Chuniophoenix nana Burret (1940: 97)

Henderson, Andrew, 2015, A revision of Chuniophoenix (Arecaceae), Phytotaxa 218 (2), pp. 163-170 : 166-169

Chuniophoenix nana Burret (1940: 97) .

Lectotype (here designated): — VIETNAM. Tonkin , Vinh Jen, Pont des Linhs, May 1935, A. Pételot 5394 (lectotypes, HN!; isolectotypes, A!, K!, P!) (the holotype at B was destroyed) ( Fig. 3 .)

Syn.: Chuniophoenix humilis C. Z. Tang & T. L. Wu (1977: 111) . Type: — CHINA. Cultivated plant in South China Botanical Garden, introduced from Hainan, Lingshui, Xian county, s.d., T. L. Wu 875 (holotype, IBSC!).

Stems clustered, 1.0(0.6–1.5) m tall and 1.3(1.0–1.5) cm diameter. Leaf sheaths not split below the petiole, not winged along the margins, densely whitish-brown tomentose, the tomentum early deciduous; petioles 24.1(9.5–44.0) cm long, tomentose as the sheaths; leaf blades divided into 6(4–7) segments, the central ones 27.6(22.5–31.5) cm long and 3.3(2.2–5.0) cm wide at the mid-point, acuminate at the apices, the central ones wider than the lateral ones, the central one sometimes splitting irregularly into 2–3 segments. Inflorescences to 0.4 m long, spicate or branched to 1 order; prophylls 3.7(3.0–5.0) cm long; peduncles 15.5(7.0–24.0) cm long, covered with tubular peduncular bracts; rachises 21.0(9.0–33.0) cm long; rachillae 1–4, 15.4(12.0–21.0) cm long; staminate and pistillate flowers yellowish, 1 per bracteole; staminate flowers with well-developed stamens and poorly-developed gynoecia; pistillate flowers with vestigial anthers and well-developed gynoecia. Fruits briefly pedicellate, globose, 11.8(9.5–14.5) mm long and 11.9(10.9–12.9) mm diameter, orange or red; seed surfaces smooth, with few grooves; endosperm homogeneous.

Distribution and habitat:— China (Hainan) and northern Vietnam (Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Vinh Phuc) ( Fig. 2 ) in lowland rainforest or disturbed forest at 100–200 m elevation.

Taxonomic notes:— Although Henderson (2009) considered Chuniophoenix humilis to be distinct from C. nana , based on its “broad and hooded” leaf segments (versus narrower segments in C. humilis ), no differences in leaves, nor reproductive structures, have been found in this study, and it is included here as a synonym. The status of Chuniophoenix nana in Hainan is somewhat doubtful. The only specimen examined here, the type of C. humilis , is a cultivated plant said to come from Mount Tiaolo, Lingshui County in Hainan. This is presumably the same place as the only other locality of the palm, Diao Luo Shan. There, a single, possibly cultivated plant was seen during fieldwork in 2006.

Local names and uses:— ai qiong zong, xiao qiong zong ( China); cha ( Vietnam). No uses recorded.

Additional specimens examined:— VIETNAM. Lang Son: Huu Lung, 25 April 1961, Anon 1283 ( LE). Quang Ninh: Dong Trieu District, Yen Tu mountain , 21.11N, 106.72E, ca. 100 m, Henderson & Nguyen Quoc Dung 3600 ( FIPI, NY) ; Pac-si and vicinity, NE of Mon-cay , 27–30 September 1936, Tsang 26915 (A, IBSC, K, P) ; Taai Wong Mo Shan and vicinity, Tong Fa Market, Ha-coi, 1–10 September 1939, Tsang 29463 (A, IBSC, K) ; Sai Wong Mo Shan (Sai Vong Mo Leng), Lomg Ngong village, Dam-ha , 18 July–9 September 1940, Tsang 30364 (A, IBSC, P). Tuyen Quang: road between Bac Quang and Tuyen Quang, 30 km before Tuyen Quang, 21.999N, 105.098E, ca. 200 m, 31 March 2012, Henderson et al. 3797 ( FIPI, NY) ; same locality, same date, Henderson et al. 3798 ( FIPI, NY). Vinh Phuc: Tam Dao, near National Park headquarters, 21˚27’N, 105˚38’E, ca. 200 m, 17 July 2007, Henderson 3478 ( NY). Tonkin: Fort Wallut , domaine de Ke Bao, 7 May 1918, Chevalier 37636 (P) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution maps. A. Chuniophoenix hainanensis (red dots). C. suoitienensis (blue square). B. C. nana (red dots).

FIGURE 3. Chuniophoenix nana. A. Habit, Yen Tu, Vietnam (Henderson & Nguyen Quoc Dung 3600). B. Habit and inflorescences, Tuyen Quang, Vietnam (Henderson et al. 3797). C. Staminate flowers, Tuyen Quang, Vietnam (Henderson et al. 3797) D. Pistillate flowers, Tuyen Quang, Vietnam (Henderson et al. 3798).