Sphyrospermum glutinosum Luteyn & Pedraza, 2013

Luteyn, James L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa, Paola, 2013, Nomenclature, taxonomy, and conservation of the neotropical genus Sphyrospermum (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae), including five new species for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, Phytotaxa 79 (1), pp. 1-29 : 15-20

Sphyrospermum glutinosum Luteyn & Pedraza , sp. nov. ( Fig. 3 )

Species nova corolla brevi, floribus 5-meris distincta; a Sphyrospermo rotundifolio atque S. spruceano corolla glanduloso-pilosa cylindracea, foliis majoribus, (2.3–)3–3.7 × (1.2–)1.8–2 (non 1–2 × 0.6–1.7) cm, pedicello longiore, ca. 10 (non <1–3) mm longo, calyce dense glanduloso-piloso differt.

Type: — ECUADOR. Pichincha: Quito, Reserva Orquideológica El Pahuma, carretera Calacalí–Los Bancos, km. 22, 0°01’42”N, 78°37’50”W, 2000 m, 19 October 1999 (fl), Suin 342 (holotype MO!; isotype NY!, QCNE) .

Pendent, epiphytic shrubs, glutinose on all surfaces; stems terete, densely short-pilose with glandular and eglandular hairs ca. 0.3–0.8 mm long (rarely glabrescent). Leaves appressed coriaceous, succulent, ovate, (2.3–)3–3.7 × (1.2–) 1.8–2 cm, base cordate, apex acuminate, margin revolute towards base sometimes clasping stem, lamina essentially glabrous on both sides, but with minute eglandular hairs, <0.5 mm long above and towards the base, also with sparse glandular hairs <0.5 mm long beneath; weakly 3–5-plinerved from base, midrib, lateral nerves and tertiary veinlets all raised and conspicuous on both surfaces, or sometimes plane and inconspicuous to obscure beneath; petiole inconspicuous, subterete, strongly rugose, 1–1.5 mm long, densely pilose with eglandular hairs. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary or rarely in fascicles of 2, shorter than the subtending leaves; floral bract 1, ovate, acuminate, 1–1.5 mm long, densely short-pilose, the hairs glandular and eglandular; pedicel (7–) 10–13 mm, short-pilose, the hairs glandular and eglandular; bracteoles 2, basal, opposite, acicular, 1.- 1.5 mm long, short-pilose, the hairs glandular and eglandular. Flowers 5-merous, diplostemonous; calyx 5–6.7 mm long, urceolate, conspicuously constricted between the tube and limb, densely pilose with glandular and eglandular hairs; tube spherical, 2.4–2.8 mm long; limb erect, 3.0– 3.9 mm long; lobes lanceolate, acute, 3–3.6 mm long; sinuses acute; corolla narrowly urceolate, inflated at base (3 mm in diam.), the throat narrowed (2 mm in diam.), 5–6 mm long, white, glabrate without but distally with eglandular and glandular hairs, the lobes spreading, deltate, acute to obtuse, 0.6–1 mm long; stamens 10, unequal in length, 3.7–4 mm long; filaments alternately unequal in length, ca. 1.3–1.4 and 1.5–1.6 mm long, glabrous or rarely with a few inconspicuous hairs; anthers equal in length, 2.5–2.7 mm long; thecae 0.8–1 mm long, the base slightly curved inwards, with basal appendage, minutely papillate; tubules 1.5–1.9 mm long, dehiscing by clefts 0.3–0.4 mm long; style included, 4.2–4.8 mm long. Berry ca. 8 mm in diam., white (fide label data), sparsely pilose with glandular and eglandular hairs; embryo color unknown.

Distribution and phenology:— Known from central Ecuador (Prov. Pichincha, Bolívar, Loja) and northern Peru (Dept. San Martín), in humid premontane and montane forests or pasture land with remnant forest, at 1750–2510 m. Flowering specimens have been collected in February, July–August, and October; fruiting in February.

Conservation status:— The five known collections are from areas highly disturbed by logging and agriculture. However, the species occupy a large geographic area and its conservation status is of least concern (LC).

Observations:— Sphyrospermum glutinosum is characterized by pedicellate flowers that like most parts of the plant are glutinous bearing conspicuously stipitate, glandular hairs. Its morphological relationships are unknown at this time.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — ECUADOR. Bolívar: via Panamericana entre Balsapamba y Guaranda, 1°49’39.2”S, 79°9’24.1”W, 2200–2300 m, 20 August 2004 (fl), Pedraza & Salinas 1233 ( COL, NY, QCA) ; Guaranda, entre Los Arrayanes hasta la Carretera del Río La Envidia por el sendero hacia el recinto Chazo Juan, 01°21’54”S, 79°05’49”W, 2510 m, 13 February 2005 (fr), Vargas et al. 4803 ( MO, NY, QCNE) . Loja: entrance of Parque Nacional Podocarpus, 2100 m, 8 December 2005 (st), Werner 1869 ( NY) .

