Adelobotrys tessmannii Markgraf (1927: 1140)

Schulman, Leif & Ruokolainen, Kalle, 2015, Adelobotrys tessmannii (Merianieae, Melastomataceae) and allies: a refined circumscription and description of two new Amazonian species with notes on their ecology, Phytotaxa 234 (2), pp. 101-120 : 104-108

Adelobotrys tessmannii Markgraf (1927: 1140) ( Fig. 2 )

Type: — PERU. Ostperu: Unterer Itaya (1. Nebenfl. d. ob. Amazonas), im lichten Überschwemmungswald bei San Antonio , 110 m ü. d. M. (blüchend und fruchtend 16. Juni 1924), Tessmann 3572 (holotype at B destroyed, photographs of it at F!, HUH!, NY!; lectotype here designated at G! no. 8469, isolectotypes at F!, NY!) .

Full description: —The following represents a refined circumscription based on 60 herbarium specimens representing 37 separate collections (listed below) and including a description of all above-ground parts presented in the same format as those of recently described species of Adelobotrys ( Schulman 2003a, 2008).

Liana adhering to support by adventitious roots produced in comb-like rows on internodes, reported height of fertile plants (1–) 4–9 m (occasional herbarium label descriptions as ‘scandent herb’ or ‘shrub’ interpreted as confusions). Stem slender, diameter in fertile branches to 0.6 cm, terete to somewhat flattened or slightly fluted, when very young densely pubescent with rusty-brown, appressed, ca. 0.5–1.5(–2) mm long malpighian hairs, soon largely glabrescent and only very sparsely pubescent when mature; stem surface between hairs smooth, light brown to olive-green; internodes in vegetative parts of fertile stems (2.5–)4.5–10(–14) cm long; nodes not or only slightly swollen, hardly more pubescent than the internodes (apart from densely pubescent axillary buds). Leaves opposite, isomorphic. Petiole (1.1–)1.5–3(–4) cm long (ratio of lamina length to petiole length 2.9–6.9 or even 8.9), 1–2 mm in diameter; terete to flattened, grooved above; sparsely to fairly densely covered with brown malpighian hairs at first, glabrescent with age especially below. Lamina elliptic or (narrow) ovate to wide elliptic, (8.5–)9.6–11.6(–14.1) × (4.2–)5.3–6.6(– 8.5) cm (ratio of length to width 1.4–2.6), base (cuneate to) rounded or cordulate, apex mostly short-acuminate, margin serrulate, often revolute (in herbarium specimens); chartaceous to subcoriaceous; in living plant glossy, green to olive-green, in herbarium specimens greyish to brownish olive-green with dark brown veins below. Both surfaces of lamina pubescent with rusty-brown malpighian hairs at first but soon largely glabrescent, mature leaves with a few hairs along main veins above, below usually with sparse pubescence along main veins and scattered hairs between them, the hairs being appressed, 0.3–1 mm long, laterally flattened but not dilated (apparently 1 cell layer thick, 2 layers wide), symmetrical to somewhat asymmetrical, (sub)sessile and (sub)straight to slightly sigmoid especially on main vein; on lamina proper especially on abaxial side malpighian hairs interspersed with minute, elongate-club-shaped glands (ca. 0.1 mm long); epidermis of adaxial surface usually with dense greyish hemispherical protuberances ca. 0.07 mm across. Margin of lamina with sparse malpighian ciliolation and with persistent obliquely spreading pale, multiseriate, terete, unbranched, 0.5–1.5 mm long setulae tipping marginal teeth 1–1.5 mm apart. Venation basally acrodromous with midrib plus four distal main veins, stronger pair of acrodromal veins only somewhat closer to lamina margin than to midrib (distances 1:1.2–1:1.8), pinnate secondary veins clearly visible below, 4–8 mm apart; reticulate tertiary veins vaguely visible near main veins below; veins prominent below, flat to somewhat impressed above. Axils of main veins on abaxial side usually with a few to many multiseriate, terete, unbranched setulae ca. 0.6–1.2 mm long, tipped by a multicellular gland. Inflorescence a terminal, broadly conical, lax double thyrsoid (sensu Weberling 1989) with up to hundreds of