Tetranema michaelfayanum Christenh., 2010

Christenhusz, Maarten J. M., 2010, Nomenclatural corrections in Mesoamerican Plantaginaceae and a new species of Tetranema from Honduras, Phytotaxa 14 (1), pp. 56-60 : 57-58

Tetranema michaelfayanum Christenh. , sp. nov.

Species cum Tetranemate roseo optime congruens sed differt foliis oblanceolatis et internodis multo longioribus.

Type:— HONDURAS. Comayagua: ridge of Cerro El Maneadero, ca. 11 km of Lago Yojoa, Parque Nacional Azul Meámbar, 1740 m, 14º48’00’’N, 87º52’30’’W, primary forest, 11 March 1993, Evans 1354 (holotype BM!, isotype MO!) .

Herbs to at least 50 cm. Stems elongate, pubescent, the internodes 3 cm or longer. Leaves subsessile to short-petiolate, petioles (when present) to ca. 1 cm. Leaves 11.5–19 × 3–5.5 cm, oblanceolate, the base attenuate, the apex acute to acuminate, the margins distantly crenate, ciliate with bicellular trichomes, glabrous above, villous on the veins beneath. Inflorescences densely clustered, cymose, pseudo-umbellate; peduncles ca. 12–16 cm (usually longer than the leaves), green, quadrangular with the angles narrowly winged; bracts 1.5–2 mm, linear. Flowers (4–)6–12, with pedicels ca. 5–10 mm. Calyx 3–5 mm, the lobes imbricate, lanceolate, the apex acuminate. Corolla ca. 1.5 cm, infundibular, white with violet tube, bilabiate, the upper lip ca. 4 mm, bilobed, the lobes partly fused, rounded, the lower lip ca. 5–6 mm, trilobed, the middle lobe elliptic-ovate, the lateral lobes ovate. Stamens included, the shorter pair ca. 4 mm, the longer pair ca. 5 mm, the staminode ca. 3 mm. Style included. Capsule ca. 5 mm, ovoid. Seeds subquadrangular, ca. 4 mm. Flowering in March.

Etymology:—This species is named in honour of Dr. Michael F. Fay, head of Genetics at the Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. His extensive work on plant conservation and great achievement as editor in chief of the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, and editorial work for other journals including Phytotaxa are hereby acknowledged.