 0.9–1.2 mm long; lobes triangular, acute, 0.7–1.4 mm long, ciliolate with eglandular hairs; sinuses rounded; corolla campanulate but with a well-defined tube (often drying cylindric), 4.7–5 mm long and 2.4–3 mm diam., yellow-green, glabrate without with hairs concentrated along veins distally, the lobes erect to spreading, ovate, acute, 1.5 mm long; stamens 10, lightly adherent to base of corolla, equal in length, 3.4–3.5 mm long; filaments slightly alternating in length, 1.3–1.4 mm long, glabrous; anthers slightly alternating in length, 2.5–2.7 mm long; thecae 1 mm long, foveolate not papillate, the base straight, with basal appendage; tubules 1.3–1.4 mm long, dehiscing by oblique pores 0.3–0.4 mm long; style 3.5–4 mm long. Berry more or less spherical, 7.5–8 mm diam., dark yellow, pilose; embryo color green.

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum xanthocarpum is known only from the type collection from the Central Cordillera of Colombia (Dept. Quindio). It grows in montane forests forming dense colonies, at 1950 m. The type was flowering and fruiting in August.

Conservation status:— Only a few individuals were recently seen by W. Vargas in early 2007 at the type locality, which is a very deteriorated area. Historically , central Colombia has been dramatically deforested in the effort to open up land for agriculture, particularly for the now ubiquitious coffee plantations. Critically endangered ( CR B1 ai) .

Observations:— Sphyrospermum xanthocarpum is the only species in the genus known to have yellow berries. It belongs to a group of taxa with yellowish corollas. Morphologically, S. xanthocarpum is similar to S. flaviflorum , but can be easily differentiated from the latter species by its longer and much narrower leaves, and much shorter corolla.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Exemplary species of Sphyrospermum. A. S. buxifolium with white-colored flowers and fruits (cultivated at the New York Botanical Garden); B. Pressed fruit of S. buxifolium showing translucent-white seeds with green embryos; C. S. buxifolium with inset of lilac-colored fruits (cultivated at the New York Botanical Garden); D. S. dissimile; E. S. munchiqueense; F. S. xanthocarpum with inset of habit (cultivated in Colombia). Photographers: A–C, Paola Pedraza-Peñalosa; D–E, James L. Luteyn; F, William Vargas.

FIGURE 6. Sphyrospermum xanthocarpum. A. Branch bearing fruits with a detail. B. Floral bud on the left and a mature flower with basal bracteoles, pedicel, calyx and corolla on the right. C. Longitudinal sections of the calyx and corolla; the corolla showing some stamens. D. Two adjacent stamens in dorsal view, two adjacent stamens in ventral view, and two stamens in lateral view; thecae bearing a basal appendage. Illustration by Bobbi Angell (drawn from holotype).