Timonius abanii J.Chen, 2014

Chen, Junhao, Wong, Khoon Meng, Ent, Antony Van Der & Tan, Hugh T. W., 2014, Nine new species of Timonius (Rubiaceae) from Kinabalu Park, Borneo, Phytotaxa 181 (3), pp. 138-150 : 139-141

Timonius abanii J.Chen , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1A, 1C, 1E )

Similar to Timonius mutabilis ( Korthals 1851: 212) Walpers (1852: 765) ( Figs. 1B, 1D, 1F ), but differing by the pubescence of the calyx and fruit (sparsely pale-hairy vs. densely brown-hairy), more corolla lobes in female flowers (6 or 7 vs. 4), and shorter calyx lobes in flowers (0.5–1 mm vs. 1–3 mm long) and fruits (0.5–1 mm vs. 1.5–5 mm long).

Type: — BORNEO. Sabah: Kinabalu Park, Sosopodon Forest Reserve, Jalan Atas , primary forest, 22 July 1967 (♀ plant), Aban SAN 60600 (holotype SAN; isotype L) .

Timonius cf. mutabilis in Beaman & Anderson (2004: 348), pro parte, quoad Aban 60600 et specim. al. (indicated by * in the listing below).

Tree to 18 m tall; trunk to 60 cm dbh; bark brown to black. Stipules triangular to lanceolate, with two lateral ridges converging at the apex, imbricate. Leaves opposite; petioles 0.2–2.1 cm long, 1–2 mm in diam.; blades narrowly to broadly elliptic, 5–14.9(–17.7) × 1.7–8.5 cm, base cuneate, apex caudate, margins plane, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, lower surface sparsely appressed-pubescent on the midrib and secondary veins, subglabrous to sparsely appressedpubescent on the lamina, upper surface plane (not bullate); secondary veins 4–8 on each side of the midrib, 5–31 mm apart from each other; tertiary veins not prominent on lower surface. Inflorescences: female plants with 1–3 flowers per inflorescence, peduncles 1.9–5 cm long, peduncular bracts whisker-like, 1.5–2 × ca. 0.5 mm; male plants with 5–25 flowers per inflorescence, peduncles 1.1–5.5 cm long. Calyx lobes in female flowers 4, broad-triangular (length about the same as basal width), ca. 0.5 mm long, subglabrous to sparsely pubescent outside; calyx lobes in male flowers 4, shallow-triangular (length <½ basal width), 0.5–1 mm long, subglabrous to sparsely pubescent outside. Corolla in female flowers with tube 5–7 mm long, 1.5–2 mm in diam., densely pubescent outside, lobes 6 or 7, lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm long, densely pubescent outside; in male flowers with tube 8–10 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., densely pubescent outside, lobes 4, lanceolate, mature length unknown, densely pubescent outside. Fruits globose, 7–10 mm in diam., subglabrous to sparsely appressed-pubescent; peduncles 1.2–4 cm long, subglabrous to sparsely pubescent; persistent calyx lobes broad-triangular, 0.5–1 mm long.

Etymology: —The specific epithet honours Mr. Aban Gibot, formerly of the Sabah Forest Department, who made many herbarium collections distributed from SAN.

Distribution: —Widespread in Borneo.

Habitat: —Lowland forest to lower montane forest.

