Calochortus occidentalis García-Mart. & Aarón Rodr., 2018

García-Martínez, Miguel A. & Rodríguez, Aarón, 2018, Calochortus occidentalis (Liliaceae), a new species from western Mexico, Phytotaxa 373 (2), pp. 131-138 : 133-135

Calochortus occidentalis García-Mart. & Aarón Rodr. , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2–4 )

Type:— MEXICO. Jalisco: Tapalpa, Rancho El Madroño, km 38.8 carretera Zacoalco-Atemajac-Tapalpa, 2 km al norte de Juanacatlán, 20º2’56’’N, 103º41’52.6’’W, 2486 m, 17 September 2016 (fl, fr), Rodríguez et al. 7794 (holotype: IBUG; isotypes: CIIDIR, ENCB, IEB, MEXU, MICH, WIS) .

Calochortus occidentalis is characterized by its erect to reclinate flowers, red to dark red perianth; glabrous outer tepals or with few trichomes and without nectaries; inner tepals pubescent, the trichomes extended to their distal part; and nectaries present, linear and glabrous.

Bulbous perennial herbs, 20–45(–75) cm. Bulb ovoid, 1.0–2.0 × 1.0– 1.5 cm, with fibrous-reticulate coats. Stem erect, branching, (1–)2–6(–9) ramifications, with bulbils in leaf axils. Basal leaf linear, 22.0–35.0 × 0.4–0.6 cm; cauline leaves lanceolate to linear, 18.0–35.0 × 0.2–0.7 cm. Flowers with a pair of bracts, 2.5–5.0 × 0.2–0.4 cm, opposite, lanceolate to linear. Flowers campanulate, erect to reclinate; outer tepals elliptic to lanceolate, 0.8–1.2 × 0.3–0.5 cm, apiculate, glabrous or with a few trichomes, nectaries absent; inner tepals lanceolate to obovate, 1.0–1.6 × 0.5–1.2 cm, inner face pubescent, from the base and extended beyond the middle, nectaries present, linear 3.0–4.5 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, naked; the tepal colour varies from red (red group 53 B, RHS 2015) to dark red (grey-purple group 187 A, RHS 2015), trichomes with the same colour as the tepals, sometimes yellow towards the apex. Filaments dilated, 4.0–7.0 × 0.8–1.0 mm; anthers oblong, 1.5–3.0 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, acute to apiculate, basifixed. Ovary fusiform, 6.0–8.0 × 1.5–2.5 mm, winged; style with a persistent trilobed stigma. Capsule erect, 1.5–2.7 × 0.5–0.8 cm, ellipsoid; seeds compressed, 1.8–2.5 × 0.6–1.2 mm, surface rough.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to its distribution range, western Mexico.

Distribution, habitat and phenology:— Mexico, from Jalisco to southern Zacatecas, in the western portion of Mexico ( Fig. 4 ) at 1,100 –2,500 m elevation. It inhabits open pine-oak mixed forest and is a rare species that is locally abundant. It flowers from early August to December and fruits in October to January. According to GeoCAT ( Bachman et al. 2011), Calochortus occidentalis had an EOO of 9,304 km 2, which places it in vulnerable category (VU). In contrast, the AOO summed 144 km 2 based on cells of 2 × 2 km. The results indicate it is endangered (EN). With this analysis, we estimated that C. occidentalis has a small distribution, and it faces a high risk of extinction.

Notes:— The main morphological differences between C. fuscus and C. occidentalis are found in the perianth ( Table 1). In C. occidentalis , the tepal colour varies from red (red group 53B, RHS 2015) ( Fig. 3A ) to dark red (greyedpurple group 187A, RHS 2015; Figs. 3B, C ). In contrast, C. fuscus shows a reddish orange (red group 43B, RHS 2015; Fig. 3D ) or brilliant greenish yellow tepal colour (yellow group 3A, RHS 2015; Figs. 3E, F ). The outer tepals in C. occidentalis are elliptical to lanceolate and the inner tepals lanceolate to obovate, whereas in C. fuscus both segments are elliptical to lanceolate. The outer tepals of C. occidentalis can be glabrous or with a few trichomes, and the inner tepals are pubescent from near base extending to the middle surface or above. In C. fuscus , the indument in both sets of tepals is densely pubescent near the base. The nectaries in C. occidentalis are glabrous, whereas in C. fuscus they are pubescent.

Calochortus fuscus was recorded from the States of Mexico and Jalisco ( McDonald 2000, McVaugh 1989, Villaseñor 2016). However, according with our data, C. fuscus is endemic to the State of Mexico. The distribution analysis using GeoCAT ( Bachman et al. 2011) showed that C. fuscus has a reduced distribution. The EOO value for C. fuscus is smaller than the EOO of C. occidentalis (9,304 km 2), but the AOO values for both species are similar. Calochortus occidentalis has a larger range, but both species have similar numbers of populations.

