Tovomita saulensis J.Engel & Molino, 2022

Engel, Julien, Molino, Jean-François & Marinho, Lucas C., 2022, The maximum and the minimum: two new species of Tovomita Aubl. (Clusiaceae) from the Guiana Shield with an unusual number of stamens, Adansonia (3) 44 (16), pp. 165-174 : 170-171

Tovomita saulensis J.Engel & Molino , sp. nov.

( Figs 4 ; 5 ; 6 )

Tovomita saulensis sp. nov. is similar to T. mangle G.Mariz especially in its mucronulate and oblong floral bud. The species can be distinguished by the combination of small leaves (4-7 cm on average) and a low number of stamens (9-15 vs 35-45 in T. mangle ). To date, the species has the lowest number of stamens in the genus.

TYPUS. — French Guiana. Saül and vicinity: Route de Bélizon , 0-2 km S of Eaux Claires, 230-300 m, 3°37’N, 53°12’W, ♂ fl. b., 22.IX.1994, Mori et al. 24002 (holo-, CAY [ CAY167624 !] ; iso-, P [ P04897763 ], NY [ NY04204154 ], U [ U0181523 ], US [ US00872988 ]) .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet refers to the type locality Saül.

DISTRIBUTION. — Tovomita saulensis sp. nov. is presently known only from Central French Guiana, near the village of Saül. Therefore it could be considered as endemic of this area, pending additional records.

HABITAT. — According to the three specimens studied, T. saulensis sp. nov. occurs in terra firme forest between 200-400 m a.s.l and receiving about 2500 mm of annual rainfall.

PHENOLOGY. — Staminate floral buds were collected in September, immature fruits in April.

CONSERVATION STATUS. — Tovomita saulensis sp. nov. is too poorly known (three specimens) to assess its protection status. Following the procedures adopted by Marinho & Beeck (2019), a DD (Deficient Data) status is therefore suggested.

AFFINITIES. — Tovomita saulensis sp. nov. has small leaves and oblong floral buds with a mucronulate apex. These characters are found in two other Tovomita species, T. divaricata Maguire from Guyana, and T. nebulosa L. Marinho & Luján from Cerro de la Neblina in Venezuela. But the leaf venation of these two species is not distinctly brochidodromous as in T. saulensis . Specimens of T. saulensis were initially identified by Marinho (2019) as T. mangle , a species widely distributed in Brazil and also occurring in French Guiana, especially due to the shape of the floral buds (oblong with mucronulate apex) and the brochidodromous leaf venation. The species can be distinguished by the smaller aspect of T. saulensis , its smaller leaves (4.3-7.5(9) × 1.2-3.2 cm vs 9-21 × 3.4-9.7 cm in T. mangle ), smaller floral buds (3-6 vs 6-11 mm in T. mangle ) and smaller number of stamens (9-15 vs 35-45 in T. mangle ).

OTHER MATERIAL STUDIED. — French Guiana. Saül , La Fumée Ouest, 200-400 m, 3°37’N, 53°12’W, fr., 8.IV.1983, Mori & Pipoly 15551 ( CAY [ CAY167625 !], US [ US00873003 ]) ; Saül , La Fumée Ouest, 200-400 m, 3°37’N, 53°12’W, st., 26.IV.1983, Mori & Pipoly 15674 ( P [ P04897837 ]) ; Saül , Along botany trail northeast of Les Eaux Claires, 270 m, 4°42’N, 52°25’W, ♂ fl. b., 24.IX.1995, Phillippe et al. 26984 ( CAY [ CAY167623 !], ILLS) .

DESCRIPTION

Dioecious small trees up to 6 m and 12 cm in diameter, trunks without prop roots, exsudate sparse. All plant glabrous, including flower and fruit.

Leaves

Opposite; petioles 4-12 × c. 1 mm, with an adaxial margined pit; leaf blades chartaceous, narrowly elliptic to elliptic, 4.3-7.5(9) × 1.2-3.2 cm; apex long-attenuate to acuminate; base acute and slightly decurrent;margin entire; midvein slightly raised on both surfaces; secondary veins in 6-10 pairs, 0.5-1 cm distant from each other, brochidodromous, slightly raised on both surfaces; intersecondary veins present;tertiary veins visible on both surfaces.

Inflorescences

Terminal. Male inflorescences a compound dichasium, 1.5- 3 cm long with up to 20 flowers; bracts not seen; bracteoles triangular, c. 0.5 mm, caducous; pedicels 2-5 mm long.

Staminate flowers

Buds 3-6 × 1-2.5 mm, oblong with a mucronulate apex, green. Flowers known only from buds; sepals 2, c. 5 × 1-2 mm, oblong to ovate, apex acuminate (with rounded tip); petals 4, 3-4 × 1-2 mm, linear to oblong, apex acuminate; stamens 9-15, filaments 2-3 mm long, white; anthers c. 0.5 mm long; pistillode c. 0.5 mm high × 1 mm large, stigmas 4.

Pistillate flowers

Not seen.

Fruit

Known only immature. Fleshy capsule c. 2.5 × 1 cm, with apical rostrum c. 1 × 0.3 cm; epicarp smooth; seeds 2-4, c. 1.2 × 0.5 cm.

NOTE

Tovomita saulensis sp. nov. has long been misidentified in CAY herbarium as T. fructipendula (Ruiz & Pav.) Cambess. (syn. of T. brasiliensis (Mart.) Walp. ; see Marinho et al. 2016d). This is also the case in the Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central French Guiana ( Mori et al. 2002) where the illustration of T. fructipendula is based on at least two specimens of T. saulensis sp. nov. (Mori & Pipoly 15551, Mori et al. 24002). The drawing of the fruit is based on a third specimen (Mori 22720), not seen. Both species have leaves of about the same size (around 4-7 cm long) but those of T. fructipendula have more secondary veins, and these are not brochidodromous. Also, the floral bud apex is rounded in T. fructipendula (vs mucronulate in T. saulensis ), and the fruit epicarp is asperous (vs smooth in T. saulensis ). Field photos of Mori et al. 24002 are visible at: http://sweetgum. nybg.org/science/vh/specimen-details/?irn=415530

Figures

FIG. 4. — Distribution of Tovomita maxima Molino & J.Engel, sp. nov. (·) and Tovomita saulensis J.Engel & Molino, sp. nov. (*).

FIG. 5. — Tovomita saulensis J.Engel & Molino, sp. nov.: A, leaf adaxial surface (left), abaxial surface (right); B, stem with male inflorescence; C, part of male inflorescence; D, staminate floral bud; E, detail of stamens (left), detail of pistillode and stamens (right); F, immature fruits; G, transverse section of immature fruit apical rostrum (i.e., remaining styles and stigmas); H, sepals (from dissected bud); I, petals (from dissected bud); A, D, E, Phillippe et al. 26984; B, C, H, I, Mori et al. 24002; F, G, Mori & Pipoly 15551. Drawn by Laurence Ramon. Scale bars: A, B, F, 1 cm; C, 5 mm; D, E, G-I, 1 mm.

FIG. 6. — Tovomita saulensis J.Engel & Molino, sp. nov.: A, male inflorescence; B, staminate floral bud dissected: androecium (top left), sepals (top right), petals (bottom); C, detail of pistillode (red circle) and stamens; D, detail of leaf venation; A, Mori et al. 24002; B, C, D, Phillippe et al. 26984. Photographs by Julien Engel. Scale bars: A, D, 5 mm; B, C, 1 mm.