Ventilago ferruginea Cahen & Utteridge, 2017

Cahen, Daniel & Utteridge, Timothy M. A., 2017, Three new species of Ventilago (Rhamnaceae) from South-East Asia, Phytotaxa 307 (3), pp. 171-182 : 174-177

Ventilago ferruginea Cahen & Utteridge , sp. nov., Fig. 3

Ventilago ferruginea is related to V. flavovirens but differs in its leaves often drying with a rusty-brown colour, often longer petioles, more or less symmetric leaf base, more pairs of more conspicuously elevated secondary veins and in its closer tertiary veins not readily felt by touch on the abaxial leaf lamina.

Type:— MALAYSIA. Sabah: Kalabakan, Hap Seng km 12, 24 May 1982, Fedilis Krispinus SAN 94823 (holotype: K!; isotypes: KEP!, L!, SAN n.v., SAR n.v., SING n.v.) .

Climber, woody, up to 18 m long. Indumentum sparse at base of branchlets, dense at distal end of branchlets, very dense on inflorescence rachis, often completely hiding its surface; hairs fulvous, spreading to appressed-antrorse. Branches slender, terete, smooth; branchlets often deeply ridged. Stipules fugaceous, deltoid to subulate. Leaves with lamina narrow ovate-elliptic to oblong, often asymmetrical, 6.5–22.0 cm long, 2.2–7.5 cm wide, subcoriaceous, often rusty brown when dry, adaxially shiny and glabrous to hairy, especially along veins, smooth but with higher order venation reticulations readily felt by touch, abaxially dull and soft to touch with higher order venation reticulations not readily felt by touch, often hairy, if so, then sparsely to very densely covered with fulvous hairs, at least near base, apex attenuate to rounded, blunt to mucronulate, base more or less symmetric, obtuse to subcordate, margins entire, obscurely repand with sometimes a minute black callosity on undulation lobes; primary vein abaxially sparsely to densely hairy, ridged and conspicuously elevated; secondary veins [6–]8–10[–12] pairs, brownish when dry, often decurrent along the primary vein, at least abaxially sparsely to densely hairy, conspicuously elevated abaxially, unbranched and remaining separate, tertiary veins perpendicular to the primary vein, most spaced by c. 0.5 mm from each other, forming distinct horizontal lines on the adaxial lamina surface, higher order venation reticulations distinct; domatia absent; petiole length variable even on the same branchlet 3–13 mm long, sulcate, sparsely to very densely hairy. Inflorescence fascicles with the leaves bearing them fugaceous so that fascicles are arranged in racemes or panicles with racemes to ca. 15 cm long, raceme rachis ca. 0.9 mm wide at base. Flowers pedicellate with a hypanthium ca. 1.1 mm wide, bisexual, 5-merous, perigynous; sepal lobes triangular, adaxially keeled with an apical protuberance; petals present, clawed, hairy abaxially, obcordate, each enclosing a stamen before anthesis; androecium apostemonous, anthers 5, dorsifixed, introrse; disk subpentagonal, filling the hypanthium, fleshy, glabrous; ovary hairy, half-immersed in disk, locules 2; style 2-fid. Fruit densely hairy, reddish-brown, with a conspicuous, globose basal portion enclosing the seed chamber and a distinct wing-like apical appendage, oblong, to 7 cm long and 1.5 cm wide at maturity; apex acute to rounded with style remains forming a distinct mucro; persistent calyx annular, attached at base of globose part of fruit.

Distribution:— Borneo (East Kalimantan, Sabah and Sarawak), Singapore and Sumatra ( Fig. 4 ).

Habitat:— Bornean, southern Peninsular Malaysian and Sumatran rain forests; elev. 0–1300 m.