flowers; at anthesis 15–22 × 9–13(–19) cm including 4–8 cm long peduncle; rachis with (3 or) 4 or 5 elongated internodes, nodes with two main branches consisting of (2 or) 3 elongated internodes and with two or sometimes four shorter branches (of 1–2 internodes) produced from accessory buds subtending the main branches, internodes of rachis, and branches, progressively shorter towards apex; partial inflorescence a compressed double cincinnus with branches bearing up to 6 flowers each and only somewhat elongated in fruit. Peduncle subtended by leaves similar to ordinary vegetative leaves; lowermost node of rachis with bracts similar to but smaller than vegetative leaves, upper nodes with progressively smaller and narrower bracts, bracts at lowermost node persistent but those at upper nodes mostly absent already at anthesis; cincinni subtended by caducous sessile elliptic bracteoles ca. 3–5 × 3–4 mm. Pedicel at anthesis 4–6 mm, slender. Flower perigynous, hypanthium coriaceous, cylindrical to ellipsoid, smooth, rather abruptly widening from pedicel, (3.2–) 3.5–4.5 mm long and 1.5–1.8 mm wide at torus; calyx spreading-cup-like, shallowly 5-lobed, 1–1.6 mm long; outer calyx teeth slender, (1.0–) 1.5–2.5 mm long including caducous apical setula, exserted beyond inner lobes by (0.5–) 1.1–2.1 mm; pedicel with rather dense, hypanthium and calyx with sparse cover of brown malpighian hairs, hypanthium glabrescent in fruit, calyx sparsely pubescent also on inner side but with rim mostly aciliolate; calyx reportedly green to yellowish-green or whitish in living plant. Petals 5, colour in living plant reportedly white to pink, pale lavender, violet, or purple, when dry dull yellowish-brown, glabrous; obovate, 6.5–8(–9) mm long; venation actinodromous and flabellate (sensu Hickey 1973). Stamens 10, anisomorphic, bent and crowded to one side of flower, glabrous, reportedly purple to violet or deep lavender; filaments 4.5–5.5 mm, laterally dilated, strap-like, ca. 0.4–0.5 mm wide; geniculate at junction between filament and anther, anther bent introrsely (i.e., with ventral side down). Anthers subulate, dorsal-arcuate, base rounded; single apical pore ca. 0.2–0.3 mm across; connective hardly prolonged between filament and thecae, basally extended into an erect spur, dorsally into a gradually ascending, apically deeply cleft appendage. Larger (epipetalous) stamens: thecae clearly arcuate, 6.5–7.5 mm long and ca. 0.5 mm thick at base, apical pore dorsally inclined; basal connective appendage ca. 0.6–0.9 mm long, triangularsubulate and variously slightly lobulate, dorsal appendage 2.6–3.2 mm long and apically cleft by ca. 0.7–1.0 mm. Smaller (episepalous) stamens: thecae only slightly arcuate, 4.3–4.5 mm long and ca. 0.5 mm thick at base, apical pore subterminal; basal connective appendage ca. 0.8–1 mm long, irregularly lobulate, dorsal appendage 2.5–3.0 mm long and apically cleft by ca. 0.6–0.9 mm. Ovary 5-locular, roughly cylindrical, somewhat fluted, truncate at apex, 2.5–3.5 × 0.7–1.0 mm, glabrous; style 6.0–7.0 mm long, somewhat sigmoid, glabrous, reportedly purplish; stigma punctate. Pedicel in fruit (5–)7–10(–12) mm. Fruiting hypanthium ellipsoid to ovoid, clearly constricted at torus, 5–6.5 × 4.5–5 mm, reportedly pale or yellowish green in living plant; thin, sparsely pubescent, 10-costate, disintegrating at maturity revealing costae that are not apically connected by a circular vascular strand. Calyx persistent in fruit, horizontally spreading to broadly cup-shaped, as wide as hypanthium, 1.3–1.9 mm long. Fruit a 5-locular loculicidal capsule completely enveloped by the hypanthium but free from it; globose, somewhat 5-angled, rounded-truncate at apex. Placenta central, sessile and hardly extended from the central column. Seeds numerous, narrowly wedge-shaped, ca. 1.4–1.6 × 0.3–0.4 mm; surface smooth to slightly rugose; embryo occupying central third, testa elongated at both ends possibly forming air-filled sacs; testa light brown, embryo dark brown (in herbarium specimen).