Calochorthus fuscus and C. occidentalis grow along the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). According to Ferrari et al. (2011), the TMVB is a volcanic arch formed from 20 to 3 million years ago. They divided it in four sectors: western, central, eastern and easternmost based on age of formation, geodynamics, tectonics, geology and magmatic features. Calochortus occidentalis and C. fuscus have been found in the western and eastern sectors, respectively. Both sectors are characterized by volcanic, thin soils and separated by the central sector where mafic soils are common. This distribution suggests that they are adapted to similar soils but separated by a geological barrier.

According with Ownbey’s classification, C. occidentalis and C. fuscus belong to Calochortus section Cyclobothra subsection Ghiesbreghtiani Ownbey (1940: 521) . However, they are part of different subgroups according to McDonald (2000). He proposed that subsection Ghiesbreghtiani has two subgroups based on the degree to which the tepals are covered by trichomes and relative size of the perianth. The first subgroup includes flowers with few hairs and small flowers formed by C. exilis Painter (1911: 346) , C. fuscus and C. venustulus . The other subgroup has hairier tepals and larger flowers and includes C. ghiesbreghtii Watson (1879: 268) , C. ownbeyi García-Martínez, Rodríguez & McDonald (2017: 242) and C. pringlei . Calochortus occidentalis can be classified as part of the second subgroup.

