Coccoloba efigeniana J.J.Ortiz-Díaz & J.J.Ancona, 2023

Ancona, Juan J., Ortiz-Díaz, Juan J. & Tun-Garrido, Juan, 2023, Coccoloba efigeniana and C. ibarrae, two new species of Coccoloba sect. Paniculatae Meisn. (Polygonaceae), Phytotaxa 599 (2), pp. 100-108 : 101-102

Coccoloba efigeniana J.J.Ortiz-Díaz & J.J.Ancona sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 ).

Type:— COSTA RICA, Puntarenas: Cantón de Osa, Finca Eloy Cubero , 08°41′05″N 83°33ʹ50ʺW, 230 m a.s.l., 8 August 1991, Marín 112 (holotype MO!, isotype CR!) .

Diagnosis:— Coccoloba efigeniana is morphologically similar to C. latifolia Lamarck (1804: 61) and C. mollis Casaretto (1844: 72) , but differs in leaf blades papery and densely hirsutulous abaxially, panicle spicate and densely hirsutulous, fruit obpyramidal, 8.0– 8.5 mm long, pilosulous with base truncate, and tepals free at the apex of the achene.

Description:—Tree 10‒20 m tall; branch internodes 1‒8 × 4‒8 mm. Ochrea 1.4–3.7 cm long, densely pubescent to woolly, yellow-brown to dark brown trichomes, breaking irregularly. Leaves simple, alternate, petiole 1.7–3.0 × 3–7 mm, striated, pubescent, with yellow brown trichomes, inserted at base of the ochrea; leaf blade obovate to oblong-elliptical (15.4–)17.0–25.8 × 9.0–16.0(–19.2) cm, chartaceous, densely hirsutulous abaxially, glabrous to hirsutulous adaxially, with yellow‒brown trichomes, margin entire, apex obtuse to slightly acuminate, base cordate, venation pinnate, reticulate, (9–)10–14 pairs of primary nerves, prominent, pubescent to hirsutulous, with yellowbrown trichomes. Inflorescence panicle, spiked, terminal, 9.5–17.6(–20.0) cm long, densely hirtellous; rachis striate, pulverulent; ochreolae 0.6–0.8 mm long, membranous, pulverulent, apex rounded; flowers 1(2–3) per fascicle, 2.2–3.0 mm long, tepals 5, 0.8–1.4 mm long, whitish. Fruit 8.0– 8.5 mm long × 5–6 mm in diameter, obpyramidal, base truncate, brown, pilosulose. Achene, light brown; embedded in the accrecent hypanthium, almost completely covering the achene; tepals, covering the apex of the achene.

Eponymy:—The specific epithet is in honor of Dr. Efigenia Melo an expert botanist in South American Coccolobas.

Distribution and habitat:— Coccoloba efigeniana is distributed from Costa Rica and Panama to the Guianas in South America ( Fig. 4 ), inhabiting tropical forests at 100–350 m a.s.l.

Phenology:—Flowering time March–July (sporadic blooms in September); fruiting times August–October.

Notes:— Coccoloba efigeniana was poorly determined in herbarium specimens. The collections of this species for Costa Rica were identified as C. standleyana Allen (1956: 409) , whereas the collections from Panama as C. mollis . The description of C. standleyana was based on sterile specimens (adventitious shoots) which are identical to the sterile specimens that were served to describe C. hirsuta Standley (1929: 303) . Later, Howard (1959b) considered C. hirsuta as a synonym of C. belizensis Standley (1928: 38) . In addition, we confirmed that the adventitious shoots of C. belizensis collected by Howard (specimen Howard et al. 451 at BM) was indicated as the holotype of C. standleyana . Therefore, we have considered C. standleyana to be a synonym of C. belizensis .

Coccoloba mollis and C. latifolia are two species morphologically very similar to C. efigeniana , but the fruit morphology allows us to discriminate the species. Table 1 compares the morphological characters that are important to delimit and identify these three similar species. C. mollis is widely distributed in South America; C. latifolia is endemic to the Guianas where it grows in sympatry with C. efigeniana and C. mollis .