Notes: —The outer calyx teeth of the type represent the lower end of the range given above (1 mm). This, however, seems aberrant, since no other specimens with as short outer calyx teeth have been observed. In the original description ( Markgraf 1927) A. tessmannii is characterised as a “sub-scandent small tree”, but it is clear from available material that the true growth form is lianaceous. The laminae are mostly narrower and somewhat smaller that what the original description indicates, and the bracts in the inflorescence are leaf-like, not “minute”, while small caducous bracteoles are present. The pedicels are 2–3 times longer compared to measurements given in the original description, which also states that the style is 3 mm long (not 6–7 mm), so it seems the original description was based on immature floral structures.

Habitat: —Primary lowland to montane rainforest on mineral soil, sometimes along rivers or roads at forest edge; by some collectors habitat described as “swampy” and as “secondary forest”. Elevation from 150 to 1,600 m a.s.l.

Distribution: —Western Amazonia between 65°30’ and 78°40’ W, from 1°3’ N in Putumayo, Colombia, through Ecuador and Peru to 17°3’ S in Cochabamba, Bolivia ( Fig. 3 ). Possible hybrids with A. adscendens have been collected in Ecuador and Peru, and with the below described new species A. latifolius Schulman in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Adelobotrys tessmannii is here reported from Bolivia for the first time.

Phenology: —Collected with flowers in November–January, April, and June; with fruits in November–January, March–April, and August.

Conservation: —Least concern (LC), i.e., not threatened. The extent of occurrence clearly exceeds the threshold value of 20,000 km 2. The available data are too scanty to estimate the true area of occupancy and, especially, population size or trends in it, but there is no plausible reason to estimate that these would approach levels warranting placement in or near threatened categories.

