Winitia longipes (Craib) Chaowasku & Aongyong

Chaowasku, Tanawat, Aongyong, Kithisak, Damthongdee, Anissara, Jongsook, Hathaichanok & Johnson, David M., 2020, Generic status of Winitia (Annonaceae, Miliuseae) reaffirmed by molecular phylogenetic analysis, including a new species and a new combination from Thailand, European Journal of Taxonomy 659 (659), pp. 1-23 : 6-8

Winitia longipes (Craib) Chaowasku & Aongyong comb. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77209777-1 Fig. 3B, D, F, H

± Stelechocarpus longipes Craib , The Journal of the Natural History Society of Siam 6: 43 ( Craib 1923). Type: THAILAND · Khao Rum [Nakhon Si Thammarat Prov.]; fl; Native Collector s.n. (Herb. Eryl Smith 643); holotype: K[K000382080]; isotype: BK.

Notes

From Fig. 1 , it is apparent that the four accessions of W. cauliflora did not form a clade. There are two strongly supported clades of W. cauliflora : one consisting of Winitia cauliflora -1 and Winitia cauliflora -2, both cultivated in Bogor Botanical Garden, Indonesia, and another comprising Winitia cauliflora -3 and Winitia cauliflora -4, both from Nakhon Si Thammarat Prov., Thailand. The latter clade is the sister group of W. expansa endemic to Phatthalung Prov. of Thailand, though with only weak support. According to van Heusden (1995), the type of Sageraea cauliflora Scheff. , which is the basionym of W. cauliflora , was from cultivation in Bogor Botanical Garden, Indonesia (Cult. Hort. Bog. IV-H-58, origin: Indonesia, Sumatra, Prov. Lampong). The samples Winitia cauliflora -1 and Winitia cauliflora -2 were collected from individual X-F-96 and individual XV-A-196, respectively, whereas the living individual IV-H-58 could not be found, probably this individual has died. The morphology of Winitia cauliflora -1 and Winitia cauliflora -2 is very much in agreement with that of the type specimens ( Scheffer 1881; neotype: L [L 0038174] and possible isoneotype: L [L 0038175]), but is different from that of Winitia cauliflora -3 and Winitia cauliflora - 4 in several respects, i.e., petal size and shape, and stamen and stigma morphology ( Table 1 , Fig. 3 ). On the basis of combined molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence, Winitia cauliflora -3 and Winitia cauliflora -4 should be classified in a species distinct from W. cauliflora . The name Stelechocarpus longipes Craib ( Craib 1923) is available and its type specimens, which were also collected in Nakhon Si Thammarat Prov., Thailand (holotype: http://specimens.kew.org/herbarium/K000382080), is morphologically similar to Winitia cauliflora -3 and Winitia cauliflora -4 regarding leaves, inflorescences, and flowers. Therefore, a new combination in Winitia for Stelechocarpus longipes is made. It should be noted that although the name Stelechocarpus nitidus King ( King 1892) is older, its type specimens collected from Perak, Malay Peninsula (lectotype: http://specimens.kew.org/herbarium/K000382081) exhibit petals that are similar in size and shape to those of Winitia cauliflora -1 and Winitia cauliflora -2 ( Table 1 , Fig. 3A ); hence, for now we still consider it as a junior synonym of W. cauliflora until more evidence is obtained.

On the basis of personal observations by the second author, W. longipes is generally found near streams. During monsoon seasons, the areas where this species occurs are shortly flooded, and it is possible that the ripe monocarps fallen on the ground are taken away by the water current. Sometimes the seeds are found germinated despite still being partially covered by the pericarp. Winitia longipes is widespread in Nakhon Si Thammarat and neighboring provinces where several protected areas are located, but many individuals do occur outside the protected areas; these unprotected forests diminish nearly every single day due mainly to agricultural expansion (pers. obs.). Therefore, we recommend that its conservation status based on IUCN (2012) be assessed as “Near Threatened (NT)”.

The phylogenetic results ( Fig. 1 ) revealed that Winitia aff. expansa -1 and Winitia aff. expansa -2 formed a strongly supported clade, which is not the sister group of W. expansa . Although W. expansa as well as Winitia aff. expansa -1 and Winitia aff. expansa -2 exhibit inner petals that are spreading at anthesis ( Fig. 4 A–B), the latter two accessions differ from W. expansa by having a non-glaucous appearance on the petal adaxial surface ( Fig. 4 A–B; glaucous in W. expansa ; Chaowasku et al. 2013) and shallow pits on the adaxial surface of the inner petals ( Fig. 4B ; no pitted structures in W. expansa ; Chaowasku et al. 2013). In addition, the inflorescences of Winitia aff. expansa -1 and Winitia aff. expansa -2 are mostly clustered on large roots and at the unswollen base of trunks, while those of W. expansa are mostly clustered at the swollen base of trunks. Based on the above-mentioned differences, Winitia aff. expansa is described as new to science.

Figures

Fig. 3. Flowers and floral organs of Winitia cauliflora (Scheff.) Chaowasku (A, C, E, G) and Winitia longipes (Craib) Chaowasku & Aongyong comb. nov. (B, D, F, H). A–B. Flowers. C–D. Male flowers with petals removed. E–F. Stamens, abaxial (left) and adaxial (right) sides. G–H. Female flowers with petals removed. A, C, E, G from Chaowasku 185 (CMUB); B from Gardner et al. ST1665 (L); D, F, H from Aongyong 8 (CMUB). Photographs by T. Chaowasku (A) and S. Gardner (B).

Fig. 1. Phylogram derived from maximum likelihood analysis, with support values shown: SR/BS/PP. Maximally supported clades are represented by thick branches without support values shown; strongly supported clades are represented by thick branches with support values shown; branches without support values shown signify SR <50%, BS <50%, and PP <0.85. ** signifies SR/BS <50%. Scale bar unit = substitutions per site. MAL. = Malmeeae; MON. = Monocarpieae.

Fig. 4. Flowers and floral organs of Winitia thailandana Chaowasku & Aongyong sp. nov. A–B. Flower. C. Flower with petals removed. D. Stamen, abaxial (above) and adaxial (below) sides. E. Back side of flower, showing sepals (abaxial side). A, B from Gardner & Sidisunthorn ST0817 (L), photographs by S. Gardner; C–E from Aongyong 9 (CMUB).