Dendrophthora coronata Canelon , S.M. Nino , Dorr & Caraballo, 2020

Canelon, Daniela S., Nino, Santos M., Dorr, Laurence J. & Caraballo-Ortiz, Marcos A., 2020, Two new species of Dendrophthora (Viscaceae) from the Venezuelan Andes, PhytoKeys 140, pp. 1-10 : 1

2. Dendrophthora coronata Canelon, S.M. Nino, Dorr & Caraballo sp. nov. Figure 4

Type.

Venezuela. Trujillo: Municipio Boconó, Parque Nacional Guaramacal, trail from antennas on the summit of Páramo de Guaramacal, NE to Fila Los Recostaderos [sic, Recortaderos] (UTM: 19 369344E, 1023140N) [9.253891N, - 70.189471W], páramo and subpáramo vegetation, 2677-3100 m, 14 June 2001, L.J. Dorr 8988 with S.M. Niño & R. Caracas (holotype: US-00662772!; isotype: PORT).

Diagnosis.

Dendrophthora coronata is distinguished from congeners by its stems and young branches with longitudinal parallel striations; coroniform trichomes (i.e., papillae crowned by 2-6 minute, simple hairs) covering the entire plant; small, ca. 0.5 × 1 mm cataphylls present at all nodes and sometimes found 1-2 cm above nodes on older branches; petioles 0.5-1 mm long, leaf blades 1-1.5 × 1-1.2 cm, apex rounded and margin slightly crenulate and papillose; uniseriate inflorescences with 5-9 flowers per series; and fruits globose-compressed, 2-3 × 2 mm when mature, white.

Description.

Aerial parasitic shrubs, monoecious; yellow-orange when fresh, drying blackish or dark green. Stems woody, with multiple branches, 30-45 cm long, terete, surface coarse with parallel striations, with a dense layer of coroniform trichomes covering the entire plant; mature nodes separated by 2-3.5 cm long intervals, dichotomous; cataphylls 0.5-1 mm long at nodes, found 1-2 cm above nodes as branches became older. Leaves opposite, coriaceous; petioles flattened, 0.5-2 mm long; blades orbicular to elliptic, 1-1.5 × 1-1.2 cm, base slightly cuneate, apex rounded, margin indistinctly crenulate and papillose, surface rough on both sides, veins obscure in dry leaves (Fig. 4 ). Inflorescences completely pistillate within a branch, occasionally with staminate flowers at the base of the inflorescence (completely staminate inflorescences not seen); 1 per leaf axil, 1-3 fertile segments, each 4-10 mm long, uniseriate, greenish when dry; peduncles simple, 6-9 mm long, cup subtending inflorescence 1-1.5 × 3-3.5 mm, almost always forked with a papillate apical edge. Flowers 3-9 per segment, 1-1.4 × 0.7-1 mm. Fruits globose-compressed, 2-3 × 2 mm, ripening white- or purplish-translucent, surface granulose, tip protruding and crowned with persistent petals.

Distribution and habitat.

This species has been found in the transition between cloud forest and subpáramo in Guaramcal. This vegetation is influenced by multiple factors including high rainfall (3200+ mm/year), elevation above sea level (2400-3100 m), as well as relative humidity (100% for most of the year) ( Cuello and Cleef 2011). Dendrophthora coronata is found in these Andean/high Andean forests characterized by woody vegetation of low stature with numerous individual shrubs and small trees, and a thin understory with a carpet of thick leaf litter. The canopy can reach between 6-14 m tall, with some emerging trees that reach 16 m, among them: Ilex guaramacalensis Cuello & Aymard ( Aquifoliaceae ), Miconia jahnii Pittier ( Melastomataceae ), Myrsine dependens (Ruiz & Pav.) Spreng. ( Primulaceae ), and Symplocos tamana Steyerm. ( Symplocaceae ) ( Cuello and Cleef 2011).

Phenology.

As with most other species of tropical mistletoe, Dendrophthora coronata can be observed bearing flowers and fruits throughout the year. Its white fleshy fruits seem to be an important food source for forest birds.

Etymology.

The species name is derived from the coroniform trichomes (i.e., papillae crowned by 2-6 minute, simple hairs) that cover the entire plant and that resemble small crowns.

Discussion.

At first sight, Dendrophthora coronata resembles D. apiculata and D. lindeniana . However, D. coronata can be readily recognized by its marked parallel striations along the stems, small, 0.5-1 mm long basal cataphylls, which sometimes are found 1-2 cm above nodes in old branches, and its dense layer of predominantly coroniform trichomes that cover the entire plant. In contrast, D. apiculata and D. lindeniana have stems sparsely covered by simple trichomes and lack basal cataphylls (or rarely have a few very small, 0.5 mm long cataphylls and then always at the nodes) (Table 1 ).

Additional specimens examined.

Venezuela. Trujillo: Municipio Boconó, Sector El Campamento, UTM: 19 368148 E, 1022056 N [9.244052N, - 70.200324W], 2600, 13 Apr. 2019, S. Niño & D. Canelón 6111 (US); Parque Nacional Guaramacal, sector Vertiente Sur, carretera al caserío Guaramacal, 2000-2750 m, Dec. 1996, B. Stergios & A. Licata 16813 (US-00656274).

Figures

Figure 4. Dendrophthora coronata. A Leaf and terminal inflorescences B Cataphylls at the base of a node C Coroniform trichomes D Complete pistillate inflorescence E-G Segments of a pistillate inflorescence H, I Flowers with vestigial anthers J-L Mature fruits. (Source: Dorr et al. 8988, US).