Specimens of A. tessmannii examined: — BOLIVIA. Cochabamba: Itirapampa, old road from Villa Tunari to Cochabamba, 500 m, 17°3’ S 65°30’ W, 29 January 1999, Maas, P.J.M., Maas, H., Vargas C.I., Specht C., Quispe, F. 8805 ( LPB!). COLOMBIA. Putumayo: Mocoa, el Pepino: Finca el Placiv, 27 December 1967, Herbar W. Schwabe s.n. (B!). ECUADOR. Morona-Santiago: Taisha, Río Guambime , a small river situated 2–3 km E of the military camp, 400 m, 2°23’ S 77°30’ W, 17 June 1980, Branbyge, J. & Asanza C., E. 32011 ( AAU!, MO) ; Morona-Santiago: Taisha, Río Guambime , vegetation on the riverbanks and in the adjacent forest, 400 m, 2°23’ S 77°30’ W, 18 June 1980, Branbyge, J. & Asanza C., E. 32031 (AAU!, CAS!, MO) ; Morona-Santiago: Vieja Cordillera de Cutucú. Patuca (ca. 2°40’S; 78°12’W)– Santiago road, E of the Rio Namangoza , km 25.4, 600–1000 m, 23 October 1988, Dorr & Barnett 5829 ( NY!) ; Morona-Santiago: Gualaquiza, Vertiente occidental de la Cordillera del Condór , arriba del valle del río Quimi , 1600 m, 3°30’38” S 78°24’55” W, 12 December 2001, Freire, E. 4342 ( MO!) ; Morona-Santiago: Cordillera del Cóndor, Cuangos, 20 km east of Gualaquiza, near disputed Peru-Ecuador border. Transect # 5, 1470 m, 3°29’ S 78°14’ W, 19 July 1993, Gentry, A. 80150 ( MO!) ; Morona-Santiago: Cordillera del Cóndor. Centro Shuar Warints. 2 km al sureste del Centro , 925 m, 3°10’45” S 78°16’17” W, 6 October 2002, Katan, T. et al. 22 ( MO!) ; Napo: Comunidad de Chira Isla, Cap. rivademeira, on Río Napo, on the N side of the river, about 1 km W of Chiro Isla center, 200–275 m, 0°36’6” S 75°52’30” W, 18 April 1990, Bensman 206 ( QCA!) ; Napo: Parque Nacional Yasuní. Plot #24. Km 92.5, 0°53’22” S 76°13’31” W, 13 May 1997, Macias, M. 360 ( TUR!) ; Napo: 20 km al W de Coca , al sur de Río Napo, por vía de Los Zorros, 300 m, 0°35’ S 77°3’ W, 22–23 April 1985, Neill, Palacios, Stein & Zaruma 6383 ( TEX!) ; Napo: 20 km al W de Coca, al S del Río Napo, por Via de los Zorros , 350 m, 0°35’ S 77°3’ W, 22–23 April 1985, Neill, Palacios, Stein & Zaruma 6393 (F!, QCA!, MO, NY) ; Napo: 15 km al W de Coca, costado Sur del Río Napo, por vía de Los Zorros , 250 m, 0°35’ S 77°2’ W, 18–20 April 1985, Zaruma, Neill, Baker & Palacios 105 ( NY!, MO) ; Napo-Pastaza: Río Aquarico, Santa Celilia , 23 January 1972, Dobson, F. H. III & Wolfe, F. H. 946 ( CAS!) ; Napo-Pastaza: Canton Napo (?), trail Zatzayacu to Las Palmas Elevation 500 m, 22–28 March 1935, Mexia , Y. 7101a (NY!, US!, MO) ; Pastaza: Pastaza Canton, Pozo Villano 2 de Arco. 2 km del pueblo de Villano , 400 m, 1°25’ S 77°20’ W, 3 December 1991, Tipaz, Espinoza & Gualinga 573 (F!, TEX!, MO, QCNE) ; Santiago-Zamora: Taisha. Banks of Río Guaguayme , 450 m, 27 January 1962, Cazalet, P.C.D. & Pennington, T.D. 7544 (NY!, US!, K) ; Santiago-Zamora (“ Oriente ”): Eastern slope of the cordillera, valley of