Pholidostachys sanluisensis Henderson, 2012

Henderson, Andrew, 2012, A revision of Pholidostachys (Arecaceae), Phytotaxa 43, pp. 1-48 : 15-16

6. Pholidostachys sanluisensis Henderson , sp. nov. (Appendix IV, Plates 15–23)

It differs from other species in its compressed fruits, obovoid in lateral view with an asymmetric base, ellipsoid in frontal view, with a pronounced meridional ridge.

Type:— COLOMBIA. Antioquia: Municipio San Luis, Vereda Manizales , 12 km de San Luis en la via San Luis-San Carlos , a lo largo del río Dormilón , 1440 m, 26 June 1987, R. Callejas, H. Correa, J. Betancur & A. Arbelaez 4274 (holotype HUA n.v., isotype NY!) .

Stems 3.1(2.0–5.0) m long, 4 cm diameter, solitary. Leaves 11(9–15) per stem; sheaths 50 cm long; petioles 93.5(87.0–100.0) cm long; rachises 92 cm long, 9.5(7.6–11.9) mm diameter; pinnae 9(7–12) per side of rachis; basal pinna 39 cm long, 1.4(1.0–2.0) cm wide, forming an angle of 74(57–85)° with the rachis; apical pinna 30.5 cm long, 12.8(6.0–19.3) cm wide, forming an angle of 13(9–20)° with the rachis. Inflorescences branched 1 order, with a welldeveloped peduncle, short rachis, and several rachillae, these erect at anthesis; prophylls and peduncular bracts fibrous, covering all or part of the rachillae at anthesis; prophylls length no data; peduncular bracts 41.4 cm long, inserted 7.0(4.5–11.5) cm above the prophyll; peduncles 18.0(13.5– 26.0) cm long, 8.3(7.6–9.2) mm diameter; rachillae 4, 36.4(26.0–43.5) cm long, 7.9(6.7–8.8) mm diameter; proximal lips of flower pits irregularly shaped, often acute or acuminate, completely covering pits before anthesis; fruits compressed, obovoid in lateral view with an asymmetric base, ellipsoid in frontal view, with a pronounced meridional ridge, 19.8(19.6–19.9) mm long, 10.3(9.8–10.7) mm diameter.

Distribution and habitat. From 5°57’– 6°08’N and 74°51’– 75°10’W in Colombia (Antioquia) on the Cordillera Central at 1004(700–1440) m elevation in lowland or montane rainforest ( Fig. 6 ).

Taxonomic notes. Specimens of Pholidostachys sanluisensis have been determined as P. dactyloides . They differ from that species in their fruits that are compressed, obovoid in lateral view with an asymmetric base, ellipsoid in frontal view, with a pronounced meridional ridge ( Fig. 4E ) (versus fruits that are scarcely compressed, obovoid, with an obscure longitudinal ridge in P. dactyloides , Fig. 4A ). Fruits of P. sanluisensis are also larger—19.8(19.6–19.9) mm long and 10.3(9.8–10.7) mm diameter versus 9.0(6.0–16.5) mm long and 6.8(5.1–12.9) mm diameter in P. dactyloides .

Subspecific variation. There is no geographic discontinuity and only a few specimens are known.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A. Fruits of Pholidostachys dactyloides (Dodson 14491). B. Fruits of P. occidentalis (Balslev 60678). C. Fruits of P. panamensis (Liesner 1255). D. Fruits of P. pulchra (de Nevers 4285). E. Fruits of P. sanluisensis (Juncosa 726). F. Fruits of P. synanthera subsp. synanthera (Couvreur 119). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURE 6. Distribution maps of Pholidostachys pulchra, P. sanluisensis, P. synanthera subsp. synanthera, and P. synanthera subsp. robusta.