Calceolaria flavida Lavandero & Santilli, 2021

Lavandero, Nicolas, Santilli, Ludovica & Perez, Fernanda, 2021, Calceolaria flavida (Calceolariaceae) a new endemic species to central Chile, PhytoKeys 185, pp. 99-116 : 99

Calceolaria flavida Lavandero & Santilli sp. nov.

Figures 2C-D , 3C-D , 4C-D , 5 , 6B-C

Diagnosis.

C. flavida is most similar to C. asperula and C. petioalaris in growth habit and in having leaves of similar shape covered in glandular hairs. C. flavida can easily be distinguished from C. asperula in having pale yellow corolla (vs. bright yellow), the upper lip longer than half the length of the lower lip (vs. upper lip shorter than half the length of the lower lip), anthers much shorter than filaments and opening towards the distal part of the upper lip (vs. anthers as long as filaments and opening toward the style) and an elaiophore with densely arranged oil-producing trichomes (vs. dispersed oil producing trichomes). It can be distinguished from C. petioalaris by its reddish stems (vs. green), secondary and tertiary veins of the adaxial side of leaf lamina visibly impressed (vs. secondary and tertiary veins of the adaxial side of leaf lamina slightly impressed), pale yellow corolla (vs. bright yellow), upper lip narrower than lower lip seen from above (vs. upper lip as wide as lower lip), lips rounded in shape (vs. squared), saccate upper lip (vs. flat), and style inserted in corolla (vs. exserted).

Type.

Chile. Región Metropolitana, Cerro El Roble , 1674 m, 32°59'54" S - 71°01'27" W, 17-12-2006, N. García & M. Muñoz 3836 (holotype SGO 157641!)

Description.

Perennial herb up to 60 cm; base lignified, growth form type 6 sensu Ehrhart (2000). Stems reddish, erect, lower vegetative part not branched, densely covered with glandular hairs accompanied by much longer regular hairs; internodes very short at the beginning of the growing season, giving the aspect a rosette, these internodes extend throughout the growing season, being progressively longer towards the apex; stems renewing from the lignified base every season. Leaves opposite, green; lower leaves lanceolate, petiolate, base cuneate, apex acute; upper leaves ovate, sessile to partially amplexicaul, base subcordate, apex acute; (1.7-)2-7(-8.5) × (1.2-)2.5-3.5(-4) cm, margins serrate or slightly biserrate, lamina hirsute, trichomes glandular; venation impressed in the upper surface and prominent in the lower surface, secondary and tertiary veins of the adaxial side of leaf lamina visibly impressed. Synflorescence not conspicuously elevated from the vegetative part, up to 32 cm tall including the basal internode of the main florescence; basal internode 46-85 mm and as long as the internodes between the leaves at most; main inflorescence composed of 1-3 pairs of 15-19-flowered cymes; hypopodia 3.4-6.4 cm; pedicels 6.5-10.2(-20) mm; cyme bracts sessile, 14-30 × 8-25 mm, subordinate bracts sessile, 5-9 × 3-6 mm. Sepals green, ovate, 6.5-7.3 × 3.7-4.2 mm, densely covered in glandular hairs on both sides. Corolla pale yellow, evenly covered in glandular hairs, longitudinal axes of the lips parallel to each other, the upper lip longer than half the length of the lower lip and close to one another; lower lip saccate, rounded and lobed, 9.0-10.5 (length) × 9.2 (width) × 6.0-6.2 (height) mm; aperture narrow and oval, facing the upper lip, depression of the upper side almost absent; upper lip saccate, rounded to truncate seen from above, narrower than lower lip seen from above, 6.8-9.3 × 8.0-9.2 × 4.0-4.1 mm; aperture wide and almost reaching the sides of the lip. Elaiophore type 1 (sensu Ehrhart 2000), same length as the opening of the lower lip, 7.6 × 2.4 mm, folded inwards into the lower lip and covering the end of the lobe; oil-producing trichomes 190-245(-270) μm long, stalk generally (3-)4-6(-7)-celled and glandular head 38-44-celled, densely arranged, forming a well-defined and compact cushion. Stamens 2, included in the upper lip, stamens and style almost parallel, forming an acute angle; filaments 5.1-5.4 mm; anthers shorter than filaments, dithecal, basifixed, with line of dehiscence opening towards the distal part of the upper lip, 2.7-3.3 × 1.2-1.4 mm; Gynoecium (ovary + style) 6.0 mm; ovary densely covered by glandular hairs; style inserted in upper lip, 4.3 mm; stigma inconspicuous. Capsule conic, acuminate, 5.3-5.6 × 3.4-3.7 mm, with sparse glandular hairs. Seeds globose, 520-600 × 280-340 μm, seed surface type 3 (sensu Ehrhart 2000).

