Weinmannia machupicchuensis F.Arroyo, 2021

Arroyo, Frank, 2021, Two new species of Weinmannia (Cunoniaceae) from Machu Picchu and Oxapampa, Peru, Phytotaxa 502 (2), pp. 185-190 : 185-188

Weinmannia machupicchuensis F.Arroyo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 ; Tab. 1)

Diagnosis:—Similar to W. cochensis Hieronymus (1895: 310) but differing for the puberulous calyx lobes (which are glabrous in W. cochensis ), the pedicel length (4–8 mm long in W. machupicchuensis vs. 2–3 mm long in W. cochensis ), and the petal shape (oblong to elliptic in W. machupicchuensis vs. ovate in W. cochensis ).

Type:— PERU. Cusco: Provincia Urubamba, Machu Picchu, Camino Inka , Phuyupatamarca–Chaquicocha , 3650 m, 25 June 2001, Tupayachi et al. 4966 (holotype CUZ, no. 5219!) .

Shrub 3–4 m tall; branchlets terete to slightly compressed, distally with a yellowish tomentose indumentum, glabrescent. Leaves opposite, imparipinnate, 1–5-jugate, 29–40 mm long; lateral leaflets elliptic to obovate, 4–16 × 3–8 mm, with base cuneate or inequilateral, margins serrate to dentate from the middle to the apex, which is rounded to obtuse; terminal leaflet elliptic to obovate, 5–19 × 3–9 mm, with base cuneate, margins serrate to dentate from the middle to the apex, which can be obtuse or acute; leaflets coriaceous, flat to slightly revolute, glabrous or sparsely pubescent beneath, especially on midrib; midrib and secondary veins impressed above, prominent beneath, secondary veins in 3–6 pairs, tertiary venation obscure; rachis winged, tomentulose to glabrous above, sparsely pubescent with tufts of hairs at the nodes beneath, wings semi-obovate, glabrous, 2–5 × 1–2 mm; petioles terete, not winged, 2.5–6 mm long, tomentose throughout and with some semi-erect hairs projecting out of the tomentum beneath. Stipules elliptic to broadly ovate or suborbicular, 3–5 × 2–5 mm, caducous, glabrous, with apex obtuse. Pseudoracemes 23–27 mm long, sometimes appearing umbelliform, with tomentose rachis, fascicles 1–10-flowered, bracteoles caducous (not seen), pedicels 4–8 mm long, puberulous; calyx lobes 4–5, ovate, 2–3 mm long, puberulous but later glabrescent, acute at apex; petals 4–5, oblong to elliptic, 3–3.5 × 1–1.5 mm, entire; stamens 8 or 10, 4– 5 mm long; ovary ovoid, 1.5–2.5 mm long, glabrous, sometimes puberulent between the styles, styles 1–2 mm long. Capsules and seeds not seen.

*Data not reported in the protologues ( Hieronymus 1895, Kunth 1823) but taken from Harling (1999) or observed in the types at B and P.

Notes:— Weinmannia machupicchuensis is similar to W. cochensis (from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) in its shrubby habit, leaf features and inflorescence morphology. However, the longer pedicels, the puberulent sepals and elliptic to oblong petals in W. machupicchuensis distinguish it. Another similar species is W. fagaroides Kunth (1823: 54) (from Costa Rica and the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia) but this species lacks umbelliform inflorescences, the leaflets are crenate-serrate only apically (vs. from the middle to the apex in W. machupicchuensis ), and its inflorescences can be longer than those in W machupicchuensis . These three species are compared in Table 1.

Phenology:— Flowering reported in March and June.

Distribution, ecology and conservation status: — Weinmannia machupicchuensis is known from two localities in montane forests around the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. The type was collected at 3650 m a.s.l., but the elevation for the paratype is vague (2300–4150 m a.s.l.). Although this species receives some degree of protection inside the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, it has not been collected elsewhere, suggesting the possibility that it could be endemic to this area. Threats to its habitat inside the Machu Picchu protected area include rock extraction, humancaused fires, and forest clearance for agriculture and cattle ranching ( Christenson 2003, Parkswatch 2004). Because of its very narrow distribution and the threats to its habitat, the IUCN category of Endangered (EN) is assigned.

Etymology:— The species epithet refers to the place of origin of the type specimen: Machu Picchu, region of Cusco, Peru.

Additional specimens:— PERU. Cusco: Provincia Urubamba, Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu y el Camino Inca, 2300–4150 m, 16–19 March 1988, Núñez & Luna 8866 (CUZ!, MO) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Weinmannia machupicchuensis (original drawing from the holotype).A. Flowering branchlet. B. Leaf. C. Inflorescences. D. Flower without petals and some stamens. E. Petal.