Huberantha asymmetrica I.M.Turner & Utteridge, 2017

Turner, Ian M. & Utteridge, Timothy M. A., 2017, Annonaceae in the Western Pacific: geographic patterns and four new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 339, pp. 1-44 : 9-12

Huberantha asymmetrica I.M.Turner & Utteridge sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77164168-1

Figs 5–6

Diagnosis

There are three species of Huberantha in Papuasia and the Pacific that exhibit similar tomentose twigs to the material from the Solomons. The poorly known Huberantha hirta (Miq.) Chaowasku and Huberantha trichoneura (Diels) Chaowasku from New Guinea differ in leaf shape ( Huberantha hirta : symmetrical, oblong-ovate; Huberantha trichoneura : symmetrical, oblanceolate with an acute base vs asymmetrical, typically lanceolate with base rounded to obtuse in Huberantha asymmetrica sp. nov.) and in having more or less globose fruits vs conical to ellipsoidal in Huberantha asymmetrica sp. nov. Huberantha loriformis (Gillespie) Chaowasku from Fiji, is distinctly hairier than Huberantha asymmetrica sp. nov. with dense tomentum on the lower lamina and often hairs on the upper lamina giving a soft furry feel below and a scabrid one above. The hairs on the flower pedicels and calyx are longer and denser, and the petals are more distinctly lanceolate with long acute apex in Huberantha loriformis compared to Huberantha asymmetrica sp. nov. The stipes of the monocarps in Huberantha loriformis are shorter (3–5 mm vs 5–15 mm) but thicker (2 mm vs 1 mm).

Etymology

The chosen epithet reflects the asymmetical leaves.

Type

SOLOMON ISLANDS: San Cristobal, South West San Cristobal , Onebia , ridge top, 200’ a.s.l., 21 Nov. 1968, P. Runikera et al. BSIP 12719 (holo-: K).

Additional specimens examined

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Kolombangara Island, north of Bamberi River, ridge top 50’ a.s.l., 21 Dec. 1967, I. H. Gafui et al. BSIP 8580 ( K); New Georgia, N. W. New Georgia, 8°15' S, 157°15' E, Kibukibu River, hillside 120’ a.s.l., 5 Nov. 1964, Cowmeadow's collectors BSIP 4811 ( K); Santa Ysabel, South Santa Ysabel, Jejova [Jejovo] R., 8°8'39'' S, 159°35'35'' E, ridge top, 19 Jul. 1966, Beer’s collectors BSIP 7392 ( K); Gaudalcanal, East Guadalcanal, Marau, Makina River Area, flat plain 110’ a.s.l., 13 May 1968, J. Boraule et al. BSIP 9410 ( K); East Guadalcanal, hillside 140’ a.s.l., 26 Sep. 1968, R. Mauriasi et al. BSIP 11821 ( K); North East Guadalcanal, Rere River, ca 3 miles inland, forest on low ridge, 28 Nov. 1963, T. C. Whitmore BSIP 3842 ( K); SE Guadalcanal, near Vulemba Village (Avu Avu), ridge top 850’ a.s.l., 27 May 1968, B. Sirute’e et al. BSIP 9859 ( K); South West Guadalcanal, Wanderer Bay Area, riverside 60’ a.s.l., 22 Oct. 1968, R. Mauriasi et al. BSIP 12261 ( K); South West Guadalcanal, Duidui Area, ridge top 2,000’ a.s.l., 9 Oct. 1968, R. Mauriasi et al. BSIP 12085 ( K).