Habitat and distribution.

C. flavida seems to be endemic to the Natural Sanctuary Cerro El Roble (33°00'S 71°01' W), which is part of the coastal mountain range of central Chile (Fig. 1 ). It can be found on slopes with N-NW orientation at elevations of 1450-2200 m. Calceolaria flavida grows on soils of granitic origin, between rocks in open areas within sclerophyllous scrub dominated by Puya coerulea Lindl. var. Puya coerulea coerulea ( Bromeliaceae ), Lithraea caustica (Molina) Hook. & Arn. and Gochnatia foliolosa (D. Don) D. Don ex Hook. & Arn ( Asteraceae ) (Fig. 6A ).

Phenology.

The species was found flowering between October and January.

Etymology.

The specific epithet flavida is a singular, feminine, nominative Latin adjective alluding to pale yellow colour of corolla.

Conservation status.

C. flavida can be considered as Critically Endangered (CR) under the IUCN categories and criteria B1ab(iii). The criterion B1 was selected because its extent of occurrence is <100 km2 (0.995 km2). The criterion “a” was selected because it is known to exist at only one location (=1). The criterion “b(iii)” was selected because there is a projected decline in the area, extent and quality of habitat. Climate change and the persistent drought that has been affecting Central Chile represent a threat to plants that grow in the region. Starting in 2010, the Chilean territory between the Coquimbo and Araucanía Regions has experienced a rise in temperature and a precipitation deficit of approximately 30% causing visible deterioration of non-irrigated vegetation as well as increasing the likeability of forest fires (Garreaud, 2015). The species grows within the Natural Sanctuary Cerro El Roble.

Additional specimens examined.

Chile. Región Metropolitana: Provincia de Chacabuco: Caleu, Cerro El Roble , antes de los potreros, 12 January 2002, N. García 3863 (EIF); Cerro El Roble, km 5 camino a la cumbre, 1 January 2003, A. Moreira 863 (SGO); Subida a Cerro El Roble, poco más abajo Portezuelo Rauco, 27 October 2005, M. Muñoz 4741 (SGO); Caleu, camino a El Roble, 1 km más abajo del corral, 17 December 2006, N. García & M. Muñoz 3839 (SGO); Cerro El Roble, arriba del refugio a 3.5 km desde la entrada, 29 November 2019, N. Lavandero 372 (SGO); Cerro El Roble, 27 October 2020, Lavandero & Santilli 201027 (SGO) .

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution map of Calceolaria flavida (triangles) in Chile. Roman numbers represent administrative regions (IV Coquimbo, V Valparaiso, RM Metropolitan Region, VI O'Higgins, VII Maule). Green polygons represent protected areas (La Campana National Park and Natural Sanctuary Cerro El Roble).

Figure 2. Indumentum type in leaves of Calceolaria A, C, E upper leaf surface B, D, F lower leaf surface A, B Calceolaria asperula (Lavandero 409 (SGO )) C, D Calceolaria flavida (Lavandero & Santilli 201027 (SGO )) E, F Calceolaria petioalaris (B. Rosende s / n). Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 3. Lateral and frontal view of flowers (from left to right) of Calceolaria A, B Calceolaria asperula (Lavandero 409 (SGO )) C, D Calceolaria flavida (Lavandero & Santilli 201027 (SGO )) E, F Calceolaria petioalaris (B. Rosende s / n).

Figure 4. Lateral cross-section view of flowers of Calceolaria and detail of elaiophores A, B Calceolaria asperula (Lavandero 409 (SGO )) C, D Calceolaria flavida (Lavandero & Santilli 201027 (SGO )) E, F Calceolaria petioalaris (B. Rosende s / n).

Figure 5. Calceolaria flavida A habit B upper side view of flower C lateral view of flower D frontal view of flower with upper lip open E frontal view of flower F detail of abaxial side of leaf G detail of adaxial side of leaf H detail of stems I detail of early-flowering inflorescence.

Figure 6. Habitat of Calceolaria flavida A NW-facing slopes dominated by Puya coerulea var. Puya coerulea coerulea, Lithraea caustica and Gochnatia foliolosa (Natural Sanctuary Cerro El Roble, Region Metropolitana, Chile) B, C habit of Calceolaria flavida.