Elaeocarpus mahamayensis N.Silva, D.Yakandawala & K.Yakandawala, 2023

Silva, Nilanka, Yakandawala, Deepthi & Yakandawala, Kapila, 2023, Elaeocarpus mahamayensis (Elaeocarpaceae), a new endemic species from the Knuckles Mountain Range in Sri Lanka, Phytotaxa 616 (1), pp. 1-26 : 7-8

Elaeocarpus mahamayensis N.Silva, D.Yakandawala & K.Yakandawala sp. nov. ( Figs. 6 , 7 & 8 )

Type:— SRI LANKA. Central Province, Kandy District, Knuckles Mountain Range, Road from Loolwatte , Corbet’s Gap to Rangala , 1334 m a.s.l., 80°50.055’ E 07°21.594’ N, 12 January 2020, Silva, D. Yakandawala & K . Yakandawala CO11 (holotype PDA!, isotype PDA!, K!) .

Diagnosis:— Elaeocarpus mahamayensis differs from E. montanus in having a green non prominent venation on the abaxial surface opposed to the rusty red-colour prominent venation, and having a lesser number of domatia, occurring only along the primary vein axils (domatia present along both primary, secondary and tertiary veins axils in E. montanus ).

Description:— Tree 3–6 m tall, terminal bud closely adpressed-hairy, twig tip almost glabrous; petioles 10–13 × 2–2.5 mm, glabrous. Leaves broadly elliptic, margins much revolute, 6–12 × 3.5–7 cm, base broadly obtuse or broadly cuneate, apex rounded, main veins in 3–6 pairs and yellowish green, mid and main veins not especially conspicuous above, raised below, blade and venation glabrous above and below, margin weakly serrate, domatia along mid-vein axils, conspicuous on both surfaces, yellowish green. Inflorescences well behind leaves, rachises 5–10 cm long with 15–20 florets, sparsely hairy; bracts 1.5–3 mm long, spathulate-obovate, toothed, bracteoles present; sepals 4.2–6.3 mm long, brownish green, sparsely to medium-densely hairy on both surfaces; petals 5–6.5 mm long, white, obovate, sparsely hairy in lower half on both sides, margin ciliate with 18–22 petal division numbers; disk with fused lobes, 1 mm tall, densely short-hairy; stamens with filaments c. 2 mm long, 22–25, anthers c. 2 mm long, anther teeth without setae; ovary placed above disk, ovary base not partially surrounded by yellow disk, 3-locular; with one functional ovule; Fruits globular, 2.5–3 cm diameter with 2 mm drupe, stone globular, c. 2–2.5 cm diameter, surface finely channeled and pitted, stone wall 3–6 mm thick. Spathulate leaf-like embryo embedded in entire endosperm.

Other specimens examined (paratypes):— SRI LANKA. Central Province, Kandy District , Knuckles Range, Ferndale midway between Rangala and Looloowatte, grassland, 1220 m a.s.l., 080°49’ E 7°21’ N, 10 March 1977, B. Bremer & K. Bremer 1026 ( PDA, barcode PDA00118165 !, S, US!) ; Knuckles Mountain Range , Rattota Road near SLT tower entrance along road sides, 1261 m a.s.l., 0 80°44.236’ E 07°31.420’ N, 5 June 2019, N. Silva, D. Yakandawala and K. Yakandawala RV01 ( PDA!); Knuckles mountain range, Kalupahana near Lebanon estate, 1359 m a.s.l., 080°46.431’ E 07°25.354’ N, 29 July 2020, N. Silva, D. Yakandawala & K. Yakandawala KP 04 ( PDA!); Knuckles Mountain Range, Deanston trail, 1317 m a.s.l., 0 80°85.302’ E 07°33.595’ N, 17 February 2020, N. Silva, D. Yakandawala & K. Yakandawala DT 01 ( PDA!); Dumbanagala Hill, Rangala , September 1888, s. c. s. n. ( PDA, barcode PDA00003399 !) .

Note: Meijer in 1978 determined PDA00003399 as E. montanus ; Zmarzty in 2000 revised the identity to E. taprobanicus .

Phenology:— Flowering February–July; fruiting July–October.

Etymology:— The new species is named after Mahamaya Girls’ College Kandy, Sri Lanka, the alma mater of the first two authors.

Habitat:— Mountain slopes from 1200 to 1500 m above the sea level.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Elaeocarpus mahamayensis; A. Habit. B. Twig and C. Inflorescence.

FIGURE 7. Elaeocarpus mahamayensis; A.Adaxial and B.Abaxial surface of leaf.C. Inflorescence. D. Side view of a floret. E. Birds eye view of a floret. F. and G. Sepals. H. Petal. I. Stamen. J. Disk and ovary. K. Fruit. L. Seed and M. Transverse section of seed.

FIGURE 8. Elaeocarpus mahamayensis; A. twig. B. flower, bird’s eye view. C. flower, side view. D. sepal, outer surface. E. sepal, inner surface. F. petal. G. dissected flower, showing gynoecium, disk and stamens. H. disk and gynoecium. I. and J. stamens. K. fruit. L. seed, side view. M. seed, front view. N. seed tip and O. stone cross section.A, K–O × 2/3. B, C × 2. D–H × 4 and I–J × 8.