Philodendron meridionale Buturi & Sakur., 2014

Buturi, Camila V., Temponi, Lívia G. & Sakuragui, Cassia M., 2014, A new species of Philodendron (Araceae) in Paraná, Brazil, Phytotaxa 174 (3), pp. 144-148 : 145-147

Philodendron meridionale Buturi & Sakur. , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Philodendron meridionale is similar to P. loefgrenii , from which it differs by the cordate base of the leaf blade and larger number of locules, and different from P. roseopetiolatum by possessing smaller leaves and obscure primary lateral veins.

Type:— BRAZIL. Paraná: St. Joseph of the Pines, Nhandara Guaricana Reserve , 13 October 2013, C. V . Buturi et al. 21 (holotype RB!, isotypes KEW!, MBM!, UNOP!) .

Hemiepiphyte, epiphyte, or terrestrial. Resin colourless or orange. Stem decumbent or erect, 0.5−1 m tall, 0.5−1.4 cm in diameter; internodes 0.7−7 cm, greenish gray; prophylls scars 1.6−4.1 cm; leaf scars 0.9−1.8 × 0.7−1 cm, elliptic or oval, grayish brown; intravaginal squamules absent. Leaf prophyll 15.5−22 cm, whitish pink; petiolar sheath closed, inconspicuous except when it contains the inflorescence, 2.5−3 cm; petiole 20−26 × 0.25−0.34 cm, terete to slightly canaliculated adaxially, green with vinaceous stains; blade 16−31 × 9.5−15.5 cm, narrowly oval or oval, anterior division 17−26.5 × 8.5−16.5 cm, posterior division 3.5−7 cm; apex acute to cuspidate, base cordate, midrib pale green, primary lateral veins 0−3, pale green, weakly impressed, discoloured, glossy adaxially, margin often vinaceous, carthaceous. Inflorescence: 1−2 per floral sympodium; peduncle 1.5−3 × 0.3 cm, spathe 12.2−15.5 × 2.9−3 cm, narrowly elliptic, median constriction absent, reflexed at anthesis, green with vinaceous stains, cartaceous; spadix 8−12.7 cm, male-sterile apical zone 4.6−8.2 × 3.1−4.5 cm; staminate zone 2.3−6.9 × 2.5−4.2 cm, basal sterile male zone 2.3−6.9 × 0.2−0.7 cm; pistillate zone 3.4−5.9 × 2.2−3.3 cm, partially adnated to the spathe, stipe of spadix 0.4−0.7 cm. Apical staminodes 1.7−2.2 × 0.9−1.8 mm, creamish; stamens 0.9−1.8 × 1.0− 1.7 mm, creamish, anthers with subapical dehiscence; basal staminodes 1.5−2.5 × 0.5−1.8 mm, creamish; gynoecium 1.1−2.4 × 0.3−1.6 mm, ovary 0.8−2 mm, creamish, stigma 0.3−0.4 mm, green to brown, (6–)8–13 locular, basal placentation, 3−4(–5) ovules per locule. Berries not observed.

Phenology:— Flowers from August to January.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the southern region from where the new species was discovered.

Distribution:— The species was found in different formations of the Atlantic Forest: montane and submontane ombrophilous dense forests, the Araucaria Forest, and seasonal semideciduous forest ( Roderjan et al. 2002) in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina ( Figure 3 ).

Conservation:— Philodendron meridionale occurs in different Atlantic Forest fragments, some of which are in protected areas. Due to the large geografic range, it has been categorized as “Least Concern” according to IUCN (2014). However, all records are from Paraná with the exception of one from the state of Santa Catarina. This indicates that its conservation depends mainly on the conservation of the remaining Atlantic Forests in these states.

Paratypes:— Brazil. Paraná: Curitiba, Botanical Garden, 16 October 2013, C. V. Buturi 47 (UNOPs); Matinhos , Saint-Hillaire Lange National Park , 20 October 2013, C. V. Buturi 36 (UNOPs); Paranaguá , Saint-Hillaire Lange National Park , 21 October 2013, C. V. Buturi 43 (UNOPs); Piraquara , Morro Channel , 16 October 2013, C. V. Buturi 66 (UNOPs); Piraquara , R. Goldenberg & C. V. Buturi 14, 5 October 2013 (UNOPs) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Philodendron meridionale.A. Habitat.B. Details of the inflorescence.C.Apical staminodes. D.Stamens.E.Basal staminodes. F. Ovary vertical cross-section. G. Ovary horizontal cross-section.

FIGURE 2. Philodendron meridionale.A. Habit.B.Leaf.C. Inflorescence at anthesis.D. Spadix.E.Apical sterilemale zone.F Staminodes of the apical zone. G. Fertile male zone. H. Stamens. I. Basal sterile male zone. J. Staminodes of the basal zone. K. Detailed view of the ovary showing the locules. L. Gynoecium. M. Ovules.

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Philodendron meridionale.