Conservation status:— Near Threatened (NT).It is very likely that the taxon is declining and is severely fragmented given widespread destruction of the lowland rainforests of Borneo, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra ( Loucks 2001a, Loucks 2001b, Loucks & Whitten 2001). However, the taxon is distributed with an EEO much greater than 30,000 km 2. Also, some specimens were collected in protected areas, and the populations there might not be declining: Bidu-Bidu Protection Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Ia), Sungai Imbak Virgin Jungle Reserve (IUCN Category Ia), Kabili Sepilok Virgin Jungle Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported) and Tawai Protection Forest Reserve (IUCN Category Ia) in Sabah, Santubong National Park (IUCN Category Not Reported) in Sarawak and Central Catchment Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ib) in Singapore.

Phenology:— Collected in flower in March, May, June and September to December. Collected in fruit from May to December.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the leaves drying rusty-brown.

Discussion:— Ventilago ferruginea is recognised by its [6–]8–10[–12] pairs of abaxially conspicuously elevated secondary veins, abaxial leaf lamina often with orange-brown (ginger) coloured hairs, petiole 3–13 mm long, very dense hairs often completely hiding the inflorescence rachis surface, densely hairy fruits and persistent calyx forming a ring at the base of the fruit. Besides V. flavovirens , the other taxa of Ventilago found in Borneo are V. borneensis Ridley (1931: 493) , V. dichotoma and V. malaccensis Ridley (1917: 22) . Ventilago ferruginea differs from V. borneensis in its more numerous and more conspicuously elevated abaxial secondary veins and longer and more coriaceous fruit wing, from V. dichotoma in its subcoriaceous leaves, longer petioles, more conspicuously elevated secondary veins and hairy fruit ( Table 1) and from V. malaccensis in the absence of domatia, in its entire to obscurely repand leaf margins, hairy fruits and persistent calyx forming a ring at the base of the fruit. In Sumatra, other members of Ventilago are V. lucens Miquel (1860: 330) and V. malaccensis . Ventilago ferruginea differs from V. lucens by the same characters as it does from V. dichotoma . The only other taxon of Ventilago found in Singapore is V. malaccensis .

