Phyllagathis yodae C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang, 2017

Lin, Che-Wei, Chen, Chien-Fan & Yang, T. Y. Aleck, 2017, Ten new species of Phyllagathis (Trib. Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) from Sarawak, Borneo, Phytotaxa 302 (3), pp. 201-228 : 225

10. Phyllagathis yodae C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang , sp. nov. ( Fig. 19 , 20 ).

Type: MALAYSIA. Borneo, Sarawak, Kuching Division, Federal Route No. 1, from Jalan Lundu to Sematan, ca. 100 m elev. Type specimen pressed from plants cultivated in a nursery in Hong Kong, 25 August 2013, C. W. Lin 555 (holotype TAIF)

Diagnosis: Phyllagathis beccariana , from western Sarawak, also has a short stem, rosette, obovate leaves, umbelliform inflorescences, and tetramerous flowers. However, P. yodae is quite different from the former in its not-peltate leaf (vs. peltate or subpeltate) with the blade up to 9.8 cm long (vs. 20 cm long), adaxially sparsely velutinous (vs. glabrous); hypanthium ca. 2.3 × 2 mm (4–5 × 1.2 mm); whitish petals (vs. reddish); and absent ovary crown lobes (vs. ovary with crown lobes).

Subacaulescent herbs, erect or ascending. Stems unbranched, green, 0.5–3(–7) cm long, 0.4–0.8 cm diam., terete, slightly woody at base, densely pale-brown velutinous; internodes very congested 0.1–0.3(–2) cm. Leaf blades 3–6, decussate, rosette-like, equal or subequal, widely obovate to obovate-elliptic, 5.2–9.8 × 3.3–5.6 cm, base cordate, margins entire with rows of 2–4 mm pale-brown hispid trichomes, apex obtuse to obtuse cuspidate; chartaceous; venation acrodromous, ca. 7 (–9) veined, secondary and tertiary veins numerous and conspicuous, reticulate or slightly trellis-like; adaxial surface green, sparsely pale-brown velutinous, the trichomes 0.7–1.2 mm; abaxial surface pale green, veins prominent, densely puberulous and sparsely velutinous. Petioles 4–31 mm long, slightly grooved and flat, densely pale-brown puberulous and hispid. Bracts caducous, inconspicuous. Inflorescences terminal, umbelliform, sometimes with 1–2 branches as compound umbels, peduncle 2.6–7 cm, red, sparse to densely pale-brown puberulous. Flowers tetramerous, pedicels ca. 5.5 mm long, densely puberulous. Hypanthium campanulate, ca. 2.3 mm long, 2 mm diam., puberulous and with sparse glands. Sepals 4, persistent, widely triangular, connate into a rim, each lobe with an acute-angled, triangular keel ca. 0.5 mm. Petals 4, oblique, widely ovate, 5.5–6.5 × 3 mm, white, reddish towards apex, glabrous, apex acuminate. Stamens 8, isomorphic, subequal, filaments slightly flat, ca. 4.5 mm long, white, magenta at upper half, anthers narrowly lanceolate, apex attenuate, ventrally curved, 3–3.4 mm long, purplish to bluish, pore 1, connective distinct, ventral appendages absent, dorsally with one pair of conspicuous tuberculate appendages on the base; Style filiform, 8–9 mm long, glabrous, stigma capitate. Ovary 3/4 as long as the hypanthium, crown lobes absent, anther pockets shallow, placentae stalked. Capsules on pedicels up to 7.5 mm long, hypanthium cup-shaped, non-ribbed, ca. 5 × 3.5 mm, placentae disintegrating after seed dehiscence.

Distribution and ecology: Endemic to western Kuching Division, Sarawak, Borneo ( Fig. 3 ). It grows on humid, steep slopes along streams, under semi-shaded places in lowland forest at 100 m elevation.

Etymology: The specific epithet was chosen after “Yoda”, a character in Star Wars movies, who has a furry, wrinkled and greenish appearance. This new species is characterized by the hairy, rugose and greenish leaves that resembles Yoda, therefore we choose this special character as the epithet.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Distribution maps of Phyllagathis lii, P. millelunata, P. rivularis, P. rubrosetosa, P. ulu, (stars); P. phyllioides, P. violinifolia, P. yodae (solid circles); P. bicolor (solid triangles); P. wallacei (solid squares) in Sarawak, Borneo.

FIGURE 19. Phyllagathis yodae C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang. A. Habit; B. of Adaxial leaf surface; B’. Abaxial leaf surface; C. Bracts, adaxial view; D, D’. Flower, face and side views; E, E’. Petal, both views; F, F’, F’’. Stamens, side, dorsal and ventral views; G. Style; H. Vertical section of the ovary; H’. Hypanthium.All from C.W. Lin 555 (TAIF).

FIGURE 20. Phyllagathis yodae C.W. Lin, C.F. Chen & T.Y.A. Yang. A. Habit and habitat; B. Leaf, abaxial surface; C. Adaxial leaf surface; D.Aabaxial leaf surface; E. Inflorescence; F, G. Flower, face and side views; H. Stamens; I. Hypanthium; J. Vertical section of the ovary; K. Capsules, apical view. B–K from C.W. Lin 555 (TAIF).