Coccoloba proctorii R.A. Howard, J. Arnold Arbor.

Ancona, Juan José, Ortiz-Díaz, Juan Javier, Gutiérrez-Alonso, Eduardo & Ledesma, Patricia Hernández, 2025, A taxonomic revision of Coccoloba sect. Paniculatae (Polygonaceae, Eriogonoideae), Phytotaxa 704 (2), pp. 106-152 : 141-143

14. Coccoloba proctorii R.A. Howard, J. Arnold Arbor. 38: 86. 1957. ( Figs. 17A–B ).

Type. JAMAICA. Saint Elizabeth: Kaiser mine area S of Gutters, limestone outcrop near Pit 101, 700 ft. 20 January 1956, Howard & Proctor 14718 (holotype A! [photo]; isotypes LL!, MO!, TEX! [photos]) .

Description:— Trees hermaphrodite, functionally unisexual, 15‒20 m tall; branches glabrous, striate, brown or blackish; ochrea 10–17 mm, glabrous, membranaceous above, coriaceous below, oblique and slightly bilobed. Leaves simple, alternate; petiole 2–3 cm long, 5–7 mm diameter, glabrous, articulated at the base of the ochrea; leaf blade ovate to elliptic-ovate 17–19 cm long, 12–15 cm wide, apex obtuse, base broadly cuneate to rounded, margin revolute, coriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, venation brochidodromous, prominent adaxially, 6–10 pairs of lateral veins, reticulate. Inflorescence racemiform, arranged in a sympodial panicle, main axis reduced, 1.5–3 cm long, 3–5 mm diameter, striate, glabrous; racemiform portion 15–25 cm long, rachis ribbed, striate, glabrous or glabrate, 2.3 mm diameter; bracteole 0.3 mm long, cymbiform, glabrous; ochreolae 0.5–0.8 mm long, tubular, lacerate, membranaceous, glabrous; pedicels in flower buds 3–4 mm long, pedicels in fruit 5–7.5 mm long, thicker, glabrous. Flowers not seen; specimens only have flower buds. Fruit acrosarcum, 13–15 mm long, 9–10 mm diameter, ovoid, glabrous, apex acute to obtuse, base truncate or flat, abruptly contracted at junction with pedicel; hypanthium accrescent, succulent, almost completely enclosing achene, tepals accrescent, glabrous, succulent, erect, forming a crown at the apex tuberculate of the achene. Achene not seen.

Etymology:—This species is named in honor of the botanist George Richardson Proctor of the Institute of Jamaica (from 1951 to 1980), working on the herbarium and rising to be head of the Natural History Division.

Phenology:—Fruits and flowers in January.

Distribution and ecology:— Coccoloba proctorii is endemic to Jamaica ( Fig. 17C ), known only from the type locality. It inhabits humid forests with limestone outcrops at elevations of 230 m.

Provisional conservation status:—Given the extremely narrow geographic distribution (AOO= less than 20 km 2) and the small number of occurrences (four). Neither of the two occurrences are located within protected natural areas. Furthermore, occurrences are found within or around vegetation severely fragmented by urban growth and agriculture. Under the IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2024), we propose a preliminary IUCN Red List Assessment of Vulnerable [VU D2]. Any future documentation of negative population trends, increased threats, or lapses in appropriate fire management that would degrade habit quality would likely change the assessment toward Endangered under the B criteria.

Discussion:—In the protologue, Howard mentioned that there are several individuals of C. proctorii in their natural habitat. However, he only made three collections, one with mature fruits (holotype and isotype) and two specimens with flower buds (paratypes). Even though specimens had flower buds, Howard described that inflorescences with solitary flowers are functionally female while inflorescences with 2–4 fasciculated flowers are functionally male.

It is also important to note that in the protologue, Howard cites the specimen Howard & Proctor 15718 as the holotype, however the correct number is 14718, as seen on the specimen labels.

Specimens examined:— JAMAICA. Saint Elizabeth: Kaiser mine area S of Gutters, limestone outcrop near Pit 101, 700 ft. 20. January 1956, Howard & Proctor 14555 (A), 14719 (A).

Figures

FIGURE 17. A. Specimen of Coccoloba proctorii (R.A. Howard et al., 14718 MO); B. Portion of inflorescence and fruits; C. Geographical distribution.