Coccoloba meavei J.J.Ancona & Ortiz-Díaz, 2025

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 : 132

10. Coccoloba meavei J.J.Ancona & Ortiz-Díaz sp. nov. ( Figs. 13A–F ).

Type:— MEXICO. Oaxaca: municipality Valle Nacional, 2 km al W de Arroyo Seco, 17°54ʹ00ʺN, 96°18ʹ00ʺW, 200–300 m, 12 October 1992, Meave et al. 1478 (holotype MEXU!, isotype BM!).

Diagnosis:— Coccoloba meavei is morphologically similar to Coccoloba matudae , they are distinguished by the shape of the blade oblong to oblanceolate (vs elliptic or broadly elliptic); inflorescence speciform, pedicel in fruit 0.5–1 mm long (vs inflorescence racemiform, pedicel 3–4 mm); acrosarcum 6.8–8.14 × 6–6.7 mm (vs 9.5–10.5 × 6.5–7.7); achene globose, 6.5 × 6.3 mm (vs ovoid, 7.3–7.7 × 6.4–7 mm), apex tuberculate depressed–pyramidal (vs apex tuberculate depressed–galeate).

Description:— Trees hermaphrodites and possibly functionally unisexual, 10–25 m tall; branches striate, glabrous, brown to greyish, sparsely punctiform; ochrea 5–7 mm long, glabrous, glandular-punctate. Leaves simple, alternate; petioles 8–12 mm long, 1.3–2.8 mm diameter, striate, glabrous, brown, arising near or above the base of the ochrea; leaf–blades 13–20 cm long, 4–6 cm wide, oblong–oblanceolate, coriaceous, glabrous, margin entire to slightly undulate, apex attenuate, base obtuse, sometimes slightly decurrent on petiole; venation brochidodromous, reticulate, primary veins 8–12 pairs. Inflorescence speciform, terminal or subterminal, paniculate, scarcely branched with 3–4 racemose branches, 10–15 cm long; glabrous to pulverulent; rachis 1–2 mm diameter, striate, pulverulent; bracteole 0.5–1 mm long, cymbiform, puberulent, apex rounded; ochreolae 0.5–0.8 mm long, cylindrical, membranous, pulverulent; pedicels equal to or slightly longer than ochreolae, 0.8–1 mm long in fruit. Flowers, not seen. Fruit acrosarcum, 7–8 × 6–6.8 mm, globose, apex obtuse, base truncated, brown, glabrous; hypanthium accrescent, succulent, almost completely enclosing achene, tepals accrescent, appressed at the apex tuberculate of the achene. Achene 6–6.5 × 5.8–6.8 mm, globose, base rounded to truncate, apex tuberculate, depressed–pyramidal, slightly prominent.

Etymology:—The specific name is dedicated to Dr. Jorge Meave del Castillo, collector of the type specimen.

Phenology:—Fruits from July to October.

Distribution and ecology:—This species in endemic to Mexico, in Oaxaca and Veracruz ( Fig. 13G ), inhabits tropical rain forest; at elevation from 300 to 650 m.

Provisional conservation status:—Given the extremely narrow geographic distribution (AOO= 8 km 2) and the small number of occurrences (two). Neither of the two occurrences are located within protected natural areas. However, both occurrences are located in conserved vegetation. 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.

Other specimens examined:— MEXICO. Veracruz: municipality Atoyac, Cerro Infiernillo al W del rancho Santa Rosa, 18°57ʹ00ʺN, 96°47ʹ00ʺW, 650 m, 18 July 1985, Acevedo & Vázquez 341 ( XAL).

Figures

FIGURE 13. A. Specimen of Coccoloba meavei (J. Meave del Castillo et al. 1478, MO); B) Portion of inflorescence and pedicels; C. Acrosarcum lateral view; D. Acrosarcum polar view; E. Achene lateral view; F. Achene polar view; G. Geographical distribution.