Additional specimens examined:— INDONESIA. East Kalimantan: Bloe-oe , 50 m, 1896–1897, Jehari 1413 (L!) ; W. Koetai, no.19, L. Poehoes, ca. 100 m, 13 November 1925, Endert 4853 ( K!, L!) ; Berau Inhutani area , km 16, trayek D [2°00’N 117°23’E], 50 m, 15 October 1997, Arifin et al. Berau 915 (GH!, K!, L!) ; Central Kutei, Belajan R. near Long Ble , 25 March 1955, Kostermans 10.240 (GH!, K!, L!). Sumatra [South Sumatra Upper Musi Region]: 1881–1882, Forbes 3042 (GH!, K!, L!) . MALAYSIA. Sabah: Beluran , Bidu-Bidu F.R., logged area, 20 July 1990, Madani SAN 128861 (E!, K!, KEP!) ; Bidu-Bidu hill [5°50’N 117°18’E], 30 July 1990, Maikin & Francis SAN 130669 ( K!) ; Sg.Meliau , 28 July 1983, Sigin & Rahim SAN 99681 ( K!, L!) ; Tungud Beluran , 2 August 1983, Sigin et al. SAN 99793 (E!, KEP!) ; Kalabakan, Hap Seng logged area, mile 12, on hill top, 5 June 1982, Fedilis SAN 94683 ( K!) ; Hap Seng km 12, 27 May 1982, Krispinus SAN 94836 ( K! KEP!, L!) ; 5 June 1982, Krispinus SAN 94863 ( KEP!, L!) ; Seranum Gunong Rara F. Res. , unlogged area, 21 June 1983, Fedilis & Sumbing SAN 96094 ( K!, L!) ; Keningau, Pinangah Forest Reserve , 26 September 1985, Fidilis SAN 110303 ( K!, L!) ; Ulu sg. Matud , 22 June 1987, Fidilis & Shawan SAN 119523 ( K!, KEP!) ; Labuk / Sugut , Sg. Kiboriki, 8 July 1983, Gibot SAN 97599 ( K!, L!) ; Nabawan, Labou F. Res. [4°19’N 117°55’E], 22 May 1992, Mantor SAN 129985 ( K!, KEP!) ; Ranau, About 2 miles NW of Kampung Pinawantai [5°53’45’’N 116°29’45’’E], 2,000 ft [600 m], 7 May 1973, Shea & Aban SAN 76781 ( K!, L!) ; Sandakan, Mile 110 Telupid Ranau Road, 300 ft [100 m], 15 August 1978, Madani SAN 89207, ( K!, KEP!, L!) ; Sepilok Forest Reserve [5°6’N 117°56’E], 400 ft [100 m], 23 November 1956, Agama & Kapis bin Sisiron SAN 17263 ( K!, KEP!, L!) ; Ulu Sungai Kun-Kun [5°31’N 117°11’E], 13 December 1984, Madani et al. SAN 107609 ( K!, L!) ; Sungai Kun Kun , 13 June 1983, Gibot SAN 97124 (L!) ; Tengkulap Forest Reserve , 1 December 1985, Suin & Matin SAN 111752 ( K!, L!) ; Tawau, Beradaya Road [4°17’N 118°1’E], 20 December 1963, Gibot SAN 33004 ( K!, L!) ; Chain 31. Jalan Bambangan, Tg. F.R., 150 ft [50 m], 5 June 1964, Pereira 43730 ( K!,L!) ; Mile 27 Sepulot Road, Luasong , 17 July 1979, Krispinus SAN 89847 ( K!, KEP!, L!) ; Telupid, Bukit Tangkunan Forest Reserve , 400 m, 6 June 1992, Meijer & Madani SAN 131866 (GH!) ; Bukit Tawai Keramuak , 14 March 1985, Sundaling & Tuyok SAN 108441 ( K!, KEP!, L!) ; Tongod, Sg. Binalik, Keramuak , 13 June 1983, Sundaling SAN 96977 ( K!, KEP!, L!) ; Sg. Binalik, Keramuak, 400 m, 13 June 1983, Sundaling SAN 96989 ( K!, KEP!, L!). Sarawak: 2nd Division , Simanggang , Bayai [1°7’45’’N 111°30’45’’E], 9 December 1985, Paie & Munting S. 51514 ( K!, KEP!, L!) ; 3rd Division, Kapit, Bkt. Raya [2°9’30’’N 113°7’E], 700 ft [200 m], 21 October 1965, Au S.23925 (GH!, K!, KEP!, L!) ; 7th Division Kapit, Menyiong, Bukit Pendam, 1300 m, 22 November 1979, Ismawi et al. S. 41555 ( K!, L!) ; Menyiong , Ulu Balleh [1°56’30’’N 112°17’45’’E], 500 m, 7 November 1979, Ismawi 41286 ( K!, KEP!, L!) ; Kuching, Santubong [1°44’N 110°20’E], 25 December 1957, Paie 8964 ( K!, L!) ; Sabal Forest Reserve, 90 km Kuching / Sri Aman Road [1°0’N 110°53’E], 14 September 1994, Yii Puan Ching et al. S. 67570 ( KEP!) . SINGAPORE. About 1/2 ml. S.W. of R.A.F. Yacht Club Building, Namazie Estate [1°25’N 103°42’E], 25 April 1953, Sinclair Singapore Field No. 39591 (E!, L!) ; North side of MacRitchie Reservoir Singapore [1°20’45”N 103°49’15”E], 12 November 1951, Sinclair Singapore Field No. 39428 (E!, L!) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Ventilago ferruginea. A habit. B detail of leaf base, abaxial view. C fruit. D detail of fruit base showing indumentum. E inflorescence branch. F detail of distal portion of inflorescence branch showing flower buds. G flower. H flower, longitudinal section. I petal, abaxial view. Scale bar:A, E = 3 cm; B = 5 mm; C = 1.5 cm; D, F = 4 mm; G, H = 1.6 mm; I = 1 mm. A–D from Fedilis Krispinus SAN 94823; E from Madani et al. 107609; F–I from Au S. 23925. DRAWN BY LUCY T. SMITH.

FIGURE 4. Distribution of Ventilago ferruginea (●) and V. flavovirens (■).