PERU. San Martín: Rioja, Pedro Ruíz–Moyobamba road, km 390, Venceremos , 5°50’S, 77°45’W, 1750 m, 27 July 1983 (fl), Smith 4356 (F, MO, NY, USM) .

Sphyrospermum grandifolium (Hoerold) Smith (1933: 211) . Sophoclesia grandifolia Hoerold (1909: 282 , 333). Type:— ECUADOR. Cotopaxi: Forest near Tigua, August 1895 (fl), Sodiro 92/32 [holotype B destroyed (photo F neg. 4724); lectotype (designated by Luteyn 1996) NY! fragment ex B].

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum grandifolium is only found in a small area of southwestern Colombia (10 collections, Dept. Nariño: La Planada) and northwestern Ecuador (17 collections from Provs. Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi); from premontane to montane cloud forest, at 1300–3129 m. Flowering specimens have been collected throughout the year; fruiting in February–May.

Conservation status:— It is infrequently collected and its natural habitat is disappearing. Nearly threatened (NT).

Observations:— Sphyrospermum grandifolium is part of a group of four species, mentioned above, that includes S. boekei , S. lanceolatum , and S. dolichantum . They are morphologically characterized by having elongate pedicels, long and red corollas with strongly reflexed lobes at anthesis so as to expose the stamens, and stamens with filaments slightly longer than the anthers. Sphyrospermum grandifolium is distinguished from the other species of this group by its larger leaves and 4-merous flowers. It is morphologically most similar to S. boekei , and the characters that distinguish the two species are given in the key.

Selected specimens examined:— COLOMBIA. Cauca: Parque Nacional Natural Munchique, Luteyn et al. 7491 (COL, NY). Nariño: La Planada, Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 6820 (COL, MO, NY).

ECUADOR. Carchi: Maldonado, Quebrada Naranjo, nr waterfall, Dorr & Barnett 6098 (AAU, NY, QCA, QCNE, US). Imbabura: road to Intag valley above Apuela, Holm-Nielsen & Jaramillo 23324 (AAU, MO, NY, QCA). Pichincha: Quito–Mindo road, ca 9 km S of Tandayapa, Luteyn et al. 8829 (AAU, MO, NY, QCA, QCNE, S).

Sphyrospermum haughtii Smith (1953: 207) . Type :— ECUADOR. Bolívar: road above Balzapamba, 2400 m, 3 May 1942 (fl), Haught 3302 [holotype US! (photo NY neg. 9450); isotype A!].

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum haughtii is endemic to west-central Ecuador (Prov. Bolívar), where it is only known from five collections. It grows in premontane and montane cloud forest, at 1370–2920 m. Flowering specimens have been collected in January and May; fruiting in January.

Conservation status:— The known localities do not cover a large geographic area and are very badly disturbed, with only tiny remnanents of forest in isolated valleys. Endangered [EN B1ab(i, iv)].

Observations:— Sphyrospermum haughtii is characterized by having very thick-succulent, concave leaves that somewhat hide the pedicellate flowers when fresh, but that also dry thick-coriaceous and with the midrib strongly carinate abaxially. Its corollas are short, urceolate, and yellowish-green in color when fresh. It shares the yellowish corollas with species such as S. xanthocarpum , S. flaviflorum , and S. rotundifolium , but its relationships are uncertain at this time.

Additional specimens examined: — ECUADOR. Bolívar: Lamirán, Parroquia Chillanes, Acosta Solis 6783 (F); Cerro Negro, Parroquia Chillanes, Acosta Solis 6800 (F); 5–7 km NE of Las Guardias, San Miguel–Balzapamba road, Luteyn & Cotton 11091 (NY), Luteyn & Fuller 15121 (MO, NY, QCA, TEX).

Sphyrospermum lanceolatum Luteyn (1996: 350 , fig. 25). Type:— ECUADOR. Morona-Santiago: Tumbes, 17–18 km N of Gualaquiza on road to Indanza , 1700–1800 m, 17 April 1985 (fl), Harling & Andersson 24237 [holotype NY!; isotypes F!, GB (photo NY neg. 13035), MO!, QCA!].

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum lanceolatum is endemic to east-central Ecuador, where it is known from only 10 localities; in premontane forest, at 850–2800 m. Flowering specimens have been collected in January–February, April, and October–December; fruiting in February, April, and December.

