Solanum catilliflorum G. J. Anderson, Martine, Prohens & Nuez, 2006

Anderson, G. J., Martine, C. T., Prohens, J. & Nuez, F., 2006, Solanum Perlongistylum and S. Catilliflorum, New Endemic Peruvian Species of Solanum, Section Basarthrum, Are Close Relatives of the Domesticated Pepino, S. Muricatum, Novon: A Journal for Botanical Nomenclature 16 (2), pp. 161-167 : 164-165

Solanum catilliflorum G. J. Anderson, Martine, Prohens & Nuez , sp. nov.

TYPE: U.S.A. Connecticut: cultivated at Univ. Conn. Ecol. & Evol. Biol. Conservatory, Storrs, 19 Nov. 2004, C. T. Martine 949 (holotype, CONN; isotypes, MO, MOL, NY, US, VAL) [ Peru, Abancay: near Abancay, rubbish heap in wet terrain, 19 Mar. 2001, seed collection, J. Prohens & F. Nuez 80]. Figure 1E–H .

Habitus reptans; folia et foliola parva; folia in foliola pleraque 3 divisa; sine pugiotis pilis glandulosis; flores parvuli; stylus brevis, extendens vix ultra columnam staminalem; fertile secum; fructus parvi.

Viney or trailing shrub; branches to 1 m long; internodes 15–60 mm; stem woody or thick-herbaceous, moderately strigose when young, older branches commonly rooting at nodes. Leaves with mostly 3 (rarely 1) leaflets, 32–58 mm long, with petiole 7–14 mm long; leaflets lanceolate to elliptic, base obtuse, apex acute or acuminate, not sticky, with moderately dense strigose vestiture of 2-celled bayonet hairs intermixed with short square gland hairs on both surfaces; bayonet hairs about 0.5 mm in length; short square gland hairs about 0.07 mm in length; gland-tipped finger hairs not present; terminal leaflet somewhat larger than the first pair of lateral leaflets, 23–36 × 14–22 mm, the petiolule 2–5 mm long; first pair of lateral leaflets 8–18 × 5–11 mm, short-petiolulate; pseudostipules present. Inflorescence an indeterminate pseudoterminal cymose raceme with 1 axis and 5(to 8) hermaphrodite flowers; pedicels 5–8 mm long, basally articulate, with dense strigose vestiture of 2-celled bayonet hairs intermixed with short square gland hairs. Corolla white, rotate, moderately reflexed, lobes 7–9 mm long, sinuses 4.0– 6.5 mm long, the lobe:sinus ratio about 1.35:1, glabrous adaxially, sparsely strigose to hispid abaxially; calyx green, acute to acuminate, ca. 1/2 length of corolla lobes, strigose vestiture moderate to heavy; anthers pale yellow, 2.8–3.4 mm long, apices rounded, 2.8–3.4 mm long, glabrous adaxially and abaxially, filaments 0.7–1.1 mm long, fused for less than 1/4 length, with scattered stiff hairs at midpoint; style 4.7–6.1 mm long, sparingly to moderately strigose over lower half, stigma slightly capitate, exceeding staminal column by 1.6–2.4 mm. Fruits globose, the mature fruits pale green or yellowish green with darker green or purple-black stripes, with darker maculae on the lighter areas, 13–18 × 12–18 mm, round in cross section, smooth, apex rounded, locules 2; soluble solids concentration 5%–8%; seeds 100 to 175 per fruit; fruits falling from plant when ripe. Pollen grains per anther ca. 39,800, pollen:ovule ratio ca. 2170:1 ( Table 1 ); plants self-compatible; n = 12 (Martine 949, CONN).

Habitat and distribution. Collections of this new species have been made at elevations near 2100 m on open, wet terrain in Peru. The ripened fruits of Solanum catilliflorum are eaten by locals. Near Auquibamba, Abancay, the species is known as pipino (Prohens, pers. obs.).

This new taxon is distinguished from morphologically similar species in Solanum sect. Basarthrum ser. Caripensia by its scrambling habit, small flowers (smallest in the Caripense complex), and short styles extending only slightly beyond the staminal column, similar to the other self-compatible species in section Basarthrum . However, these styles extend farther beyond the staminal column than any other selfcompatible species in the series. Plants of this species are not only self-compatible, but autogamous, as demonstrated by greenhouse observations ( G. Anderson, pers. obs.). The other self-compatible species in section Basarthrum are the domesticated pepino ( S. muricatum ), two herbaceous annuals ( S. canense Rydberg , S. suaveolens Kunth & Bouché ), and one woody perennial ( S. trachycarpum ) limited to lowelevation xeric sites in Ecuador. Solanum catilliflorum is easy to distinguish from S. trachycarpum based on the small flowers, compound leaves (vs. simple), and scrambling habit (vs. erect). Likewise, S. catilliflorum lacks the gland-tipped finger hairs present in the majority of the species in series Caripensia .

Etymology. The epithet reflects the small flowers of this species, the Latin catillus being a small plate or dish.

Conservation status. Estimated IUCN rank: VU. Rare and known from a limited number of localities. Total wild population still unknown.

Paratypes. U.S.A. Connecticut: cultivated at Univ. Conn. Ecol. & Evol. Biol. Conservatory, Storrs, 18 July 2005, C. T. Martine & M. R. Opel 1084 ( CONN) [ Peru, Abancay/ Apurimac, road cut near Auquibamba, 18 Mar. 2001, seed collection, J. Prohens & F. Nuez 71]; 18 July 2005, C. T. Martine & M. R. Opel 1085 ( CONN) [ Peru: Auquibamba, 18 Mar. 2001, seed collection, J. Prohens & F. Nuez 74]; 18 July 2005, C. T. Martine & M. R. Opel 1086 ( CONN) [ Peru, Abancay, 19 Mar. 2001, seed collection, J. Prohens & F. Nuez 82].

Figures

Figure 1. Photographs of Solanum perlongistylum (A–D) and S. catilliflorum (E–H). —A. Flowers. —B. Form. —C. Fruits. —D. Field habit. —E. Flowers. —F. Form. —G. Fruits. —H. Field habit. Scale as indicated, except for the fruits (C & G), where each square is 10 × 10 mm.