Conservation status:— Coccoloba efigeniana is widely distributed from Central America to the South American Guianas. According to the red list criteria ( IUCN 2021), this new species does not seem to fall into any of the risk categories, so it is considered a species of minor concern (LC).

Additional Specimens Examined:— COSTA RICA, Puntarenas: Osa, R.F. Golfo Dulce, península de Osa, entre Quebrada Banegas y Rancho Quemado, 08°41ʹ00ʺN 8°32ʹ30ʺW, 100‒200 m, 14 July 1998, Aguilar 5457 (MO, INB); Cantón de Osa, R.F. Golfo Dulce, península de Osa (cuello de la península) Los Mongos, 8 km de Chacarita, 08°45ʹ38ʺN 83°17ʹ45ʺW, 250 m, 14 November 1933, Hammel et al., 19117 (MO); Parque Nacional Corcovado, Sirena Woods, 08°28ʹN 83°35ʹW, 50 m, 2 July 1989, Kernan 1208 (MO); Parque Nacional Corcovado, Pavo Forest, poorly drained lowland, 08°27ʹ30ʺN 83°33ʹ38ʺW, 100 m, 14 July 1988, Kernan 700 (MO). GUYANE FRANCAISE. Pisté de Saint-Elié 05°19ʹN 53°02ʹW, 18 March 1984, Foresta 550 ( US); Godebert wachenheim legit, 13 July 1921, s.c. s.n.; entre 2 et 3 km á I´Est de la Crique Sparouine: plateu Bastin, 05°15ʹ50ʺN 54°13ʹ40ʺW, 140 m, 23 September 2003, Bardenave et al. 7294 ( US). PANAMA —Province of Colón: Santa Rita Ridge, 1 March 1971, Croat 13866 (MO). Province of Panama, along newly cut road from El Llano to Carti-Tupile, 12 mi. above Pan-Am Hwy. 200 to 500 m, 13 March 1973, Croat 22887 (BM, MEXU); 10 km above Pan-Am highway on road from El Llano to Carti-Tupile, 150 to 350 m, 23 March 1973, Kennedy & Dressler 2947 (MO). Province of San Blas, comarca de San Blas, El Llano-Cartí Rd. Km 19.1, 09°19ʹN 78°55ʹW, 350 m, 11 February 1985, de Nevers & Cavagnaro 4805 (MO); Comarca de San Blas, vecindad del río Nargandi, tierra firme de Norgana caminando hacia la costa, 09°26ʹN 78°35ʹW, 11 August 1994, Herrera et al. 1750 (MEXU, MO); comarca de San Blas, El Llano-Cartí Rd. Km 19.1, 9°19ʹN 78°55ʹW, 350 m, 11 February 1985, de Nevers & Cavagnaro 4810 (MO); along newly cut road from El Llano to Carti-Tupile, Continental divide to 1 mi. from dive, 300-500 m, 30 March 1973, Liesner 1313 (BM, MEXU, MO); comarca de San Blas, El Lano-Carti road. 13.8 km to 19 km from interamerican Hwy. 09°19ʹN 78°55ʹW, 350 m. 3 September 1984, de Nevers & Porras 3818 (MO); comarca de San Blas, El Lano-Carti road. 13.8 km to 19 km from interamerican Hwy. 09°19ʹN 78°55ʹW, 350 m. 1 July 1985, de Nevers 5945 (MO). SURINAME. Zanderij, 16 December 1916, s.c. s.n. ( US 03223476). VENEZUELA. Bolívar: Río coroní Valley, guayana. 400 m, November 1947, Cardona 2207 ( US); Río coroní Valley, guayana. 400 m, November 1947, Cardona 2209 ( US).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Coccoloba efigeniana. A. Leaf blade and paniculate inflorescence; B. Indumentum of the primary and secondary veins; C. Details of the pedicels and ochreoles; D. Petiole and ochrea; E. Achene; F. Achene embedded in the expanded hypanthium and tepals. Illustration by J.E. García.

FIGURE 4. Geographical distribution of Coccoloba efigeniana (red triangle) and C. ibarrae (red circle).