Conservation status: —The region where this species grow, remain poorly known; therefore it has been collected in a few localities. For that reason and because there is extensive native vegetation in the general area of the Cordilleras del Cóndor and Cutucú, we now categorize this species as Data Deficient [DD], despite considering it VU B1ab(iii) (Pedraza-Peñalosa et. al. 2011) in an earlier assessment.

Observations:— Sphyrospermum lanceolatum is part of the group of four species, including S. boekei , S. grandifolium , and S. dolichanthum , mentioned under S. grandifolium . From other members of this group, S. lanceolatum is distinguished by having narrowly ovate-lanceolate and very long-acuminate leaves, 5-merous flowers, corollas red with the lobes purple (vs. totally red), staminal filaments twice as long as the anthers, and an “Oriente” distribution in eastern Ecuador.

Selected specimens examined:— ECUADOR. Morona-Santiago: Limón (General Plaza)-Gualaceo road, Luteyn & Lebrón-Luteyn 5782 (AAU, F, GB, L, MO, NY, QCA, TEX, US); Cordillera del Cóndor, headwaters of Río Piuntza, Macbryde 969 (MO, NY, QCA). Zamora-Chinchipe: Cordillera del Cóndor, trail from Patchicutza towards El Hito, Øllgaard 98325 (AAU, MO, QCA, QCNE), Palacios 8364 (MO, QCNE).

Sphyrospermum linearifolium Al. Rodr. & J.F. Morales in Morales & Rodríguez (2005: 335, fig. 1). Type:— COSTA RICA. Limón: Altos de Pascua , along Quebrada Linda, 1 April 2001 (fl, fr), Morales 7823 (holotype INB; isotypes CR, K, MO, NY!).

Distribution and phenology:— S phyrospermum linearifolium is endemic to Costa Rica, where it has been collected only four times at Volcán Barva and Turrialba on the Caribbean facing slopes of the Cordillera Central, at 700–1500 m. Flowering specimens have been collected in March, April, June; fruiting in March–April and June–July.

Conservation status:— The species was described recently and considering the paucity of collections we do not have sufficient data (DD) to further address its status.

Observations:— S phyrospermum linearifolium is characterized by its flat, linear leaves with a margin usually revolute. Superficially, S. linearifolium resembles the new S. revolutum , since both possess long and narrow leaves; those of S. linearifolium , however, are not bullate (vs. bullate) and linear (vs. narrowly lanceolate).

Additional specimens examined: — COSTA RICA. Heredia: Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, Volcán Barva, Morales 9772 (CR, INB, MO); Cuenca del Sarapiquí, falda Atlántica del Volcán Barva, Morales 9433 (INB, MO, NY). Limón: Altos de Pascua, Morales & Callejas 9426 (INB, MO).

Sphyrospermum microphyllum Sleumer (1934: 133) . Type:— ECUADOR. Pichincha: Puente de Chimbo, 400 m, September 1891 (fl), Sodiro 92/28 [holotype B destroyed; lectotype (designated by Luteyn 1996) US! fragment ex B].

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum microphyllum is endemic to Ecuador (Prov. Pichincha) where it grows in primary rainforest at 400– 800 m. Flowering specimens have been collected in May–June, September, and December; fruiting in May. The species is very difficult to see, since it usually grows high up in the canopy of large and old trees and is apparently only collected from fallen branches.

Conservation status:— The species is known from two localities and eight collections and altogether it occupies a small area. Endangered [EN B1a(i, iv)].

Observations:— Sphyrospermum microphyllum is characterized by having a scandent or viney to creeping habit, small, subsessile and broadly elliptic to (sub)orbicular leaves, and short-pedicellate, 4-merous, diplostemonous, tiny white flowers. Although it herein keys close to S. munchiqueense and S. cordifolium , morphologically speaking it is closer to S. spruceanum because of its similarly tiny elliptic to (sub)orbicular leaves, very short pedicels, and tiny flowers.

Additional specimens examined: — ECUADOR. Pichincha: Reserva ENDESA, Quito–Pto. Quito road, Balslev & Balseca 4726 ( AAU, NY, QCA, QCNE) , Jaramillo s.n. (10 June 1984) ( NY, QCA) , Luteyn et al. 15159 (MO, NY, QCA, QCNE, S).

Sphyrospermum munchiqueense Luteyn (1987: 124 , fig. 9A–C). Type:— COLOMBIA. Cauca: Parque Nacional Munchique, Km 50–55 along road above Uribe , 1875–2256 m, 25 April 1979 (fl, fr), Luteyn et al. 7452 (holotype COL!; isotypes AAU, CAS, E, L, MEXU, O!, NY!, STE, S!). ( Fig. 1 E )

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum munchiqueense is endemic to the Western Cordillera of Colombia (Cauca), where it is known only from three collections in Parque Nacional Natural Munchique. It grows in premontane cloud forest at 1875–2256 m. Flowering specimens have been collected in April–May; fruiting in April.

