Chassalia longipes T.Y.Yu, 2021

Yu, Tian Yi, Turner, Ian M. & Cheek, Martin, 2021, Revision of Chassalia (Rubiaceae-Rubioideae-Palicoureeae) in Borneo, with 14 new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 738, pp. 1-60 : 37-40

Chassalia longipes T.Y.Yu sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77215410-1

Figs 20–21

Diagnosis

Differs from all other species of Chassalia in having a peduncle up to 10 cm long and inflorescence usually longer than the longest leaf; in the inflorescence usually having 3 branches with each branch bearing a single capitulum.

Etymology

The chosen epithet reflects the relatively long peduncle, rachis and branches of inflorescence.

Type

MALAYSIA – Borneo, Sabah • Ranau District, Mount Kinabalu, Summit Trail at Pondok Ubah ; 6°03′ N, 116°33′ E; alt. 2100 m; 9 May 1995; Teofila E. Beaman 275; holotype: K [ K001129716 ] !.

Additional material

MALAYSIA – Borneo, Sabah • Penampang, Sunsuron, Path to kg. Longkogungan , Km 51; SAN 121756 ; K ! • Ranau, Kinabalu National Park ; 5°59′65″ N, 116°31′82″ E; alt. 1971 m; SAN 148497 ; K ! • Ranau district, East Mesilau River near Mesilau Cave ; 6°03′ N, 116°36′ W; alt. 1700–1950 m; John H. Beaman 10681; K !.

Description

Shrub, 1 m tall, glabrous. Stems terete. Internodes of the flowering branch (1.5–)2–4.5(–6.5) cm × 2–3 mm, flowering internode usually reduced, 0.5–1.7 cm long. Leaf-blades narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, sometimes narrowly rhombic, (6–)8–12.5(–13.5) × 2.2–3.8 cm, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate, acumen 5–10 mm long; base cuneate; midrib slightly raised above, domatia absent; secondary nerves 6–9 on each side of the midrib, prominent above; tertiary nerves not visible. Petiole flattened, canaliculate, (3–)8–15 × 1 mm. Stipule not sheathing, oblong-elliptic, 3–7 × 4–6 mm. Inflorescences compound cymose, 11.5–16 cm long; peduncle terete, 4.5–8.5(–10) cm long; partial peduncle 2–7 cm long; central partial peduncle sometimes with rachis and tertiary branches, rachis 6 cm long; tertiary branches of rachis cymose, 1–1.3 cm long; bract of tertiary branches 8–10 × 4 mm. Bracts of peduncle and partial peduncle 2, opposite, sheathing at base, sheath 1–3 mm, apex triangular to ensiform, 6–10 × 0.5–2.5 mm, slightly denticulate at apex with 3–6 teeth on each side or entire, teeth 0.2 mm long. Bracts of each capitulum 6–10, outer bracts ovate to elliptic, 5–6 × 2–3 mm, inner bracts smaller, elliptic to lanceolate, 5–6 × 0.8–1 mm. Flowers capitate, sessile in terminal clusters, pedicel absent. Hypanthium obovoid, glabrous, 2–3 mm long; calyx 5-lobed with each lobe broadly triangular, 0.5 × 1 mm. Corolla cream white, tube 7–8 mm long, broadening from midway to top, lower part 1.5 mm wide, apex 5 mm wide; lobes triangular, 3.5–4 × 3–4 mm, apex acute or apiculate. Fruits shimmering blue, ellipsoid, (1–)7–9 on each capitulum, 7–8 × 4–6 mm. Disc 0.5 × 1 mm. Pyrenes plano-convex, dorsal surface convex, with two adjacent parallel longitudinal crests, each 0.5 × 0.2–0.3 mm, curved, slightly grooved longitudinally from apex to base between the two crests; ventral surface concave, centrally slightly elevated, margin with an endocarpal outgrowth 0.2 mm wide. Raphal opening at base of the endocarpal outgrowth, round, 0.1 mm long, 0.5 mm from the edge of the pyrene wall, apex with a bony spine, spine triangular, erect, 0.8 × 0.1 mm. PGS not detected. Seed brown, hemi-ellipsoid, slightly crested at central part of dorsal side, 4 × 1 mm, endosperm not detected.

Distribution, habitat

Borneo: Malaysia, Sabah, Ranau; Mount Kinabalu; Penampang. Lower montane forest, alt. 1970 – 2100 m.

Figures

Fig. 20. Chassalia longipes T.Y.Yu sp. nov. A. Flowering shoot. B. Capitulum. C. Dry fruit. D. Pyrene ventral surface. A, C–D from Teofila E. Beaman 275; B from John H. Beaman 10681. Drawn by T.Y. Yu.

Fig. 21. Holotype of Chassalia longipes T.Y.Yu sp. nov. (Teofila E. Beaman 275).