Caryodaphnopsis malipoensis Bing Liu et Y. Yang, 2013

Liu, Bing, Yang, Yong & Ma, Keping, 2013, A new species of Caryodaphnopsis Airy Shaw (Lauraceae) from southeastern Yunnan, China, Phytotaxa 118 (1), pp. 1-8 : 1-5

Caryodaphnopsis malipoensis Bing Liu et Y. Yang , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 & 3A–3D )

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan Province: Malipo County, Tianbao , Sumawan , Laodengnong , 8 May 2011, flower, Bing Liu 1293 (holotype: PE!) .

Diagnosis:—Haec species nova foliis et tepalis pubescentibus C. laoticae similis, sed ovariis pubescentibus differt.

Description:—Trees, up to 15 m tall, to 50 cm in dbh (diameter at breast height). Bark gray, longitudinally cracked. Twigs angular, densely rusty pubescent. Leaves opposite or subopposite; leaf blades glaucous abaxially, brownish green adaxially, ovate-oblong to elliptic, 12–21.6 × 5–9 cm, coriaceous, densely pubescent on both surfaces when young, but glabrescent adaxially when mature; triplinerved; midrib slender, impressed above, elevated beneath, secondary veins (4–)5–6 pairs, basal secondary veins arising at, or up to 5(–9) mm above leaf base, distal secondary veins arising from midrib near middle or above, alternate, arcuate, and evanescent near leaf margin, lateral veins connected by transverse veinlets, all veins elevated beneath; apex acuminate; base (broadly cuneate to) acute (to obtuse), slightly oblique or not; petioles 1.1–1.7 cm, flat, not grooved above, moderately rusty pubescent when young, glabrescent at maturity. Panicles axillary, slender, 1.4–4.2 cm long, densely rusty pubescent, shortly branched; branches opposite, horizontal or ascending, terminal branchlets each bearing a 3–5-flowered subcorymbose cyme; bracts and bracteoles minute, subulate, 1–2 mm, rusty pubescent. Pedicels slender, 1–2 mm long, densely rusty pubescent. Flowers white, 3–3.5 mm in diam. Perianth lobes 6, outer ones minute, triangular, ca. 0.6 × 0.6 mm, pubescent on both surfaces, inner lobes larger, broadly ovate, 1.8 × 1.8 mm, subacute to nearly obtuse, densely rusty appressed-pubescent outside and densely whitish-puberulous inside, spreading when mature. Fertile stamens 9, those of the third whorl each with 2 basal subsessile yellow subglobose glands, others lacking glands, stalks of glands pilose when present; anthers yellowish, ovoid to triangular, all 4-celled; filaments villous, the outermost whorl of stamen filaments ca. 0.4 mm long, inner stamen filaments ca. 0.7 mm long. Staminodes sagittate, shortly stalked, pubescent. Ovaries subglobose, ca. 0.8 × 0.7 mm, densely brown pilose; styles short, ca. 0.2 mm long. Fruit pedicles thickened, 8–10 × ca. 4 mm. Fruits pendulous, avocado-like in shape, 6.8–8.3 × 4.6–5.7 cm, wrinkled when dried, dark brown furfuraceous (puberulous, Fig. 3A ); pericarp differentiated into 4 layers: a rusty brown outer layer, ca. 0.5 mm thick at the lateral portion ( Fig. 3C–a 1 ); a brown and fleshy layer, ca. 4.5 mm thick at the lateral portion ( Fig. 3C–a ); a sclerotic layer, 0.8–2 mm thick, white ( Fig. 3C–b ); a brown inner layer, ca. 0.3 mm thick ( Fig. 3C–c ). The outer brown two layers becoming hard when dried and shrunken, distal and lateral portion thin and relatively even, ca. 0.5 cm thick, basal portion acuminate into a stalk-like supporting structure up to 3 cm thick ( Fig. 3B ). Seed 1, hard, black when dried, slightly glossy, oblate in shape, 3.6 × 3 × 2.2 mm, obtuse ( Figs. 3B & 3D ); hilum conspicuous, subround, 1.4 × 1.2 mm ( Fig. 3D ).

inflorescence; F, flower; G, fruiting branch.

Distribution:—This species is only found in a restricted area in SE Yunnan, China ( Fig. 4). Habitat:—This species occurs in limestone montane forests with an altitudinal range of 850–1150 m. It blooms in May and fruits mature October–November. Young trees (less than 5 m tall) also bloom, but bear no fruits.

Etymology: —The specific epithet ‘ malipoensis ’ refers to the type locality “Malipo county”.

Additional specimens examined: — CHINA. Yunnan Province: Malipo County, Tianbao, Sumawan , Laodengnong , 15 November 2010, fruit, Bing Liu 1182 ( PE!) .

Conservation: —Though occurring in a restricted area, the species is quite common in disturbed vegetation along roadsides, in primary forests, where it dominates together with Cyclobalanopsis spp. , Lithocarpus sp. , and Actinodaphne obovata (Nees) Blume (1851: 342) . This species is thus listed as VU D2 according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2011).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Caryodaphnopsis malipoensis Bing Liu et Y. Yang. A, a flowering branch showing the opposite elliptical leaves and axillary inflorescences; B, twig apex showing the pubescent terminal bud; C, a flower showing the spreading perianth lobes and the stamens; D, outside (left) and inside (right) view of outer perianth lobes showing the triangular shape and pubescence; E, outside (left) and inside (right) view of inner perianth lobes showing the triangular shape and pubescence; F, inside view of a first whorl of stamen showing the pubescent filaments and 4-celled anthers; G, inside view of a second stamen whorl showing pubescent filament and the 4-celled anther; H, outside (left) and inside (right) view of a third whorl stamen showing the pair of glands at the base of the filament; I, outside (left) and inside (right) view of a fourth whorl staminode showing the inner pubescent surface; J, a pistil showing the densely pubescent ovary and short style; K, fruits showing the avocadolike shape, rugged surface sculpturing and the layered pericarp.

FIGURE 2. Caryodaphnopsis malipoensis. A, leaf adaxial surface; B, leaf abaxial surface; C, twig apex showing the pubescent terminal bud; D, flowering branch; E,

FIGURE 3. Fruit structure of Caryodaphnopsis malipoensis and C. tonkinensis. A–D, C. malipoensis; A, fruits showing morphology; B, a fruit longitudinal section; C, pericarp portion showing the 4 layers; D, a seed showing hilum. E–G, C. tonkinensis. E, fruits showing morphology; F, a broken fruit showing the pericarp and the inner seed; G, pericarp portion showing the 4 layers: a1, the outer layer, a, the pulpy layer, b, the sclerotic layer, c, the inner layer. Abbreviations: fa, fruit apex; fb, fruit basal; s, seed; h, hilum.