Justicia totonaca T.F. Daniel, 2019

Daniel, Thomas F., 2019, New and Reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae XIII. Justicia, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 66 (3), pp. 61-85 : 77-78

Justicia totonaca T.F. Daniel , sp. nov.

TYPE.— MEXICO. Veracruz: Mpio. Atoyac, Cerro La Perla , 3 km SE de Miraflores, 18°57′N, 096°48′W, selva mediana subperennifolia, suelo kárstico, 900 m, 17-V-1985 (frt) , R. Acevedo R. & R. Acosta P. 109 (holotype: MEXU!; isotypes: IEB-not seen, XAL-not seen). Figures 2 , 6 , 10 .

Shrubs to 2 m tall. Young stems subquadrate, evenly and densely pubescent (i.e., stem surface not clearly visible) with erect to flexuose to retrorse to antrorse eglandular trichomes 0.2–0.8 mm long. Leaves petiolate, petioles 7–41 mm long, blades (ovate-elliptic to) elliptic, 151–265 mm long, 57–130 mm wide, 1.6–2.9 × longer than wide, acuminate at apex, subattenuate to attenuate at base, adaxial surface pubescent with mostly erect to antrorse eglandular trichomes 0.2–1 mm long, abaxial surface and margin similarly pubescent, margin entire, ciliate throughout. Inflorescence of axillary (in axils of distalmost 1–2 pairs of sometimes smaller leaves) and terminal pedunculate dichasiate spikes, these forming a terminal panicle of spikes to 60 mm long (including peduncle but excluding flowers), peduncles of spikes to 20 mm long, pubescent like young stems, rachis pubescent with trichomes like those of young stems but these conspicuously sparser; dichasia opposite (or with some alternate) at nodes, 1 per axil, 1-flowered, sessile. Bracts triangular to ovate to oblong, 1.5–5 mm long, 1–1.3 mm wide (often subfoliose and larger at base of spike, i.e., petiolate, obovate to subcircular, and up to 21 × 12 mm in size), apically acute to subacute, abaxially pubescent like rachis. Bracteoles triangular to subulate, 1.5–2.2 mm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, abaxially pubescent like rachis. Flowers sessile. Calyx 5-lobed, 5–7.5 mm long, lobes homomorphic, lanceolate, 3.5–5.5 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, abaxially and marginally pubescent like rachis. Corolla orange, 40–49 mm long, externally pubescent with erect to flexuose eglandular trichomes 0.1–0.4 mm long, tube gradually expanded distally, 31 mm long, 6 mm in diameter (measured flat) at mouth, upper lip 15–17 mm long, 2-fid at apex, lower lip 13 mm long, recoiled, 3-lobed, lobes 1.5–2 mm long, 1–1.6 mm wide, central lobe widest. Stamens ca. 20 mm long, filaments pubescent with eglandular trichomes except glabrous in distal ca. one-fifth), thecae of a pair parallel to subsagittate, subequally inserted, 3.3–3.8 mm long, subequal in length, glabrous, each with a rounded basal appendage 0.1–0.2 mm long. Pollen 2-aperturate with a central pore-like aperture flanked on each side by 2 rows of insulae (and sometimes with peninsulae as well). Style 44 mm long, glabrous throughout; stigma globose to subellipsoid, 0.2–0.3 mm long, Capsule 33–43 mm long, glabrous, stipe 17–21 mm long, head 15–22 mm long. Seeds 7 mm long, 3.5–5 mm wide, surfaces pustulate-roughened, lacking elongate trichomes.

PHENOLOGY.— Flowering: March; fruiting: May–June.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.— Mexico (west-central Veracruz; Fig. 2 ); plants occur on montane slopes (sometimes noted as karsted) in “selva mediana subperennifolia” and oak forests at elevations of 600–900 m.

CONSERVATION.— Based on the three known collection sites for this species, the calculated EOO = 2.2 km 2 (altered to 12 km 2 because it is less than the AOO), the AOO = 12 km 2, and the greatest linear extent of its distributional range (E–W) = 19 km. The species does not occur in a protected area. Ventura 15945 indicated that species was rare at the collection site, whereas Acevedo R. & Castillo C. 216 indicated that plants were abundant at their site. In spite of the small EOO and AOO, no threats have been identified for this species. Its montane habitats do not appear to have been severely impacted based on Google Earth historical imagery between 2001 and 2019 ( Google Earth Pro 2019). A provisional assessment of Least Concern (LC) is proposed for this species based on current knowledge.

ETYMOLOGY.— The specific epithet derives from the name of the indigenous Totonac people of central Veracruz.

