Coprosma meyeri W. L. Wagner & Lorence, 2011

Wagner, Warren L. & Lorence, David H., 2011, Revision of Coprosma (Rubiaceae, tribe Anthospermeae) in the Marquesas Islands, PhytoKeys 4, pp. 109-124 : 114

Coprosma meyeri W. L. Wagner & Lorence sp. nov. Figs 2 4C, D

Latin.

Foliis coriaceis 4 - 7.2 longis × 1.2 - 2 cm latis, oblanceolatis, laminis cum secondaria et altiori obscura venatione, centrali costa solum conspicua, petiolis 0 - 0.1 cm, stipulis ca. 3 - 8 mm longis.

Type.

Marquesas Islands: Hiva Oa:Feani area, on Hanamenu trail at summit crest above Vaiumete et Vaiumioi, 1090 m, [9°47.93"S, 139°4.75"W], 30 January 2003, S. Perlman 18337 (Holotype: PTBG!; Isotypes: BISH!, P!, PAP!, US!).

Description.

Shrubs 2-3 m tall; young stems sparsely villous. Leaves opposite, thick-coriaceous, blades 4-7.2 cm × 1.2-2 cm, oblanceolate, only midvein evident, both surfaces glabrous, domatia absent, apex acuminate to acute, base cuneate; petioles ca. 0.1 cm long; stipules 2.5-3 mm long, connate 4/5 of length, both surfaces glabrous, margin dentate with a few conspicuous colleters and ciliate, the colleters usually with a tuft of hairs. Inflorescences axillary, apparently trichotomously branched, with very short internodes, with 6(-12) flowers, these 5-6-merous, subsessile. Flowers: male flowers with campanulate calyx ca. 2 mm long, the tube 1.5 mm long, the lobes triangular, 0.5 mm long; corolla narrowly funnelform, 5.4-5.7 mm, the tube 3.3 mm long, the lobes 2.1-2.4 mm long, the anthers 2.5-3.1 mm long, filaments to 11 mm long; female flowers unknown. Fruits and pyrenes unknown.

Distribution.

Coprosma meyeri is known only from the type locality at ca. 1090-1113 m elevation in the Feani area along the trail to Hanamenu on the summit crest of Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands.

Ecology.

This new species occurs in cloud-shrouded low wet forest and shrubland dominated by Metrosideros and Weimannia , with species of Alsophila , Alstonia , Ascarina , Blechnum , Cheirodendron , Crossostylis , Cyrtandra , Dicranopteris , Freycinetia , Myrsine , Oparanthus , Psychotria , Reynoldsia , and Trimenia .

Etymology.

The specific epithet honors Dr. Jean-Yves Meyer, conservation biologist at the Délégation à la Recherche, Polynésie française, in recognition of his untiring efforts to explore and conserve the biodiversity of French Polynesia.

Conservation status.

Coprosma meyeri is extremely rare, with less than five plants known from a single locality. Following the criteria and categories of IUCN (2001) it is assigned a preliminary status of Critically Endangered (CR): B2a, B2b (i-iii); D: B2: total area of occupancy less than 10 km2 (ca. 5 km2); B2a, a single population known; b ( i–iii), habitat continuing decline inferred; D, population estimated to number fewer than 250 individuals. The suitable habitat for on Hiva Oa (c. 315 km2) is indicated as an endangered environment threatened by human activities (deforestation and fire), feral animals, and invasive plants, reducing the extent of the forest. Its narrow distribution, disturbance from feral pigs and trail clearing, and invasion by alien plant species such as Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels and Psidium cattleianum Sabine put it at risk of extinction.

Specimen examined.

Marquesas Islands: Hiva Oa:Feani area, trail to Hanamenu, along summit crest, 1113 m, [9°48' 3" S, 139°4'682" W], 1 Aug 2005, S. Perlman 19763 (BISH, P, PAP, PTBG, US).