Polylepis fjeldsaoi T.Boza & M.Kessler, 2022

Boza Espinoza, Tatiana Erika & Kessler, Michael, 2022, A monograph of the genus Polylepis (Rosaceae), PhytoKeys 203, pp. 1-274 : 1

40. Polylepis fjeldsaoi T.Boza & M.Kessler sp. nov.

Figs 104 , 105

Diagnosis.

This species differs from Polylepis tomentella Wedd. in having broader leaflets (0.6-0.7 cm vs. 0.3-0.6 cm) with crenate margins (vs. serrate) and a lower number of stamens per flower ((9-)11-17 vs. 19-23).

Type.

Peru. Ayacucho, Lucanas, Puquio, Queronta , l 4°34'33"S, 74°04'57"W, 3879 m, 1 Jul 2015, Boza & Urquiaga 3107 (holotype: USM!; isotypes: Z!) .

Description.

Trees to 2-10 m tall. Leaves slightly congested at the branch tips, imparipinnate with 2 pairs of leaflets, obtrullate in outline, 2.8-3.4 × 1.6-2.8 cm; rachises sparsely tomentose, points of leaflet attachment with a tuft of long hairs; stipular sheaths apically truncate, glabrescent on the outer surfaces; leaflets obovate in outline, second pair from the terminal leaflet the largest, one of this pair 1.2-2.1 × 0.6-0.7 cm; margin crenate with 5-10 teeth, apically obtuse to emarginate, basally unequally attenuate; upper leaflet surfaces glabrous to sparsely tomentose on mid-vein depression; lower leaflet surfaces with a dense layer of very short, white or yellowish pannose hairs. Inflorescences pendant, 3.4-6.8 cm long, bearing 3-5 flowers; floral bracts 3.9-6.2 mm long, narrowly triangular, sparsely villous on the outer surface; rachises sparsely villous. Flowers 6.8-7.0 mm diam.; sepals 3, ovate, green, glabrous or sparsely villous outside; stamens (9-)11-17, anthers orbicular, with a dense tuft of straight white hairs on the upper half; styles fimbriate, 2.4-3.3 mm long. Fruits turbinate, with 3-4 irregular flattened ridges with a series of spines, densely villous; 4.2-5.4 × 2.7-5.0 mm including spines. Diploid.

Distribution, habitat and ecology.

Polylepis fjeldsaoi occurs in south-central Peru from southern Ayacucho to northern Caraveli (Arequipa) (Fig. 116 ). The species occurs in dry Andean habitats at 3300-4800 m elevation. It usually occurs in homogeneous stands.

Etymology.

We name the species in honor of Jon Fjeldså (1942-), professor and chief curator at the Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), in recognition of his pivotal contributions to the knowledge of the avifauna and biodiversity of Polylepis forests ( Fjeldså 1987, 2002a, 2002b; Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990; Fjeldså and Kessler 1996; Fjeldså et al. 1999).

Conservation status.

The EOO for Polylepis fjeldsaoi is estimated as 51,627 km2, the AOO is assessed at 76 km2 and it is known from 17 locations. The species is largely unprotected, except for the Pampa Galeras National Park which includes a few small stands. We assess P. fjeldsaoi as Vunerable (B1a+B2a, C2a).

Notes.

The population of Polylepis from southern Ayacucho (Peru) has been previously identified as P. tomentella ( Mendoza and Cano 2012). Simpson (1979) already reported some specimens from eastern Peru as possible hybrids between P. tomentella and P. besseri with crenate leaflets like P. tomentella , having the characteristic of densely pannose hairs of P. besseri . Indeed, P. fjeldsaoi resembles P. tomentella in having just one lateral leaflet pair, same leaflet shape and same type and density of lower leaflet hairs. However, it has broader leaflets (0.6-0.7 cm wide vs. 0.3-0.6 mm), crenate leaflet margins (vs. serrate), and fewer stamens ((9-)11-17 per flower vs. 19-23). Additionally, on present knowledge, P. fjeldsaoi is diploid, whereas P. tomentella is tetraploid. Furthermore, P. fjeldsaoi occurs in southern Peru, whereas P. tomentella is distributed from Bolivia to Argentina. Ecologically, P. fjeldsaoi grows under more humid conditions than P. tomentella , albeit with considerable overlap. Polylepis fjeldsaoi is also similar to P. besseri , with which it shares similar obovate leaflets with obtuse to emarginate apices and crenate margins. It differs from this species by its larger leaflets (1.2-2.1 × 0.6-0.7 cm vs. 1.4-1.6 × 0.6-1.1 cm), lower leaflet surfaces pannose (vs. pannose mixed with tomentose hairs 0.6-0.8 mm long) and inflorescences with fewer flowers (3-5 vs. 7-9).

