Timonius ophioliticus 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 : 146

Timonius ophioliticus J.Chen , sp. nov. ( Figs. 3B & 3C )

Similar to Timonius mutabilis ( Korthals 1851: 212) Walpers (1852: 765) , but differing by the shorter calyx lobes (0.5–1 mm vs. 1–5 mm long), and the pubescence of the calyx, fruit and lower lamina (glabrous to subglabrous vs. densely appressed-hairy).

Type: — BORNEO. Sabah: Kinabalu Park , 1 mile NW of Kampung Nalumad, 490 m, 30 May 1973 (♀ plant), Shea & Aban SAN 77276 (holotype SING; isotypes K, L, SAN, SAR) .

Timonius cf. mutabilis in Beaman & Anderson (2004: 348), pro parte, quoad Shea & Aban SAN 77276.

Tree to 24 m tall; trunk to 60 cm dbh; bark flaky or smooth, brown to black. Stipules triangular, with two lateral ridges converging at the apex, imbricate. Leaves opposite; petioles 0.8–1.7 cm long, 1–2 mm in diam.; blades elliptic, 7.4–14.2 × 3.3–5.8 cm, base cuneate, apex cuspidate to short-caudate, margins plane, subcoriaceous to coriaceous, lower surface glabrous to subglabrous, upper surface plane (not bullate); secondary veins 5 or 6 on each side of the midrib, 10–28 mm apart from each other; tertiary veins not prominent on lower surface. Inflorescences: female plants with a solitary flower per inflorescence, peduncles 0.8–1.1 cm long, peduncular bracts whisker-like, 1.5–2.5 × ca. 0.5 mm; male plants with 3–7 flowers per inflorescence, peduncles 0.4–1.7 cm long. Calyx lobes in female flowers 5 or 6, shallow-triangular (length <½ basal width), ca. 0.5 mm long, subglabrous outside; in male flowers 4, shallow triangular to broad triangular (length about the same as basal width), 0.5–1 mm long, subglabrous outside. Corolla in female flowers with tube 4–5 mm long, 2–2.5 mm in diam., densely pubescent outside, lobes 6, lanceolate, ca. 2 mm long, densely pubescent outside; in male flowers with tube 8–9 mm long, 1.5–2 mm in diam., densely pubescent outside, lobes 4, lanceolate, 4–4.5 mm long, densely pubescent outside. Fruits globose, 5–8 mm in diam., subglabrous; peduncles 1.2–5.7 cm long, subglabrous; persistent calyx lobes shallow-triangular, ca. 0.5 mm long.

Etymology:— The specific epithet alludes to the species’ restricted occurrence to ophiolitic substrates derived from an ultramafic geology.

Distribution: —Only known from Sabah.

Habitat: —Lowland forest to hill forest, on ultramafic substrates.

Proposed conservation status: —This species is here classified as Least Concern ( IUCN 2001) because it is widespread and abundant in Sabah.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — BORNEO. Sabah: Kinabalu Park, Bukit Ampuan , 820 m, 13 July 1960 (♀ plant), Jaswir SAN 21031 (L, SAN, SING) . Lahad Datu, Bukit Silam , 4 January 1979 (♂ plant), Leopold SAN 89531 (K, L, SAN, SING) ; Mount Silam , 300 m, 12 June 1963 (♀ plant), Meijer & Anak SAN 37487 (L, SAN, SING) , 790 m, 19 June 1963 (♀ plant), Mujin SAN 37808 (L, SAN) , 9 July 1994 (♀ plant), Sugau & Donggop JBS 21 (L, SAN, SNP); Pulau Sakar , 21 February 1961 (♀ plant), Martyn SAN 21607 (L, SAN) , 30 April 1962 (♀ plant), Meijer SAN 25362 (BO, L, SAN, SING) , 3 October 1984 (♂ plant), Leopold SAN 67258 (L, SAN) ; Pulau Sakar, Log Magulang , 11 October 1961 (♂ plant), Muin SAN 26666 (L, SAN) , 11 December 1962 (♂ plant), Muin SAN 31658 (L, SAN, SING) ; Pulau Tabawan, Lubok Ayer , 18 October 1961 (♂ plant), Muin SAN 26685 (L, SAN) ; west end of Tabawan Island , 25 September 1954 (♂ plant), Wood & Wyatt-Smith SAN A4282 (L, SAN, SING) . Lamag, foot of Mount Tavai , Karamuak , 21 June 1975 (♀ plant), Leopold SAN 81740 (K, L, SAN, SING) ; Mount Tavai , Karamuak, Kinabatangan , 60 m, 16 June 1965 (♀ plant), Indar SAN 53320 (L, SAN) . Sandakan, Bidu Bidu Hills, sin. dat. (♂ plant), Van der Ent et al. SNP 28280 ( SNP); Hap Seng logging area, 14 June 1976 (♂ plant), Kodoh SAN 83627 (K, L, SAN, SING) , 23 June 1976 (♀ plant), Leopold & Taha SAN 83533 (K, L, SAN) ; Sungei Meliau , 2 September 1963 (♀ plant), Native Collector SAN 39347 (L, SAN) , 28 July 1983 (♀ plant), Sigin & Rahim SAN 99684 (K, L, SAN) . Telupid, Bukit Tangkunan , 640 m, 27 June 1996 (♀ plant), Diwol et al. SAN 135202 (L, SAN) ; Sungei Ruku-Ruku , 23 June 1982 (♀ plant), Rahim SAN 95007 (K, L, SAN) ; Tawai, Sungei Meliau, 7 April 1994 (♂ plant), Cheksum et al. CST 196 (L); Ulu Tungud, Sungei Melian , 12 September 1994 (♂ plant), Meijer SAN 141375 (L, SAN) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. A. Solitary fruit of Timonius kinabaluensis, Amin SAN 115990 (SAN). B. Solitary fruits of T. ophioliticus, Leopold SAN 81740 (L). C. Male inflorescences of T. ophioliticus, Muin SAN 31658 (SING). D. Strongly recurved leaf margins of T. tambuyukonensis, Van der Ent et al. SNP 24479 (SNP). E. Solitary female flowers of T. tambuyukonensis, Van der Ent et al. SNP 24479 (SNP). F. Stipules and female inflorescence of T. clementis, Wong & Kambira WKM 2410 (L). G. Solitary fruit of T. tambuyukonensis, Van der Ent et al. SNP 24479 (SNP). H. Solitary fruit of T. stenolobus, Clemens & Clemens 40171 (L). Scale bars: 1 cm. [Photos:A and C, J. Chen; B, F, and H, K.M. Wong; D, E, and G, A. van der Ent]