Meiogyne kanthanensis Ummul-Nazrah & J.P.C.Tan, 2014

Pei Chih, Tan Joanne, R., KIEW, L. G., SAW & A. R., UMMUL-NAZRAH, 2014, Three New Species from Gunung Kanthan, a Limestone Tower Karst in Perak, Malaysia, Phytotaxa 177 (3), pp. 146-154 : 149-151

2. Meiogyne kanthanensis Ummul-Nazrah & J.P.C.Tan , sp. nov., Fig. 3 & 4

Type: — MALAYSIA. Perak: Kuala Kangsar District, Chemor, Gunung Kanthan , 04°45’43.65”N, 101°07’12.48”E, 104 m, 20 June 2013, Tan J. P. C ., Kiew R . & Kueh H. L. FRI 78110 (holotype KEP!) .

In Peninsular Malaysia, Meiogyne (Annonaceae) is represented by two species, Meiogyne virgata (Blume) Miq. and Meiogyne monosperma (Hook. f. & Thomson) Heusden ( Heusden 1994). During the botanical survey of Gunung Kanthan, a species of Annonaceae with a large showy flower was encountered. It is unmistakably a species of Meiogyne on account of the characteristic warted grooves at the base of the inner surface of the petals. Its leaves are similar to those of M. virgata , but the flowers are completely different both in size and in petal shape. M. monosperma is distinctly different because its leaves dry dark brown and the secondary veins are not prominent on the lower surface and its flowers are small.

Small tree, ca. 15 m tall, 7 cm diameter, twigs glabrous, greyish brown, minutely striate. Leaves 16.4–22.6 × 6.1–9 cm, membranous, elliptic-oblong, in life slightly glossy above, drying dull greyish-green, concolorous beneath, base rounded, apex acute, glabrous above, beneath midrib and veins minutely ferruginous, lateral veins (7–)8–10(–11) pairs on either side of the midrib, midrib and lateral veins impressed above and lamina slightly bullate, curving and ascending steeply to margin, prominent beneath, intercostal venation scalariform, visible on both surfaces; petiole 6–7 mm long, slightly thickened, drying dark brown, glabrous to slightly hairy. Flower axillary, inflorescence single flower, in life pale cream-coloured with a strong fruity scent, pedicel 9–18 mm long, pubescent; bracts 1–2, ca. 2 mm long, almost at the base of pedicel. Sepals 3, free, appressed to base of petals, broadly ovate, ca. 5–8 × 4–8 mm, silky outside, glabrous inside. Petals 6, outer petal pale yellow, obovate, 4.2 × 1.3–2.3 cm when dry, densely silky both inside and out; inner petal pale yellow except the base of the inner petal surface that has pinkish orange warted grooves, 3.7–4.1 × 1.5–1.7 cm, margin strongly recurved from base to apex, almost touching at the apex, apex acute to obtuse, tapered to base. Stamens ca. 75, 2– 3 mm long, connectives of outer stamens short and truncate, of innermost stamens more elongate ca. 0.5 mm long. Gynaecium hemispherical, ca. 7 mm long, carpels 3–5, densely hairy, stigma globose, ca. 2–3 mm long, densely hairy. Fruit unknown.

Distribution and habitat:― Known only from the type locality, in limestone forest in the gully leading to the Kanthan Cave in what the Lafarge’s Kanthan Quarry Plant, had called ‘Area D’. It is apparently a rare species as only three trees were found. In limestone forest on a tower karst, growing in deep shade in a narrow gully, on limestonederived soil among limestone rocks.

Comparison:― Similar in leaf shape, size and texture to Meiogyne virgata (Blume) Miq. , it differs in its large scented flowers (not scentless in M. virgata ) with a pedicel ca. 9 mm long (not subsessile), obovate petals tapered to base (not lanceolate and strongly tapered to a narrowed apex), cream-coloured and ca. 7.5 cm long in life, 3.5 cm on drying (not greenish-yellow or pink and 1.5–2.5 cm long in M. virgata ).

Conservation status:― Critically Endangered CR B2 ab (iii, iv), D1. Currently known from only three trees from the type locality .

Additional specimen examined:― MALAYSIA. Perak: Kinta, Chemor, Gunung Kanthan , 04°45’44.04”N, 101°07’13.96”E, 104 m, 26 April 2014, Tan J. P. C . et al. FRI 81800 ( KEP) .

Notes:― In life this new species has striking flowers with petals ca. 4.5–7.5 cm long. It is remarkable that the flowers shrink to almost half that size on drying, but even so they are still larger than those of either Meiogyne monosperma and Meiogyne virgata . The flower is also different in having a fruity aroma, a complex scent reminiscent of pomelo, citrus, lychee, plum and lemon grass.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Meiogyne kanthanensis. A. Twig and flower. B. Top view of flower. C. Trunk with spiral branches. D. Gully habitat.

FIGURE 4. Meiogyne kanthanensis. A. Habit. B. Pedicel with bract and sepals. C–E. Inner surface of outer petals. F–H. Inner surface of inner petals. J. Androecium with emerging stigmas. K & L. Stamens. (A–H, K & L from FRI 78110. J from FRI 81800.)