Specimens examined.

Peru. Apurimac: Cotabambas, Tambobamba, Markarakay , 13°55'11"S, 072°10'41"W, 4120 m, 14 January 2020, Paco s.n (CUZ!) . Arequipa: Caraveli, Cerca de Cahuacho , 15°27'32"S, 073°25'08"W, 4100-4300 m, 03 March 2002, La Torre 3345 (USM!) . Ayacucho: Huamanga, Hatumpampa-Vinchos, a la margen derecha del rio Vinchos , en el km 270-281 de la carretera Liberadores , 13°20'55"S, 074°27'28"W, 3100-3600 m, 29 September 2003, Mendoza 991 (MO!). Leoncio Prado, Señal Cerro Palmaderes, near Pampa Galeras, between Nazca and Puquio, 14°40'S, 074°29'W, 3900 m, 11 March 1987, Boertmann 103; 104 (AAU!); Señal Cerro Palmaderas ca. 80 km above Nazca on road to Puquio , 14°40'S, 074°29'W, 3900 m, 11 March 1987, Brandbyge 280 (AAU!); arriba del Puerto Toro Muerto km 77-78 Carretera Nazca Puquio , 14°41'23"S, 074°30'36"W, 3500-3520 m, 23 February 2002, Cano 11877 (USM!); carretera a Minas Canarias aprox. km 15, 14°35'06"S, 074°25'08"W, 3800-3950 m, 23 February 2002, Cano 11885 (USM!). Lucanas , Puquio , Queronta, 14°34'33"S, 074°04'57"W, 3879 m, 01 July 2015, Boza 3037; 3107; 3108; 3109; 3110; 3111; 3112; 3113; 3114; 3115; 3116; 3117 (USM!, Z!); near hacienda Pachan about 7 km W of Lucanas on Nazca-Puquio road, 14°36'S, 074°17'W, 3600 m, 12 March 1987, Brandbyge 304 (AAU!); Puquio ; 13 km de Puquio , 14°46'39"S, 074°01'04"W, 4075 m, 27 February 2002, La Torre 3234 (USM!); Queronta, muy proximo a los baños termales de Bañochayoc, 14°35'S, 074°05'W, 3800-4000 m, 11 October 2003, Mendoza 1017; 1018; 1019 (MO!); Reserva Nacional de Pampas Galeras. 563821/ 8374913, 3960 m, 25 April 2012, Morales 4124 (USM!); Pampa Galeras, Chuquijara, a 4 km S. del Campamento, 4100 m, 08 April 1970, Tovar 6755 (USM!); Pampa Galeras, 4000-4100 m, 02 December 1970, Tovar 6801 (USM!); subiendo galeras, 01 July 2004, Vargas 407 (USM!). Parinacochas, Incuyo, en las faldas del Volcán Sarasara, 15°20'S, 073°26'W, 3800-4000 m, 14 October 2003, Mendoza 1029; 1032; 1039 (MO!); alrededor de la laguna de Ccaccapaqui, 12°00'S, 075°58'W, 3800-4000 m, 16 October 2003, Mendoza 1050; 1056; 1057 (MO!). Puquio , Pampa Orccopa lakes E of Puquio Huachana SW of Yaurihuiri, 14°38'S, 073°57'W, 4300 m, 01 March 1987, Boertmann 108 (AAU!); Pampa Orccopa Huachana SW of Yaurihuiri lakes E. of Puquio , 14°38'S, 073°57'W, 4300 m, 12 March 1987, Boertmann 109 (AAU!); Laguna Yaurihuiri , about 205 km from Nazca on the road to Abancay, 14°38'S, 073°57'W, 4300 m, 13 March 1987, Brandbyge 315 (AAU!), 1839-1840, Gay s.n (USM!) .

Figures

Figure 104. Polylepis fjeldsaoi T. Boza & M. Kessler A flowering branch B leaves C stipule sheaths D habit E upper leaf surface F lower leaf surface (B-F Boza & Urquiaga 3037). Scale bars: 5 mm (A); 1 cm (B, C, E, F). Photographs A J. Chambi B-F E. G. Urquiaga F.

Figure 105. Polylepis fjeldsaoi T. Boza & M. Kessler A flowering branch B stipular sheaths C upper leaf surface D lower leaf surface E fruit (A, C La Torre 3234 B Vargas 107 D, E Weigend 97 / 678). Scale bars: 2 cm (A-D); 3 mm (E). Photographs by T. E. Boza E.

Figure 116. Geographical distribution of the species of subsection Polylepis Incanaee Incanaee.