Coccoloba efigeniana J.J.Ortiz-Díaz & J.J.Ancona, Phytotaxa, 2023

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 : 115-117

2. Coccoloba efigeniana J.J.Ortiz-Díaz & J.J.Ancona, Phytotaxa 599 (2): 101–103. 2023. ( Figs. 5A–F ).

Type:— COSTA RICA. Puntarenas: Cantón de Osa, Finca Eloy Cubero, 8°41′05″N 83°33ʹ50ʺW, 230 m, 8 August 1991, Marín 112 (holotype MO!, isotype CR).

Description:—Trees hermaphrodites, functionally unisexual, 10‒20 m; branches puberulent to densely puberulent, striate, squamose. Ochrea tubular, 1.4–3.7 cm, densely pubescent to woolly, yellow-brown to dark brown trichomes, breaking irregularly. Leaves simple, alternate, petiole 1.7–3 cm × 3–7 mm, striated, pubescent, with yellow-brown trichomes, inserted at base of the ochrea. Blade oblong-elliptical to obovate-elliptical (15.4–)17–25.8 × 9–16(–19.2) cm, chartaceous, densely hirsutulous abaxially, glabrous to hirsutulous adaxially, with yellow‒brown trichomes, margin entire, apex obtuse to slightly acuminate, base cordate, venation brochidodromous, reticulate, primary veins (9–)10–14 pair, abaxially prominent, pubescent to hirsutulous, with yellow‒brown trichomes. Inflorescence spiciform, arranged in a large monodial panicle, branches>5, main axis elongated, 8–18 cm, striate, pulverulent, hirsutulous-pilose, with reddish trichomes; spiciform portion 5–10 cm, rachis 1.5–3 mm diameter, striate, pulverulent, hirsutulous-pilose, with reddish trichomes; bracteole 0.5 mm, cymbiform, hirsutulous to strigose, pulverulente; ocreola 0.8–1.2 mm, bilobulate, chartaceous, hirtellous; pedicels in flower 0.5–1 mm, pedicels in fruit 1–1.2 mm, thicker, hirsutulous to strigose, pulverulent. Flowers in two whorls, outer tepals 3, inner tepals 2, alternate; flowers functionally male 2–3 × fascicle; hypanthium 0.7–1 mm long, hirtellous, abruptly narrowed at the articulate with the pedicel; tepals 1.2–1.5 mm; outer tepals strigose, coriaceous, inner tepals glabrous, papyraceous; stamens 8, 1.5–2 mm, filaments filiform 1 mm, anthers 0.5 mm; ovary 0.8 mm, trigonous, glabrous, style 3, 0.5 mm; flowers functionally female, solitary, not seen. Fruit acrosarcum, 7.10–9.28 × 6.2–7.5 mm, obpyramidal, sparcely pilose, apex acute to obtuse, base truncate or flat, abruptly contracted at junction with pedicel; hypanthium accrescent, succulent, almost completely enclosing achene, tepals accrescent, papyraceous, sparcely pilose, appressed at the apex tuberculate of the achene. Achene 6–8 × 5.9–6.45 mm, obpyramidal, base truncate or flat, apex tuberculate, conical, prominent, brown, smooth, glossy.

Etymology:—The specific name is dedicated to Dr. Efigenia Melo an expert botanist in South American Coccoloba .

Phenology: — Flowering from March to July some sporadic blooms in September; they bear fruit from June to October.

Distribution and ecology: — Coccoloba efigeniana is distributed from Costa Rica and Panama to the Guianas in South America ( Fig. 5G ), inhabiting tropical forests in an elevation range of 100– 350 m. Fig. 5G shows a disjointed distribution of populations. However, further exploration is still needed to find more populations throughout their distribution.

Provisional conservation status:—The EOO is 338,255.465 km 2, within the threshold for Least Concern (LC) status under subcriterion B1, and the AOO is estimated as 52 km 2, which is below the threshold for Endangered (EN) status under subcriterion B2. There are 28 known occurrences of C. efigeniana representing 10 to 13 subpopulations. Most of the occurrences are located outside of protected natural areas, therefore their populations are threatened by fragmentation and quality, generated by anthropogenic actions such as agriculture, livestock and urban growth. Only 13 occurrences of 4 subpopulations are located within protected natural areas. In Costa Rica, the subpopulation with seven occurrences is located in the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve; The Panama subpopulation with three occurrences is located in the Narganá Wildlife Area. In Colombia, the subpopulation with two occurrences is located in the Paramillo National Natural Park; and the Venezuela subpopulation with two occurrences is found in the La Paragua Forest Reserve. According to the IUCN methodology ( IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2024), if the EOO threshold is lower than the AOO threshold, the EOO should be set equal to the AOO to ensure consistency with the definition of AOO as an area within the EOO. Therefore, C. efigeniana is assigned a preliminary status of Endangered [EN B2ab(iii)].

Discussion:—In the review of C. mollis for South America, Howard (1960b) noted that specimens from French and Dutch Guiana have a different appearance in leaf texture and pubescence color. In addition, the petioles and branches of the inflorescence tend to be longer. He also mentioned that the plants from this area may represent a geographic race, or perhaps even a distinct species. Now that we have observed additional fertile material from this geographic area, we can assure that this is indeed not C. mollis , and is indeed a new species as Howard suggested, and corresponds to C. efigeniana , which is recognized by the triangular or obpyramidal fruits.