Additional specimens examined:— MEXICO. Jalisco: Atenguillo, Carretera Volcanes-Ayutla , 20º21’51’’N, 104º32’48’’W, 1470 m, 10 August 1997 (fl, fr), Machuca 8052 ( IBUG) ; Cuautla, Tierra Blanca , 20º15’11.66’’N, 104º28’8.05’’W, 2000 m, 17 August 1969 (fl), Díaz-Luna 1263 ( GUADA) ; pasando Cuautla hacia Volcanes , 20º12’35.65’’N, 104º25’18.6’’W, 1750 m, 10 August 1994 (fl), Cházaro-Basáñez et al. 7369 ( IBUG, XAL) ; km 2 de la carretera Cuautla a Talpa de Allende , 20º12’N, 104º25’W, 1710 m, 17 August 1969 (fl), Lomelí 2270 ( GUADA, MEXU) ; Etzatlán, Santa Rosalía, La Mezcalera , 20º49’90’’N, 104º3’0.05’’W, 1520 m, 10 August 1997 (fl), Machuca 8041 ( IBUG) ; Guachinango, mina Catarina , 47 km al NW de Ameca, 20º29’51.17’’N, 104º21’26.01’’W, 1600 m, 20 September 1981 (fl), González-Villarreal 595 ( IBUG) ; km 51 carretera Ameca-Mascota, 20º27.637’N, 104º23.4.05’ W, 1673 m, 9 September 2003 (fl, fr), Rodríguez & Ortiz-Catedral 3193a ( IBUG) ; 35 km al W de Ameca, carretera México 70 rumbo a Mascota , 20º32’9.67’’N, 104º18’0.17’’W, 1569 m, 28 September 2005 (fl, fr), Rodríguez 4608 ( ENCB, IBUG, IEB, MEXU) ; km 35 carretera México 70 al W de Ameca , 20º32’9.62’’N, 104º18’1.75’’W, 1567 m, 28 September 2005 (fl, fr), Rodríguez et al. 4943 ( ENCB, IBUG, IEB) ; km 37 carretera Ameca-Mascota , 20º32’53.2’’N, 104º18’13.8’’W, 1558 m, 4 September 2009 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 5901 ( IBUG, CHAPA) ; km 41.5 carretera Ameca-Mascota , 20º30’2.1’’N, 104º21’15.8’’W, 1597 m, 4 September 2009 (fl, fr), Rodríguez et al. 5909 ( IBUG) ; km 41.5 carretera Ameca-Mascota, 3.5 km al W de Guachinango, paraje Santa Cruz del Roble , 20º30’2.1’’N, 104º21’15.8’’W, 1597 m, 4 September 2009 (fl), Castro-Castro et al. 2431 ( IBUG) ; km 41.5 Carretera México 70 Ameca-Mascota, 4 km al W de La Estanzuela , 20º29’55.9’’N, 104º21’18.8’’W, 1596 m, 7 September 2016 (fl), García-Martínez & Anguiano 288 ( ENCB, IBUG, IEB, MEXU) ; Mixtlán, 3 km al N de Mixtlán, rancho Las Majadas , 20º27’12.7’’N, 104º23’43.52’’W, 1550 m, 6 September 1987 (fl), Santana-Michel 3021 ( IBUG) ; 46 km al SW de Ameca y 3 km al NE de Mixtlán por la carretera México 70 rumbo a Mascota , 20º27’4.55’’N, 104º23’5.51’’W, 1586 m, 28 September 2005 (fl, fr), Rodríguez 4618 ( ENCB, IBUG, IEB, MEXU) ; km 55–56 carretera México 70 entre Ameca y Mascota , 20º26’20.8’’N, 104º25’55.9’’W, 1522 m, 1 August 2007 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 5095 ( CHAPA, IBUG, IEB, XAL) ; 3.3 km en línea recta al NE de Mixtlán , 20º27’52.5’’N, 104º23’13’’W, 1688 m, 11 September 2015 (fl), Carrillo-Reyes et al. 8069 ( IBUG) ; Los Tablones, km 46 carretera México 70 Ameca-Mascota, 3 km al E de Mixtlán , 20º27’44.8’’N, 104º21’18.8’’W, 1700 m, 7 September 2016 (fl), García-Martínez & Anguiano 289 ( ENCB, IBUG, IEB, MEXU) ; Mesa de los Caballos, 8 km al NO de San Cristóbal de la Barranca por el camino a La Lobera, 21º5’24.37’’N, 103º29’26.44’’W, 1680 m, 3 September 2000 (fl), Carrillo-Reyes & Barba 1254 ( IBUG) ; San Martín de Hidalgo, Sierra de Quila, cerro de La Cruz , 20º21’48.2’’N, 103º57’41.9’’W, 1532 m, 3 September 2011 (fl, fr), Flores-Argüelles et al. 501 ( IBUG) ; Tapalpa, carretera La Frontera-Atemajac de Brizuela , 2 km al N de Juanacatlán, 20º2’95.2’’N, 103º41’81.7’’W, 2485 m, 18 September 2006 (fl, fr), Rodríguez et al. 4967 ( IBUG) ; Tapalpa, cerro Talcozagua (on Sierra de Tapalpa ) 2 km E of Tapalpa, 19º57’N, 103º45’W, 2000 m, 7 August 1960 (fl), Iltis 777 ( MICH, MEXU, WIS) ; al sur de Tapalpa 2 km por la brecha a Chiquilistlán , 19º57’51.01’’N, 103º46’3.66’’W, 2080 m, 30 November 1974 (fl, fr), Román-Miranda et al. 14 ( IBUG) ; brecha Tapalpa-Chiquilistlán, en Las Piedrotas junto al seminario, 19º58’43.53’’N, 103º46’57.56’’W, 2100 m, 24 August 1986 (fl), Rodríguez & Suárez 587 ( IBUG) ; km 10 camino Tapalpa-Chiquilistlán , 20º0’55.66’’N, 103º49’43.95’’W, 2100 m, 15 October 1988 (fl, fr), Pérez de la Rosa s.n. ( IBUG) ; 10 km de Tapalpa por la brecha Tapalpa-Chiquilistlán , 19º59’53’’N, 103º48’49’’W, 2396 m, 31 August 2002 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 3059 ( IBUG, IEB, XAL) ; 2.5 km de Juanacatlán por el camino a Atemajac de Brizuela , 20º0.03’0.08’’ N, 103º41’49’’W, 2470 m, 25 August 2004 (fl), Carrillo-Reyes & Kennedy 4421 ( IBUG) ; 11 km al N de La Frontera rumbo a Atemajac de Brizuela , 2 km al N de Juanacatlán, 20º2’9.52’’N, 