Ceratozamia zaragozae Medellin-Leal . Brittonia 15: 175-176. 1963.

Martinez-Dominguez, Lili, Nicolalde-Morejon, Fernando, Vergara-Silva, Francisco & Stevenson, Dennis Wm., 2018, Taxonomic review of Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae) in the Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico, PhytoKeys 100, pp. 91-124 : 112-114

14. Ceratozamia zaragozae Medellin-Leal. Brittonia 15: 175-176. 1963. Figures 4B , 5C

Type.

MEXICO. San Luis Potosí: Rio Verde , 22 Jul. 1962. F. Medellín-Leal 1452 (holotype: SLPM; isotypes: ENCB, MICH, US).

Description.

Stem semihypogeous, erect, 10-20 cm in length, 10-15 cm in diameter. Cataphylls persistent, densely tomentose at emergence, reddish-brown and partially tomentose at maturity, triangular, apex acuminate, 1.8-2.5 × 1-2 cm at base. Leaves 3-27, ascending, 95-202 cm, reddish-brown at emergence with whitish-grey pubescence, glabrous at maturity. Petiole terete, twisted, 11-36 cm, unarmed, green in adult leaves. Rachis terete, twisted, 40-77 cm, unarmed, green in adult leaves. Leaflets 25-46, linear, mostly planar, basally falcate, membranaceous, strongly caniculate, opposite to subopposite, plane, green, adaxial and abaxial side glabrous, acute apex, symmetric apex, attenuate at base, with conspicuous and light green veins; median leaflets 17-31.5 × 0.4-0.7 cm, 0.8-2.3 cm between leaflets; articulations yellow, 0.2-0.3 cm wide. Polliniferous strobilus solitary, cylindrical, erect, 15-19 cm in length, 2-3.5 cm in diameter, greenish with reddish-brown pubescence at emergence, reddish-brown at maturity; peduncle tomentose, reddish-brown to brown, 5-8 cm in length, 1.5-1.8 cm in diameter; microsporophylls 0.8-1.2 × 0.3-0.6 cm, non-recurved distal face. Ovuliferous strobilus solitary, cylindrical, erect, 8.2-12 cm in length, 5.8-7 cm in diameter, green with scarcely reddish-brown trichomes at emergence, dark green at maturity, acute apex; peduncle tomentose, brown, 6-9 cm in length, 0.9-1.2 cm in diameter; megasporophylls 24-49, 2.2-3.7 × 2-2.6 cm, truncate distal face, obtuse angle between horns. Seeds ovoid, sarcotesta light brown at maturity, 2-2.8 cm in length, 1.8-2 cm in diameter.

Distribution and habitat.

Endemic to Mexico in a small mountain range in South Central San Luis Potosí at 1,500-1,800 m elevation (Fig. 9 ). The vegetation type of the habitat is pine-oak forest.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is refers to General Ignacio Zaragoza, a hero of the Battle of Puebla (May 1862) against the French Army.

Distinguishing features.

This species is distinguished by having petiole and rachis unarmed and twisted. Leaflets are lanceolate, mostly planar, not basally falcate, membranaceous and caniculate, with symmetric apex.

Specimens examined.

MEXICO. San Luis Potosí: Río Verde, A. G. Mendoza & L. Vargas 1389 (MEXU), A. P. Vovides 435 (XAL), E. Molseed 34 (MEXU), F. Nicolalde-Morejón et al. 2307-2319 (CIB), L. Martínez-Domínguez et al. 792-808 (CIB), T. Walters et al. TW-2001-07 (MEXU, XAL).

Figures

Figure 4. Types of leaves and leaflets. A Linear petiole and rachis with clustered leaflets B Twisted petioles and rachis, with opposite to subopposite leaflets.

Figure 5. Shapes of ovuliferous strobili. A Ceratozamia latifolia B C. decumbens C C. zaragozae.

Figure 9. Distribution map of Ceratozamia sabatoi, C. latifolia, C. zaragozae, C. kuesteriana, C. hildae, C. fuscoviridis and C. chamberlainii.