Phlegmariurus podocarpensis B.Øllg., 2016

Øllgaard, Benjamin, 2016, Additions, deletions and changes to the Ecuadorian Lycopodiaceae, Phytotaxa 246 (2), pp. 93-106 : 100-104

Phlegmariurus podocarpensis B.Øllg. , sp. nov. — Figure 7 .

Diagnosis: Related to Phlegmariurus austroecuadoricus (B. Øllgaard 1988: 31) B. Øllgaard (2012b: 12) , and differing by the plants forming dense clumps, at least to 7 times dichotomous with rather strongly diverging divisions, leaves of upper divisions strongly upward curved from a patent base.

Type:— ECUADOR. Loja / Zamora-Chinchipe: Parque Nacional Podocarpus. Crest of the Cordillera de los Andes E and SE of Nudo de

Cajanuma, along trail to Lagunas del Compadre, ca. 04°05–06’S, 79°19’W, 3250–3350 m, 2 March 1989, Øllgaard 90775 (holotype QCA, isotype AAU).

Terrestrial, erect, to ca. 30 cm tall, forming large dense clumps, at least to 7 times dichotomous, the branches erect and somewhat divergent. Shoots homophyllous, or usually the leaves gradually reduced in size and becoming more appressed toward the shoot apices, 10–15 mm in diam. incl. leaves in basal divisions, tapering to 5–7 mm in diam. in apical divisions. Stems excl. leaves 3–4 mm thick at the base (dried), sometimes tapering to 2 mm, not concealed by the leaves in lower divisions, usually covered by leaves in upper divisions, with prominent decurrent ridges from leaf bases, the surface minutely scabrate, sporangiate from 10–20 cm above the base and upward. Leaves gradually shorter upward, borne in rather regular, alternating whorls of 4–5(–6), these 1–2 mm apart, forming 8–10(–12) regular to obscure longitudinal ranks, patent and upward curved, or sometimes reflexed in basal divisions, in upper divisions patent and strongly upward curved to appressed. Leaves of basal, non-sporangiate divisions lanceolate-subulate subauriculate at the base, acute, 4–7 × 1.5–2.0 mm, firmly herbaceous to subcoriaceous, adaxially flat to concave, abaxially concave at base and upward rounded, with or without a prominent veinal ridge (dried), with nearly smooth to minutely and densely scabrate margins at the leaf base. Leaves of upper, sporangiate divisions reduced to broadly triangular-lanceolate, upward curved from a patent base, 3–5 × 1.5–2.0 mm, adaxially concave with slightly involute margins, abaxially rounded, usually with a short, narrow, prominent basal swelling, lustrous to slightly pruinous, entirely green, the margins smooth or densely and minutely scabrate at the base. Sporangia 1.0– 1.5 mm wide.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — ECUADOR. Loja: Road Loja –Zamora, 1 km E of the pass (km 12), ca. 2750 m, Holm-Nielsen et al. 3739 ( AAU). Loja / Zamora-Chinchipe: Parque Nacional Podocarpus. Crest of the Cordillera de los Andes E and SE of Nudo de Cajanuma, along trail to Lagunas del Compadre. Páramo and shrub páramo, 3250–3350 m, Øllgaard 90774 ( AAU). Parque Nacional Podocarpus, trail Cajanuma–Laguna de Compadre, páramo around the first pond, half-way to Laguna de Compadres, 3200–3340 m, JØrgensen et al. 65625 ( AAU). Vicinity of Lagunas de Compadre, ca. 6 hours’ walking from Centro de Información, 3000–3400 m, Madsen & Pedersen 86473 ( AAU).

Notes: —Found only on the crest of the wet Cordillera de Los Andes in the Parque Nacional Podocarpus. This species seems related to Phlegmariurus austroecuadoricus , and perhaps P. villonacensis that occur in the same region ( Fig. 8 ). The three species may be distinguished by the following key:

1. Leaves linear-subulate, 8–14 × 1–1.5 mm, nearly straight, with smooth to remotely denticulate margins. ............ P. villonacensis

–. Leaves of lower and middle divisions lanceolate-subulate, subauriculate 5–7 × 1.5–2 mm, leaf margins smooth to minutely scabrate at the base.