103º47’8.17’’W, 2485 m, 21 August 2005 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 4398 ( IBUG) ; 3 km al NE de Tapalpa frente al crucero de San Francisco y Los Espinos , 20º0.04’N, 103º42’W, 2200 m, 21 August 2005 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 4404 ( IBUG) ; 9.6 km al NO de Tapalpa rumbo a Chiquilistlán, estación de microondas Torrecillas , 19º59’68.1’’N, 103º48’2.6’’W, 2239 m, 10 October 2005 (fl), Rodríguez 4642 ( IBUG, IEB) ; brecha Tapalpa-Chiquilistlán, cerca de la estación de microondas Las Cruces , 19º59’6.83’’N, 103º48’0.62’’W, 2256 m, 18 September 2006 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 4968 ( IBUG) ; km 44 carretera Atemajac de Brizuela-Tapalpa, 2 km al N de Juanacatlán, predio Santa Cruz Ancha , 20º2’56’’N, 103º41’52.5’’W, 2482 m, 1 October 2008 (fl, fr), Rodríguez et al. 5656 ( IBUG) ; km 7.4 del camino Tapalpa-Chiquilistlán , 19º59’40.2’’N, 103º48’1’’W, 2265 m, 1 October 2008 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 5657 ( IBUG) ; km 9 del camino Tapalpa-Chiquilistlán, alrededores de la estación de microondas Torrecillas , 20º0’6.6’’N, 103º48’36.2’’W, 2362 m, 1 October 2008 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 5660 ( IBUG) ; km 44 de la carretera a Tapalpa a partir de Catarina, 12 km al E de La Frontera , 2 km al NE de Juanacatlán, 20º2’57.5’’N, 103º41’49.2’’W, 2483 m, 7 September 2009 (fl), Rodríguez et al. 5939 ( IBUG) ; microondas Brizuela, 10–11 km al N de Tapalpa, camino a Chiquilistlán , 19º59’58.06’’N, 103º48’18.45’’W, 2300 m, 18 October 2009 (fl, fr), González-Villarreal 5218 ( IBUG) ; Tecolotlán, Sierra de Quila cima del Cerro Huehuentón , 20º18’55.65’’N, 104º0’54.44’’W, 2530 m, 7 October1989 (fl), Guerrero-Nuño et al. 387 ( IBUG, MICH) ; Sierra de Quila, Piedras Blancas, 29 km al NE de Tecolotlán , 20º17’58’’N, 104º0’1.4’’W, 2220 m, 27 September 2009 (fl, fr), Flores-Argüelles et al. 181 ( IBUG) ; Tenamaxtlán, recorrido de Tenamaxtlán a Los Picachos , 20º12’55.74’’N, 104º13’21.87’’W, 1600 m, 20 August 1994 (fl), Machuca 7209 ( IBUG) ; Tequila, cerro de Tequila km 10 del camino Tequila a la estación de microondas, 20º48’36.57’’N, 103º51’35.25’’W, 2200 m, 30 September 1982 (fl, fr), Medina-Villarreal & López s.n. ( IBUG) ; Zapopan, 12 km al N de Santa Lucía , 20º52’41.34’’N, 103º30’7.76’’W, 1800 m, 30 October 1985 (fl), González-Villarreal 2176 ( IBUG) ; km 14 carretera Tesistán-San Cristóbal de la Barranca, Monticelli , 20º53’39.66’’N, 103º26’20.73’’W, 1520 m, 14 October 1993 (fl), Reynoso-Dueñas et al. 1331 ( IBUG) ; 10 km de la desviación a Tesistán, carretera a Zapopan por San Cristóbal de la Barranca antes de llegar al rancho El Escalón , 20º56’10.51’’N, 103º25’31.91’’W, 1400 m, 9 September 1988 (fl, fr), Flores-Macías 1137 ( IBUG) ; cerro El Col, 3 km al O de Santa Lucía , 20º50’37.48’’N, 103º29’48.58’’W, 1700 m, 13 October 1992 (fl, fr), Cházaro-Basáñez & Acevedo 6981 ( IBUG, IEB, MEXU, SLPM, XAL) ; de Milpillas hacia unas cascadas, cerca de La Mesa de San Juan , 20º59’5.56’’N, 103º27’28.15’’W, 1700 m, 27 September 2008 (fl), Cházaro-Basáñez & Padilla-Lepe 9102 ( IBUG, MEXU) ; alrededores de Monticheli, 20º54’4.13’’N, 103º26’35.45’’W, 1580 m, 23 August 2009 (fl, fr), Hernández-López s.n. ( IBUG). Zacatecas: Juchipila, 4 km al W de Pueblo Viejo, Sierra de Morones , cerro de Piñones, ladera E, por el camino al rancho de Lorenz Magallanes, 21º21’0.0’’N, 103º13’19’’W, 2110 m, 10 October 1999 (fl, fr), Balleza & Adame 11446 ( MEXU) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Calochortus occidentalis. A. Habit. B. Flower. C. Inner tepal. D. Outer tepal. E. Capsule. F. Seed. Illustrated by Cristina Rodríguez-Sosa based on type material (Rodríguez et al. 7794).

FIGURE 3. Tepal colour variation between Calochortus occidentalis and C. fuscus.A. Calochortus occidentalis with trichomes strong red and brilliant yellow apically, extended to the mid surface (Rodríguez et al. 4943). B. Calochortus occidentalis type collection with dark red trichomes extended beyond the middle (Rodríguez et al. 7794). C. Calochortus occidentalis posterior view (Rodríguez et al. 5657). D. Calochortus fuscus reddish orange form (García-Martínez 334). E. Calochortus fuscus greenish yellow form (García-Martínez 330). F. Calochortus fuscus posterior view (García-Martínez 335).

FIGURE 4. Distributions of Calochortus occidentalis and C. fuscus.