the ríos Negro and Chupianza (on the trail from Sevilla de Oro to Mendez ). El Partidero , 630–930 m, 14 December 1944, Camp E-1513A (NY!, US!) ; Santiago-Zamora (“ Oriente ”): Eastern slope of the cordillera, valley of the ríos Negro and Chupianza (on the trail from Sevilla de Oro to Mendez ). El Partidero , 630– 930 m, 14 December 1944, Camp E-1513B ( NY!) ; Zamora-Chinchipe: Nangaritza Canton, Lower slopes of Cordillera del Cóndor , above Río Nangaritza at Pachicutza , 950 m, 4°7’ S 78°37’ W, 4 December 1990, Neill & Palacios 9501 (US!, QCNE, MO). PERU. Amazonas: Valle del Río Santiago , approx. 65 km N de Pinglo ; Quebrada Caterpiza , 2–3 km atrás de la comunidad de Caterpiza, 200 m, 5 December 1979, Huashikat, V. 1444 ( MO!) ; 11 December 1979, Huashikat, V. 1497 ( MO!) ; 19 December 1979, Huashikat, V. 1584 ( MO!) ; 16 January 1980, Huashikat, V. 1797 ( MO!) ; Amazonas: 1 km atrás de La Poza, Río Santiago , 180 m, 13 November 1979, Tungui, S. 51 ( MO!) ; Huánuco: Leoncio Prado, Rupa Rupa, Jacintillo (márgen izguierda del Río Monzón ), 3 November 1971, Schunke V., J. 5118 (F!, G!, NY!, US!) ; Loreto: Alto Amazonas , Pastaza (?), Andoas ; Carretera Tambo; transect direction 140° (TR 8, Sub 4), 2°49’11” S 76°24’42” W, Llerena, N. 525 ( TUR!) ; Loreto: Alto Amazonas , Pastaza (?), Andoas ; Margen derecha río Pastaza, 30 minutos río arriba en deslizador, direction of transect 250° (TR 10, Sub 14, Ind 2), 2°47’2” S 76°33’17” W, Llerena, N. 573 ( TUR!) ; Loreto: Loreto, San Antonio , Río Samiria , 23 August 1983, Ayala & Arévalo 4226 (F!, NY!, AMAZ, MO) ; Loreto: Loreto, Close to the village of San Antonio , 150–200 m, 4°32’ S 73°38’ W, 15 January 1996, Ruokolainen, K., Tuomisto, H., Koivunen, H., Lusa, E., Bardales, C., Fachín, L. & Torres, G. 7986 ( TUR!) ; Loreto: Loreto, Río Corrientes at the Ecuador border, between Teniente Lopez and Puesto Avanzado Elevation 280–350 m, 4 April 1977, Gentry, A., Revilla, J. & Daly, D. 19085 ( MO!), Madre de Díos : Tambopata ; a 1 hora con 30 minutos del albergue Tambopata Research Center, transect direction 0°, (TR 416, Sub 10), 13°7’24” S 69°37’15” W, Llerena, N. 882 ( AMAZ!) ; Madre de Díos: Tambopata, a 45 minutos del Albergue Tambopata Research Center, margen izquierdo del río Tambopata ; transect direction 0°, (TR 419, Sub 7), 13°7’45” S 69°37’11” W, Llerena, N. 930 ( TUR!) ; San Martín: Lamas, Alonso de Alvarado , San Juán de Pacayzapa , al este del Puente ( Carretera a Moyobamba ), 900 m, 16 April 1973, Schunke V., J. 5948 (AAU!, F!, NY!, U!) ; San Martín: Lamas, Alonso de Alvarado , al oeste de San Juán de Pacayzapa ( Carretera a Moyobamba ), 800–900 m, 22 April 1973, Schunke V., J. 6004 (AAU!, F!, NY!, U!) ; Herb. Barbey-Boissier , s.n. (G!) ; Region Inca: Río Miaria, appr. 8 km from Miaria , 11°18’ S 73°3’ W, 12 March 1994, Sarmiento & Kalliola 94-185 ( TUR!) .

