Polylepis microphylla (Wedd.) Bitter, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 45: 611. 1911.
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.203.83529 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F6AC72C1-ACD6-A8C3-4FAD-DEC442534EE2 |
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scientific name |
Polylepis microphylla (Wedd.) Bitter, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 45: 611. 1911. |
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17. Polylepis microphylla (Wedd.) Bitter, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 45: 611. 1911.
Figs 49 View Figure 49 , 50 View Figure 50
Polylepis microphylla var. polyarthotricha Bitter, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 45: 612. 1911. Type. Goudot 1 (holotype: W).
Basionym.
Polylepis lanuginosa var. microphylla Weddell, Chlor. Andina 2:238.1861.
Type.
Ecuador. Chimborazo: Humboldt & Bonpland 3141 (holotype: P!; isotypes: F!, GOET! US!).
Description.
Shrubs and trees 1.5-8 m tall. Leaves strongly congested at the branch tips, imparipinnate with 3-6 pairs of lateral leaflets, obtrullate in outline, (1.3-)2.0-3.5 × (0.6-)1.2-1.5 cm; rachises densely tomentose often intermixed with twisted dark red hairs; stipular sheaths apically acute with spurs, densely tomentose on the outer surfaces; leaflets broadly elliptic in outline, second pair from the terminal leaflet the largest, one of this pair 0.3-0.7 × 0.2-0.5 cm; margin entire, apically deeply emarginate, basally unequally cordate; upper leaflet surfaces glabrous or sparsely tomentose mainly in the mid-vein depression; lower leaflet surfaces densely tomentose with whitish hairs 0.8-1.0 mm long. Inflorescences branched at the base or simple, pendant, 3.8-5.3 cm long, bearing 1-3 flowers; floral bracts 2.2-2.5 mm long, narrowly triangular, densely tomentose on the outer surface; rachises tomentose. Flowers 4.0-6.4 mm diam.; sepals 4, ovate, green, glabrous outside; stamens 9-11, anthers orbicular, with a dense tuft of straight white hairs on the upper half; styles fimbriate, 2.6-3.5 mm long. Fruits turbinate, with variable numbers of long spines, densely tomentose; 2.7-4.3 × 1.3-2.1 mm including spines. Diploid and tetraploid.
Distribution, habitat and ecology.
Polylepis microphylla occurs in small, isolated populations in the central Ecuadorian Andes on the slopes of Volcán Chimborazo, in north-western Peru in the high Andes of Cajamarca, the Cordillera Blanca and the adjacent Cordillera Huayhuash at the boundaries of Ancash and Lima and in Arequipa and Cusco (Fig. 61 View Figure 61 ). It grows mainly in arid zones at 3150-4550 m elevation where it usually forms small groves, but many populations in areas strongly affected by human activities contain mostly small shrubs. However, in the Cordillera Huayhuash, extensive stands with trees about 3-5 m tall can be found. The populations in Cusco are close to Incan ruins and might represent historical transplantations ( Kessler and Schmidt-Lebuhn 2006).
Conservation status.
The EOO is estimated as 407,902 km2 and AOO as 100 km2. The species is known from 18 locations. The two forests in Ecuador form a single genetic population ( Bastidas-León et al. 2021). It is protected within Sangay National Park in Ecuador and Huascarán National Park and Cordillera Huayhuash Reserved Zone (within Huayllapa Private Conservation Area) in Peru. The species was categorized as VU (B1+2c) in the World List of Threatened Trees ( Oldfield et al. 1998). Lately, based on its restricted distribution in Chimborazo, P. microphylla was categorized as CR (B2ab(iii)) in Ecuador ( León-Yánez et al. 2011; Tejedor et al. 2014, 2015). In Peru, where it is more widespread, P. microphylla was categorized as EN ( SERFOR 2006). At many of its locations, the species grows in habitats that are strongly affected by human activities including grazing and burning. We assess P. microphylla as Endangered (B1a+B2ab).
Notes.
Polylepis microphylla was included in P. weberbaueri by Simpson (1979), based on material from Cañar (Ecuador) that contains lower mature leaves like those of P. weberbaueri (here assigned to P. simpsoniae ) and upper young leaves similar to those of the specimens placed under P. microphylla by Bitter (1911). Later, P. microphylla was considered as a distinct species by Romoleroux (1996), based on newly collected material from Chimborazo that does not have such differences between mature and younger leaves. Polylepis microphylla differs from P. simpsoniae by smaller leaflet size (0.3-0.7 × 0.2-0.5 cm versus 0.9-1.6 × 0.4-1.1 cm), longer leaflet hairs (0.8-1.0 mm versus 0.5-0.7 mm) and inflorescences with lower number of flowers (1-3 versus 3-5).
Specimens examined.