Conservation status:— Despite growing within a protected area, Parque Nacional Natural Munchique, all collections come from a single locality close to the degraded buffer zone; because still undergoes considerable disturbance, the species is considered vulnerable (VU D2).

Observations:— Sphyrospermum munchiqueense is one of the most striking and colorful species in the genus because of its bright, dark green coriaceous leaves and bright butter-yellow corollas. It is morphologically similar to some populations of S. buxifolium , but differs by the features mentioned in the key.

Selected specimens examined:— COLOMBIA. Cauca: Parque Nacional Munchique, Luteyn et al. 10221 (COL, JAUM, K, MO, NY, P, TEX, U).

Sphyrospermum muscicola (Hook.) Smith (1933: 215) [as " musicolum " (sic)]. Vaccinium muscicola Hooker (1848 : pl. 717). Sophoclesia cordifolia β muscicola (Hook.) Kuntze (1891: 384) . Nanium muscicola Hooker ex Kuntze (1891: 384) , nom. nud., pro syn. Sophoclesia muscicola (Hook.) Hoerold (1909: 281) . Type:— ECUADOR. Chimborazo: W slope of Volcán Chimborazo, 4000 m, May 1844 (fl), Jameson s.n. [holotype K! (photo NY neg. 10530); isotype NY! fragment ex K]. [N.B. species epithet “ muscicola ” is a noun and thus does not change its gender.]

Distribution and phenology:— Sphyrospermum muscicola is endemic to Ecuador (Prov. Chimborazo) and is known only from the type collection made in montane forest, at ca. 4000 m. The type was flowering in May.

Conservation status:— The precise type locality is uncertain, but the region around Volcán Chimborazo has been extensively disturbed over many decades, with most forests turned into pastureland. Critically endangered [ CR B1 ab(i, iii, iv)] .

Observations:— Sphyrospermum muscicola was first collected in flower in 1844 in Prov. Chimborazo ( Ecuador) by William Jameson. It was subsequently described by W. J. Hooker (1848) in his Icones plantarum with a color plate. Specimens matching the type collection have never been recollected. The species was originally characterized as having pellucid leaves upon drying “in which the beautiful venation is easily seen” ( Smith 1933). Hooker (1848) also noted that the leaves were fleshy when living but fell off readily when drying. It is now seen that this leaf character is not distinctive and that perhaps “pellucid” was used by Hooker with a different connotation than the term has today. Newly flushing leaves (still red) of many species of Sphyrospermum dry parchment-thin with the nervation and "punctae" (glandular hairs) easily seen. Sphyrospermum muscicola is seemingly one of the group of four species mentioned above that includes S. boekei , S. grandifolium , and S. lanceolatum . As a group, they are characterized morphologically by having elongate pedicels, long and red corollas with apparently strongly reflexed lobes at anthesis so as to expose the stamens (although the corolla of S. muscicola is immature), and stamens with filaments slightly longer than to twice as long as the anthers. From the other members of this group S. muscicola is (doubtfully) distinguished by having leaves that clearly show the venation and that are sharply (albeit sometimes shortly) acute at the apex, leaf margins ciliate, and staminal filaments only slightly longer than the anthers (not twice the length).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Exemplary species of Sphyrospermum. A. S. buxifolium with white-colored flowers and fruits (cultivated at the New York Botanical Garden); B. Pressed fruit of S. buxifolium showing translucent-white seeds with green embryos; C. S. buxifolium with inset of lilac-colored fruits (cultivated at the New York Botanical Garden); D. S. dissimile; E. S. munchiqueense; F. S. xanthocarpum with inset of habit (cultivated in Colombia). Photographers: A–C, Paola Pedraza-Peñalosa; D–E, James L. Luteyn; F, William Vargas.

FIGURE 3. Sphyrospermum glutinosum. A. Branch with detail of stem pubescence. B. Portion of stem with post anthesis flowers. C. Mature flower showing basal bracteoles, pedicel, calyx, and corolla. D. Longitudinal section of calyx and corolla; the calyx with detail of glandular hairs and the corolla showing some stamens. E. Three adjacent stamens in dorsal view, three adjacent stamens in ventral view, and two stamens in lateral view; thecae bearing a basal appendage. Illustration by Bobbi Angell [A, C–E drawn from Suin 342 (MO); B drawn from Pedraza & Salinas 1233 (NY)].