PARATYPES.— MEXICO. Veracruz: Mpio. Atoyac, La Joya, ca. 1.5 km NW del Rancho de Santa Rosa , 18°57′N, 096°46′W, R. Acevedo R. & G. Castillo C. 216 (IEB-not seen, MEXU, MO, XAL-not seen); Mpio. Córdoba, Lagunilla, [18.961389, -96.942222], F. Ventura 15945 (IEB-not seen, MEXU, XAL-not seen) .

DISCUSSION.— Prominent characteristics of J. totonaca ( Fig. 10 ) include: dense cauline trichomes, large leaf blades, orange corollas externally pubescent with eglandular trichomes only and with the lower lip recoiled, elongate capsules, and large seeds. This species shares several morphological characteristics with a trio of similar species (each of them sometimes cultivated) that also occur in this general region of Mexico: J. amplifolia T.F. Daniel , J. leonardii Wassh. , and J. spicigera Schltdl. All have orange corollas of similar shape and size, with the lower lip recoiled. Justicia spicigera is the only species in this group that produces a bluish dye when herbage is placed in water. Pollen of J. totonaca ( Fig. 6 ), unlike that of other members of this assemblage, lacks distinct colpi. These species can be distinguished using the following key.

1a. Young stems evenly pubescent with trichomes dense (stem surface not clearly visible); calyx 5–7.5 mm long; corolla externally pubescent throughout with eglandular trichomes 0.1–0.4 mm long; anther thecae 3.3–3.8 mm long, both with basal appendages 0.1–0.2 mm long; capsule 33–43 mm long; seeds 7 × 3.5–5 mm; pollen 2-aperturate, but lacking colpi......................................... J. totonaca

1b. Young stems nearly glabrous or evenly to 2-fariously pubescent with trichomes sparse to ± dense (stem surface clearly visible); calyx 2.5–5 mm long; corolla externally glabrous or appearing glabrous but with sparse and inconspicuous glandular (and sometimes eglandular) trichomes up to 0.1 mm long located proximally and/or distally; anther thecae 1.5–3 mm long, lacking basal appendages; capsule 15–21 mm long (unknown in J. amplifolia ); seeds 2.7–4 × 2.5–3.5 mm (unknown in J. amplifolia ); pollen 2-colporate.. 2

2a. Leaves sessile or subsessile with petioles up to 2 mm long, blades large (100–340 × 55–146 mm), glabrous (although with inconspicuous punctate glands), broadly attenuate or rounded and ± abruptly constricted at base where sometimes ± auriculate-clasping; external surface of corolla appearing glabrous but sparsely and inconspicuously pubescent with stipitate glands located mostly on the distal portion of the tube and/or limb; pollen 2–brevicolporate.................................................. J. amplifolia

2b. Leaves petiolate, petioles 3–24 mm long (if less than 3 mm long as in some J. leonardii , then blades short- er than 100 mm and narrower than 55 mm and narrowly attenuate at base), blades usually pubescent with elongate trichomes (at least along major veins), acute to attenuate at base; external surface of corolla glabrous or appearing so but with sparse and inconspicuous stipitate glands usually restricted to proximal portion of tube; pollen 2–colporate (elongate colpi at least evident if not prominent)................ 3

3a. Stems and leaves yielding a bluish dye when placed in water; leaves glabrous or pubescent with trichomes mostly restricted to major veins; bracteoles abaxially glabrous or glandular–punctate; capsules (rarely present) glabrous................................................................ J. spicigera

3b. Stems and leaves not yielding a dye when placed in water; leaves (at least abaxially) ± evenly pubescent or the intercostal regions conspicuously pubescent; bracteoles pubescent with eglandular trichomes 0.05– 0.5 mm long; capsules pubescent with inconspicuous sessile to subsessile glands <0.05 mm long................................................................................. J. leonardii

Figures

FIGURE 2. Map of part of southern Mexico showing distributions of Justicia alanae and J. totonaca.

FIGURE 6. Scanning electron micrographs of Justicia pollen II. A–B. Justicia totonaca (Ventura 15945). A. Apertural view. B. Interapertural view. C. Justicia mexiae, apertural view (Mexia 8732). D–F. Justicia matudae. D. Apertural view (Steinmann 4528). E. Interapertural view (Matuda et al. 31440). F. Polar view (Matuda et al. 31440). Scales = 10 µm.

FIGURE 10. Justicia totonaca. A. Fruiting branch (holotype). B. Close-up of distal portion of flowers (Ventura 15945). C. Inflorescence (Ventura 15945). D. Seeds (Acevedo R. & Castillo C. 216, MEXU). E. Capsule (Acevedo R. & Castillo C. 216, MO). Scale for A = 5 cm, for B–E = 5 mm.