Proposed conservation status: —This species is here classified as Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN (2001) categories, because it is widespread and abundant in Borneo.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — BORNEO. Brunei: Sebatu-Selapon watershed , 270 m, 31 July 1957 (♀ plant), Ashton BRUN 339 (L, SING) . Sabah: Beluran, Pamol , 10 May 1961 (♀ plant), Meijer SAN 25117 A (L); Sungei Meliau , 26 July 1983 (♀ plant), Sigin et al. SAN 99708 (L, SING) . Kinabalu Park, below Kambarango , 1980 m, 8 February 1962 (♀ plant), Djamhuri SAN 29178 * (L, SAN, SING) ; Bukit Kipungit above Poring Hot Springs, 4 January 1984 (♀ plant), Beaman et al. 8236 * (K, L); Copper mining area, Mamut Ranau , 6 May 1970 (♀ plant), Aban SAN 50711 * (L, SAN, SING, SNP) ; Dallas , 910 m, 1 October 1931 (♀ plant), Clemens & Clemens 26670 (L), 19 October 1931 (♂ plant), 26809 (L), 1 December 1931 (♂ plant), 27355 (BO, L); Gurulau Spur, 1520 m, 25 November 1933 (♀ plant), Clemens & Clemens 50461 * (K), 25 November 1933 (♂ plant), 50474 (L); Jalan Liwagu, 1400 m, 15 July 1963 (♂ plant), Lajangah SAN 36151 * (L, SAN) ; Kampung Kiau Nuluh, 3 May 1993 (♂ plant), Jusimin 390 (K, SNP); Kampung Nalumad, 17 August 1996 (♀ plant), Daim 487 * ( SNP); Kundasang , mile 36, 30 March 1962 (♀ plant), Tikau SAN 28909 * (L, SAN) ; Mesilau base camp, 1520 m, June 1964 (♂ plant), George SAN 47042 * (L, SAN) ; Mesilau Cave , 1830 m, 29 March 1964 (♀ plant), Chew & Corner RSNB 4749 * (L, SAN, SING) , 4 April 1964 (♀ plant), 4831 * ( SING); Mesilau Kundasang , 2 February 1994 (♀ plant), Ignasius SAN 139067 ( SAN); Penibukan , 1220−1520 m, 30 December 1932 (♀ plant), Clemens & Clemens 30551 ( BO) , 1 February 1933 (♀ plant), 31290 * (BO, K, L); Penibukan Ridge, 1220 m, 21 September 1933 (♀ plant), Clemens & Clemens 40412 * (K, L); Pinosuk Plateau , 21 July 1963 (♀ plant), Meijer SAN 38563 * ( SAN) ; Ranau road, 1220 m, 17 February 1965 (♂ plant), Sinanggol SAN 47984 * (L, SAN) , mile 37, 1400 m, 5 January 1963 (♂ plant), Putan & Tikau SAN 33718 * (L, SAN) ; road to power station, 24 December 1998 (♀ plant), Rimi et al. SNP 8150 ( SNP); Sosopodon , 15 July 1963 (♂ plant), Battah SAN 33909 * ( SAN) ; Sosopodon Forest Reserve , 1520 m, 25 January 1968 (♀ plant), Aban SAN 61776 * (L, SAN) , 1220 m, 5 January 1965 (♀ plant), Taipin SAN 47943 * (L, SAN) ; Sosopodon Forest Reserve near Kundasang , 19 December 1964 (♀ plant), Sinanggol SAN 47911 ( SAN, SNP) ; Sosopodon near Kundasang , 1370 m, 12 July 1963 (♂ plant), Leopold SAN 36792 (L, SAN, SING) , 1370 m, 14 July 1963 (♀ plant), Battah SAN 33905 * (L, SAN) ; Tenompok , 1520 m, 5 October 1931 (♂ plant), Clemens & Clemens 26866 (BO, L), 31 December 1931 (♀ plant), 27715 * (L, SING) , 9 March 1932 (♀ plant), 28759 (BO, L), 26 May 1932 (♂ plant), 29770 * (L, SING); Tenompok Forest Reserve, 30 August 2001 (♀ plant), Pereira et al. JTP 818 (L, SAN, SING); trail from Tohubang River to Marai Parai , 1070 m, 13 September 1993 (♀ plant), Wong WKM 2375 * (L, SAN). Telupid, Bukit Tawai Forest Reserve , logging road near first waterfall , 365 m, 7 April 1994 (♀ plant), Mat Salleh et al. KMS 3337 (L). Tongod, Gunung Tingkar, 150 m, 23 August 1992 (♀ plant), Wong & Radin WKM 2208 (L, SAN); northwest of Gunong Rara , tributary of the Sungei Sinoa , 460 m, 28 July 1992 (♀ plant), Wong WKM 2163 (L, SAN, SING) . Sarawak: Baram, Kelabit Highland, foot of Apo Dari , 1260 m, 18 November 1974 (♀ plant), Chai S 35811 (K, L, SAN) . Bario, route to Bukit Lawi , 1230 m, 3 August 1985 (♀ plant), Awa & Lee S 50553 (K, L, SAN) . Belaga, Ulu Sungei Danum, hill next to Bukit Robertson , 1200 m, 7 August 1999 (♀ plant), Julaihi et al. S 80630 (K, L, SAN) . Gunung Mulu National Park , 1180 m, 3 October 1976 (♀ plant), Lee S 38124 (L).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Infructescences of Timonius abanii, Sinanggol SAN 47911 (SAN). B. Solitary fruits of T. mutabilis, Aban SAN 56303 (SAN). C. Female inflorescences of T. abanii, Aban SAN 60600 (L). D. Solitary female flowers of T. mutabilis, Aban SAN 64024 (SAN). E. Male inflorescence of T. abanii, Clemens & Clemens 29770 (SING). F. Male inflorescences of T. mutabilis, Mujin SAN 38402 (SAN). G. Infructescences (with most fruits abscised) of T. beamanii, Chew & Corner RSNB 4222 (SING). H. Infructescence of T. borneensis, Wong WKM 3231 (BRUN). Scale bars: 1 cm. [Photos: A, B, D, E, F, and G, J. Chen; C and H, K.M. Wong]