2. Plants forming loose clumps, usually to 4 times dichotomous with mostly nearly parallel divisions, leaves of upper divisions usually closely imbricate. ...................................................................................................................................... P. austroecuadoricus

–. Plants forming dense clumps, at least to 7 times dichotomous with rather strongly diverging divisions, leaves of upper divisions strongly upward curved from a patent base. ........................................................................................................... P. podocarpensis

Phlegmariurus villonacensis (B.Øllg.) B. Øllgaard (2012b: 20) . Huperzia villonacensis B. Øllgaard (2004: 33) .— Figure 9 .

Selected specimens examined: Loja: Ca. 6 km S of Loja, along road to Guardianía Cajanuma, km 4.7, 2650–2700 m, Øllgaard 2960 ( AAU, LOJA, QCA type collection). Road La Argelia (southern Loja)–La Palma, 2700–2950 m, Øllgaard et al. 90832 A ( AAU, LOJA, QCA, QCNE). Road Loja–Zamora, km 9.2, 2600 m, Øllgaard & Navarrete 105698 ( AAU). Road Loja–La Achira (Uritusinga), 9 km from Universidad Nacional de Loja, 2800 m, Madsen et al. 8046 ( AAU). Ridge between Quebrada Amarill and Q.Agua Corra, E slope of Cord. de Santa Rosa, Hda. Guaycopamba, 2770 m, Fosberg & Giler 23104 ( US).

Notes: — Phlegmariurus villonacensis is endemic to southern Ecuador (Prov. Loja). It occurs most commonly in the lower interandean ridges from Saraguro in the north to Amaluza in the south, at 2500–2950 m elev., in relatively dry vegetation dominated by low shrubs and small tussock grasses (e.g., Stipa ). These are apparently subject to occasional fires, and to regular dry periods. Several specimens exhibit periodical variation in leaf direction. This may reflect a seasonal climate. Phlegmariurus villonacensis resembles P. austroecuadoricus (B.Øllg.) B.Øllgaard ( Fig. 8 ). They occur in the same area, and two species are sometimes found growing together. See the key under P. podocarpensis above for comparison.

Pseudolycopodiella meridionalis (Underw. & F.E.Lloyd) Holub (1983: 442) . Lycopodium meridionale Underwood & Lloyd (1906: 442) .— Figure 9 .

Notes:— Only known from a photograph sent by W.P. de Winter in 2007.— Ecuador. Pastaza: Directly North of the bridge over Rio Chico, just North of Mera, 1118 m, 01°27’32.3”S 78°06’44.9”W, 29 March 2007, de Winter, W.P. 7040 (herbarium collection not located). Its habitat was described as “Sunny, steep, moist high roadside bank. Terrestrial, growing on sandy soil with some loam, with organic litter. Together with Lycopodiella descendens (= Palhinhaea descendens (B.Øllg.) B.Øllg. ), Lycopodiella alopecuroides (= Lycopodiella andicola B.Øllg. ), and Huperzia eversa (= Phlegmariurus eversus (Poiret) B.Øllg. ), laminate lichens, and upcoming shrubs. The vegetation was visibly more closed than at an earlier visit in October 2005. Rare.”

Figures

FIGURE 7. Phlegmariurus podocarpensis. A. Growth habit. Øllgaard 90775 (holotype QCA). B. Terminal sporangiate divisions. Øllgaard 90775 (isotype AAU).

FIGURE 8. Phlegmariurus austroecuadoricus. A. Basal division. B. Terminal divisions. Øllgaard et al. 90832 b (AAU).

FIGURE 9. Phlegmariurus villonacensis. A. Basal division. B. Middle division. C. Terminal sporangiate divisions. Øllgaard 2960 (isotype AAU)