Specimens examined:— COLOMBIA. Antioquía: Mutatá, Corregimiento Pavarandó , 23 June 1979, Fonnegra et al. 1305 ( MO) ; Río Anorí valley near Planta Prividencia , 07°30’N, 074°50’W, 350–600 m, 1 July 1976, Shepherd 470 ( MO) ; Córdoba: junction of Río Tigre and Río Manso, Paramillo National Park, 07°30’N, 076°05’W, 200 m, 26 July 1986, Gentry & Cuadros 63803, 63748 ( MO). COSTA RICA. Puntarenas: Osa, R.F. Golfo Dulce, península de Osa , entre Quebrada Banegas y Rancho Quemado, 8°41ʹ00ʺN 8°32ʹ30ʺW, 100‒200 m, 14 July 1998, Aguilar 5457 ( MO, INB) ; Cantón de Osa, R.F. Golfo Dulce, península de Osa (cuello de la península), Los Mongos , 8 km de Chacarita , 8°45ʹ38ʺN 83°17ʹ45ʺW, 250 m, 14 November 1933, Hammel et al., 19117 ( MO) ; Parque Nacional Corcovado, Sirena Woods , 8°28ʹN 83°35ʹW, 50 m, 2 July 1989, Kernan 1208 ( MO) ; Parque Nacional Corcovado, Pavo Forest, poorly drained lowland, 8°27ʹ30ʺN 83°33ʹ38ʺW, 100 m, 14 July 1988, Kernan 700 ( MO). FRENCH GUIANA. Pisté de Saint-Elié 5°19ʹN 53°02ʹW, 18 March 1984, Foresta H. de 550 (US) ; Godebert wachenheim legit, 13 July 1921, collector unknown ; entre 2 et 3 km á I´Est de la Crique Sparouine: plateu Bastin , 5°15ʹ50ʺN 54°13ʹ40ʺW, 140 m, 23 September 2003, Bardenave et al. 7294 (US). PANAMA. Colón: Santa Rita Ridge, 1 March 1971, Croat 13866 ( MO). Panamá: along newly cut road from El Llano to Carti-Tupile, 12 mi. above Pan-Am hwy, 200 to 500 m, 13 March 1973, Croat 22887 ( BM, MEXU) ; 10 km above Pan-Am highway on road from El Llano to Carti-Tupile, Elev. 150 to 350 m, 23 March 1973, Kennedy & Dressler 2947 ( MO). San Blas : comarca de San Blas , El Llano-Cartí Rd. km 19.1, 9°19ʹN 78°55ʹW, 350 m, 11 February 1985, de Nevers & Cavagnaro 4805 ( MO) ; Comarca de San Blas, vecindad del río Nargandi, tierra firme de Norgana caminando hacia la costa, 09°26ʹN 78°35ʹW, 11 August 1994, Herrera et al. 1750 ( MEXU, MO) ; comarca de San Blas, El Llano-Cartí rd. km 19.1, 9°19ʹN 78°55ʹW, 350 m, 11 February 1985, de Nevers & Cavagnaro 4810 ( MO) ; along newly cut road from El Llano to Carti-Tupile, Continental divide to 1 mi from dive, 300–500 m, 30 March 1973, Liesner 1313 ( BM, MEXU, MO) ; comarca de San Blas, El Lano-Carti road, 13.8 km to 19 km from interamerican hwy. 9°19ʹN 78°55ʹW, 350 m, 3 September 1984, de Nevers & Porras 3818 ( MO) ; comarca de San Blas, El Lano-Carti road, 13.8 km to 19 km from interamerican hwy. 9°19ʹN 78°55ʹW, 350 m, 1 July 1985, de Nevers 5945 ( MO). SURINAME. Para: Kennedyweg km 42, asentamiento Aucaner , 10–20 m, 3 June 2006, Andel et al. 5316 (L, U) ; Utrecht ( Holland ), 05°27’36”N, 055°12’36”W, 30 January 1923, Stahel 66 ( MO) ; Zanderij, 16 December 1916, B.W. 2528 (US). Zanderij I. Bradilifi, 05°27’36”N, 055°12’36”W, Stahel 189 ( MO, US). VENEZUELA. Bolívar: Río Coroní Valley, Guayana , 400 m, November 1947, Cardona 2207 (US) ; Alto Rio Paragua, Cardona 1183 ( NY, US) ; Río Coroní Valley, Guayana , 400 m, November 1947, Cardona 2209 ( US) .

Miranda: Dto. Paéz ; carretera San Juan-Montevideo , 10°04’N, 065°45’W, 450 m, González & Ortega 1384 ( MO) ; cerros del Bachiller, near east end, virgin evergreen forest, between base and summit, above Quebrada Corozal, south of Santa Cruz, 10 km (by air) west of Cúpira , 10°09’N, 065°48’W, 200 m, 20 March– 26 March 1978, Steyermark & Davidse 116928 ( MO) ; Yaracuy: selva nublada virgen en la fila de la cumbre, El Amparo hacia Candelaria , a 7 km al norte de Salom, 1220 m, 17 June –19 June 1972, Steyermark 106289 ( MO) ; Dto. Nirgua. Picacho de Nirgua , 1350 m, 8 July 1978, Benítez de Rojas 2357 ( MO) ; Distrito Nirgua , selva nublada húmeda, El Amparo, 10–11 km al norte de Salom, 10°13’N, 068°29’W, 1200 m, Steyermark et al. 114128 ( MO) .

Figures

FIGURE 5.A. Specimen of Coccoloba efigeniana (J. Marín 112, MO); B. Portion of inflorescence, bracteole and ochreola; C.Acrosarcum lateral view; D. Acrosarcum polar view; E. Achene lateral view; F.Achene polar view; G. Distribution model.