Specimens interpreted as hybrids between A. tessmannii and A. adscendens : — ECUADOR. Pastaza: Ca 15 km N of Puyo alongside road to the E, 1000 m, 1°15’ S 77°50’ W, 28 December 1987, Boom, B., Rombold, J. & Doenges, R. 7842 (F!, K!, NY!, QCA!, U!, US!) ; Napo-Pastaza: Mera , 1160 m, 26 December 1958, Harling 3703 ( NY!) . PERU. San Martín: Mariscal Cáceres, Tocache Nuevo, Camino a Santa Rosa ( Márgen derecha del Río Mishollo ), 350–370 m, 9 August 1973, Schunke V., J. 6773 ( HUH!) .

Specimens interpreted as hybrids between A. tessmannii and the below described A. latifolius : — COLOMBIA. Putumayo: Umbría, 325 m, 0°54’ N 76°10’ W, October-November 1930, Klug, G. 1779 (BM!, HUH!, MICH!, NY!, S!). ECUADOR. Napo: Río Aguarico , ca. 5 km S of Lago Agrio. 7 February 1973, Lugo S., H. 3221 (AAU!, U!, US!) ; Napo : 21 km E of Loreto, by road, 300 m, 2 June 1988, Renner 69322 (AAU) ; Napo: 21 km E of Loreto, by road, 300 m, 2 June 1988, Renner 69322 (US). PERU. Amazonas: Valle de Río Santiago, Quebrada Caterpiza , 2–3 km atrás de la comunidad Caterpiza , 200 m, 3°50’ S 77°40’ W, 10 December 1979, Tungui, S. 267 (US) ; Loreto: Provincia Maynas, Distrito Sargento Lores , Isla de Aguajal (?), 95–110 m, 7 January 1983, McDaniel, S. & Rimachi Y., M. 26632 (BR!, NY!, TEX!, US!) .

Specimens of uncertain status determined as A. cf. tessmannii : — BOLIVIA. Cochabamba: José Carrasco Torrico, Valle del Sajta, 220 m, 17°8’ S 64°50’ W, 4 October 1996, Kessler, M., Acebey, A., Gonzáles, J. & Sonnentag, M. 8819 ( GOET!)—sterile specimen. COLOMBIA. Putumayo: Mocoa, el Pepino: Finca el Placiv, 800 m, 10 December 1967, Herbar W. Schwabe 67416 (B!). ECUADOR. Carretera de Petro-Canada en construcción. Vía Auca, 115 km al sur de Coca, 6 km al sur del Río Tigüino , 320 m, 1°15’ S 76°55’ W, 31 March 1989, Zak, V. & Rubio, D. 4199 (NY!, TEX!, US!) ; Napo: Carretera Coca-Loreto. Entre la Comuna 10 de Agosto y el Río Pinguillo , 1000 m, 0°43’ S 77°28’ W, 20 October 1988, Cerón, C.E. & Iguago, C. 5308 ( MO!)—the three preceding specimens differ from typical A. tessmannii by their dense and dark malpighian indument and greyish lamina colour. PERU. Ucayali: Obenteni forest (or Obentini), Gran Pajonal, 1000–1200 m, June 1976, Scott 880 (US!)—sterile specimen lacking diagnostic features. UNKNOWN COUNTRY. 1778–1788, Ruiz & Pavón 15/63 (F!)—fragment .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Adelobotrys tessmannii Markgr.A habit showing abaxial (two leavesto the left) and adaxial sides of laminae,and inflorescence; B malpighian hairs from lamina abaxial side (lower three from lamina proper, upper three from vein) with point of attachment marked on two hairs; C larger (epipetalous) stamen; D smaller (episepalous) stamen; E bud showing cylindrical hypanthium, shallowly 5-lobed calyx, and somewhat exserted calyx teeth; F fruiting hypanthium with persistent calyx, and clear constriction at torus, also shown are the only somewhat elongated branches of the partial inflorescence with scars of fallen-off flowers; G old fruit after disintegration of hypanthium showing the remaining costae that are not apically connected by a circular vascular strand. Drawn by R. Ilmanen from J. Schunke 5118 (A, C, D, E), Dorr & Barnett 5829 (B), P. C. D. Cazalet & T. D. Pennington 7544 (F), and Y. Mexia 7101a (G). Scalebars: for A 5 cm, B 0.5 mm, C–D, E–F, and G 5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Collecting localities of specimens of the species treated here. A. Adelobotrys tessmannii (solid triangles), A. cf. tessmannii (open triangles), and possible hybrids between A. tessmannii and A. adscendens (crosses). B. A. latifolius (solid triangles) and possible hybrids between A. latifolius and A. tessmannii (crosses). C. A. microcarpus (solid triangles) and A. cf. microcarpus (open triangles). D. The location in South America of the map section shown inA–C. Elevation is depicted in A–C as follows: 0–1000 m as white; 1001–2000 m, 2001–3000 m, 3001–4000 m, and>4000 m as progressively darker shades of grey.