Ecuador. Chimborazo: Alausí, camino Totoras-Charicando, 02°11'30"S, 078°42'18"W, 3500 m, 08 July 2004, Caranqui 1205B (CHEP); Shumit, Pucara Achupallas, 3986 m, 04 September 2009, Cárate 1200 (QCA!); carretera Alausí-Achupallas-Osogoche, 3300-3400 m, 10 August 1987, Romoleroux 372 (AAU!, NY, QCA!); Vía Achupallas-Osogoche, km 14.5, localidad Zula, 3600 m, 24 March 2001, Romoleroux 3995 (QCA!); Alausí-Achupallas, Páramo Parada 1, 3576 m, 17 March 2007, Romoleroux 4414 (QCA!); Alausí-Achullapas, 3655 m, 17 March 2007, Romoleroux 4435 (QCA!); Vía Totoras Achupallas, Lagunas de Osogoche , 3626 m, 08 November 2008, Romoleroux 5325 (QCA!); Vía desvío Osogoche-Achupallas, 3589 m, 28 December 2011, Romoleroux 5704 (QCA!); Via Achupallas-lagunas de Osogoche , km 11.5, 3000 m, 26 April 1988, Romoleroux 576 (AAU!, MO!, QCA!); Via Achupallas-lagunas de Osogoche km 11.5, 3650 m, 26 April 1988, Romoleroux 577 (AAU!, NY, QCA!); 3650 m, s.d., Romoleroux 578 (AAU!, NY, QCA!); Via Achuapallas-Lagunas de Osogoche , km. 15, 3650 m, 26 April 1988, Romoleroux 579 (AAU!, MO!, NY, QCA!); 3650 m, Romoleroux 580 (AAU!, NY, QCA!); Via Achupallas-Lagunas de Osogoche , km 15, 3650 m, 26 April 1988, Romoleroux 581 (AAU!, NY, QCA!); Vía Osogoche-Achupallas, 3610 m, 30 September 2016, Romoleroux 6126 (QCA!); Vía Osogoche-Achupallas, 3610 m, 30 September 2016, Romoleroux 6127 (QCA!); Vía Osogoche-Achupallas, 02°15'53"S, 078°42'09"W, 3610 m, 09 March 2017, Romoleroux 6148 (QCA!); Alausí-Achupallas, 3655 m, 17 March 2007, Romoleroux GPI4435 (QCA!), Quitesian Andes, s.d., Cothouy s.n (NY); 1857-1864, Spruce s.n (MO!) GoogleMaps .
Peru. Ancash: Huaylas, Caraz, Laguna Paron , flanco norte, 4170 m, 27 April 2013, Baldeón 7816 (USM!); Caraz, Laguna Paron, Irazábal 199 (CUZ!); Yungay, Parque Nacional de Huascaran , laguna Paron, 08°59'55"S, 077°41'26"W, 4200 m, 11 February 1997, Tupayachi 3271 (CUZ!) GoogleMaps . Cajamarca: San Miguel, San Miguel de Pallaques, road Agua blanca to Oyotum , Ponga la Mesa , 3500-3600 m, 14 October 2000, Weigend 2000/748 (F!, USM!) . Cusco: Acomayo, Queuñayocpampa, 14°04'01"S, 071°35'08"W, 3940 m, 01 April 2003, Arce s.n (USM!); Rondocan, localidad Parara, 13°47'10"S, 071°45'08"W, 4085 m, Pfuro AS-133 (Z!). Calca, Pisac, 13°25'S, 071°51'W, 3400 m, 10 February 2003, Lægaard 22250 (AAU!). Cusco , Huacoto, 13°30'54"S, 071°51'19"W, 3960 m, 01 May 2003, Arce s.n (USM!); Chacan, 13°29'04"S, 071°59'26"W, 3805 m, 17 September 2014, Boza 3001; 3002 (USM!, Z!); Cuzco, Chacan camino al grupo arqueológico, borde de la microcuenca Chacan, 3600 m, 03 October 2000, Galiano 3999 (QCA!); Huacoto, 3991 m, Irazábal 204 (CUZ!); Chacan S of Cusco, 13°29'S, 072°00'W, 3900 m, 10 February 2003, Lægaard 22350 (AAU!, US!); San Jerónimo, localidad de Huacoto, 13°31'06"S, 071°51'32"W, 3940 m, 25 May 2006, Toivonen 19 (CUZ!); 20 (CUZ!); 21 (CUZ!); Chacan, 14 June 2006, Toivonen 98 (CUZ!); Chacan, 14 June 2006, Toivonen 99 (CUZ!); Ruinas de Pisac , 3200 m, 01 May 2002, Toivonen s.n (CUZ!); Chacan, 3600 m, 28 April 1993, Tupayachi 2280 (CUZ!). Quispicanchis, Dist. Huaro, Urpay, 13°41'01"S, 071°38'22"W, 3200 m, 01 November 2002, Galiano 4512 (AMAZ, CUZ!, HUT, MO!, MOL, USM!). Urubamba, Cusco. Prov. Urubamba, Yucay, Hatum Wayko, 3500 m, 09 September 2001, Herrera 4175 (QCA!); Yucay, 3833 m, Irazábal 207 (CUZ!); Yucay, cerro Turukuntur, 3750 m, 13 January 1991, Tupayachi 1460 (CUZ!) GoogleMaps . Lima: Cajatambo, Huayllapa. Dist. de Copa , cerro empinado a 115 km del pueblo, 3360 m, 13 May 2001, Callupe 1 (USM!) .
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