Description

Tree to 12 m tall, 30 cm dbh. Twigs variably tomentose, from densely and persistently red-brown or pale brown hairy, at least on youngest parts, to sparsely so; otherwise drying brown, longitudinally striate, often with impressed lozenges. Leaves chartaceous, drying brown or grey-brown generally with midrib below appearing a darker brown, midrib flush to slightly sunken above, prominent below, lateral nerves flush to very slightly raised above, raised below; hairs, sometimes dense, on nerves and midrib below and along midrib above, sometimes scattered on lower lamina surface; lamina oblong-ovate or oblongobovate to more typically elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, 3.5–19 × 1.7–7 cm, usually asymmetric with one half slightly larger, most obvious as a lopsided base to the leaf, apex acute to more frequently acuminate, base obtuse to rounded, lateral nerves 8–14 pairs, looping distinctly well within margin, tertiary venation reticulate, distinct on both surfaces in dry leaves; petioles 3–5 mm long, 0.5–2 mm thick, sparsely to densely hairy. Inflorescences axillary, peduncle ca 1 mm long, densely red-brown hairy, apparently bearing a single flower at a time. Flowering pedicel 22–24 mm long, ca 1 mm wide, broadening distally slightly, drying dark brown or black, longitudinally striate, minutely pimpled with sparse red-brown hairs; sepals ovate-lanceolate ca 5 × 3 mm, drying dark brown or black with scattered red-brown hairs externally, glabrous within, calyx lobes distinctly separated, not touching even at base; petals linear-lanceolate, ca 3 cm long, drying black or dark brown with scattered pale hairs, inner petals slightly wider (9 vs 7 mm); stamens many, ca 1 mm long, drying pale brown, connective apex truncate, very minutely hairy or papillose; carpels many, ca 1 mm long, densely pale hairy, stigmas ca 1 mm long. Fruiting pedicel 1.5–4 cm long, 1–2 mm diameter, drying dark brown, striate, with scattered hairs, monocarps few to at least 20, rather variable in shape from conical to ellipsoidal but generally broadest near base and tapering to an acute apex, 15–18 × 5–10 mm, drying black with a few coarse wrinkles and pimples and scattered red-brown hairs, stipe 5–15 mm long, ca 1 mm wide, drying longitudinally striate with a scattering of red-brown hairs. Seeds 1.

Field notes

Bark dark brown (BSIP 4811, BSIP 8580, BSIP 9859, BSIP 11821, BSIP 12085), black (BSIP 12719), smooth (BSIP 4811, BSIP 11821, BSIP 12085, BSIP 12719); flowers yellowish white, smell (BSIP 12719), brownish pink with green centre (BSIP 11821); fruits green (BSIP 9859, BSIP 9410), light green (BSIP 7392), light green, oval, in large bunch (BSIP 12261), green, oval and pointed at the tip (BSIP 11821), greenish brown (in large umbel), oval and slightly curve (BSIP 12085), brown, banana shaped, ½” long, ⅛” diameter (BSIP 8580), green, ¼” elliptical.

Distribution and habitat

Solomon Islands ( Fig. 6 ) in lowland and hill forest, to 600 m a.s.l.

Conservation status

This new species is endemic to the Solomon Islands but is known only from 10 collections from 10 locations, with the last collection made in 1968. The EOO (excluding unsuitable habitat) is 15,600 km 2 falls within the Vulnerable criterion, and the AOO of 40 km 2 is within the Endangered criterion. Because of the number of collections (10 or less) and the amount of excessive logging in the Solomon Islands ( Katovai et al. 2015), we give Huberantha asymmetrica sp. nov. a preliminary conservation assessment of VU B1ab(iii, iv).

Figures

Fig. 5. Huberantha asymmetrica I.M.Turner & Utteridge sp. nov. A. Leafy shoot bearing fruit (leaf marked with an asterisk showing adaxial surface, rest with abaxial view). B. Leaf (adaxial view) showing distinct asymmetry. C. Flowering shoot. D. Leaf lamina abaxial midrib region showing indumentum. E. Leaf lamina adaxial midrib region showing indumentum. F. Flower viewed from below. G. Monocarp sectioned longitudinally. Scale bars: graduated single bar = 2 mm; double bar = 1 cm; graduated double bar = 5 cm. Drawn from BSIP 12085 (A in part, D, E); BSIP 9859 (A in part, G); BSIP 12719 (C); BSIP 12261 (B). Drawn by Andrew Brown.

Fig. 6. Map of the Solomon Archipelago showing the collecting localities of Huberantha asymmetrica I.M.Turner & Utteridge sp. nov.