Drypetes asymmetricarpa G. A. Levin, 2013

Levin, Geoffrey A., 2013, A synopsis of the New World species of Drypetes section Drypetes (Putranjivaceae) with asymmetrical fruits, including description of a new species, PhytoKeys 29, pp. 75-87 : 81-82

2. Drypetes asymmetricarpa G. A. Levin sp. nov. Figure 1

Diagnosis.

Differs from the other New World Drypetes species withasymmetrical fruits by its longer fruiting pedicels [(8-)10-15 mm vs. 4-10 mm]; also differs from Drypetes alba by its larger fruits [12-18 mm vs. 9-10(-13) mm], and from Drypetes gentryi by having shorter staminate pedicels (5-8 mm vs. 7-14 mm) and stigmas borne on styles (vs. being sessile).

Type.

Costa Rica. Puntarenas: Cove at NE base of peninsula, Punta Quepos (3 km S of Puerto Quepos), 9°24'N, 84°10'W, 0 m, 8 Mar 1986 (fr), M. H. Grayum 6614 (holotype: MO, isotypes: CR n.v., F).

Description.

Trees 6-20 m, to 35 cm dbh; bark with longitudinal fissures; branches brown when young, becoming gray, glabrous or sparsely minutely puberulent with spreading hairs. Leaves: stipules 0.5 × 0.5 mm, deltate, puberulent; petiole 3-10 × 0.3-1 mm, glabrous; blade elliptic to lanceolate, straight or somewhat curved, 4-12 × 1.5-4.5 cm, base asymmetrical, acute, margins entire or minutely crenulate-serrulate, often undulate, apex attenuate, surfaces glabrous, 2° veins 6-9/side. Inflorescences axillary fascicles; staminate 25-40-flowered, bracts 0.5 mm, puberulent, pedicels 5-8 × 0.2 mm, glabrous; pistillate (known only in fruit) 2-6-flowered, bracts 0.25 × 0.25 mm, deltate, puberulent, pedicels (8-)10-15 × 0.4-0.8 mm, glabrous. Staminate flowers: sepals 5-6, narrowly triangular to narrowly lanceolate, 1 × 0.3 mm, spreading and slightly incurved at apex, apex acute, margins ciliate, abaxial surface glabrous except puberulent at apex, adaxial surface densely to sparsely puberulent; stamens 5(-6), irregularly alternate and opposite sepals, filaments 1.5-2 mm × 0.1 mm, glabrous, anthers 0.4-0.5 × 0.4-0.5 mm, glabrous, latrorse; disc lobed between stamens, densely puberulent. Pistillate flowers unknown, but remnant sepals (below fruits) ovate-elliptic, 1.5 × 0.6 mm, apex acute and slightly incurved, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface densely puberulent; disc annular, densely puberulent; ovary unknown; style becoming subapical during fruit development, 0.5 mm; stigma subreniform, 0.5 × 1 mm, glabrous. Drupes (immature) green, 1-carpellate, ovoid-globose, 12-18 × 7-10 × 6-8 mm, apex strongly asymmetrical, sparsely to densely puberulent with very short hairs (0.1 mm). Seed 1.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the strongly asymmetrical drupes, which are unique among Central American Drypetes .

Distribution.

Known only from Costa Rica, where it is found from the north central part of the country to the central west coast. It may also be expected in extreme southern Nicaragua.

Ecology.

Forests at elevations from sea level to 750 m.

Phenology.

Flowering January (possibly longer, but only a single flowering specimen known). Fruiting March to June (possibly longer as only immature fruits are known).

Conservation status.

Probably of Least Concern. The range of Drypetes asymmetricarpa spans at least 200 km. Although its habitat is highly fragmented, the species is found in Manuel Antonio National Park and near both Guanacaste and Rincón de la Vieja national parks.

Discussion.

Drypetes asymmetricarpa was listed by Burger and Huft (1995) as Drypetes sp. aff. Drypetes alba and by González (2010) as Drypetes sp. 1 and sp. 2.

All the pistillate specimens studied have immature fruits, so their full size and color at maturity are unknown. The label on Hammel & Trainer 17046, with fruits 9-11 × 7-8 × 6-7 mm, says "fruits ca. 1/3 full size," but based on my experience with other species I suspect this overestimates the mature size.

Specimens examined.

COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Cantón de Upala, Distrito Dos Ríos, 7.5 km NE of town, between La Jabalina and the Río Cucaracho, 10°56'N, 85°19'W, 325 m, 4 Apr 1988 (fr), Herrera 1693 (F, ILLS, MO); Puntarenas: Cantón de Puntarenas, Distrito Monteverde, San Luis, finca de Chepe Rojas, al oeste del pueblo, 10°16'N, 84°50'W, 750 m, 24 Jun 1988 (fr), Bello et al. 35 (F, ILLS, MO), Bello et al. 58 (F, ILLS, MO); Monteverde area from Santa Elena to San Luis, 10°16'N, 84°50'W, 700 m, 16 Jun 1988 (fr), Hammel & Trainer 17046 (F, ILLS, MO); Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Playa Espadilla Sur. 9°24'N, 84°10'W, 1-100 m. 2 Jan 1990 (♂ fl), Harmon 41 (MO).

Figures

Figure 1. Drypetes asymmetricarpa. A Fruiting branch (detail of venation) B Immature fruit C Staminate inflorescence D Staminate flower. (A-B from Grayum 6614, MO; C-D from Harmon 41, MO).