Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew, 2019

Chantarasuwan, B., Sungkaew, S., Pruesapan, K., Baas, P. & Welzen, P. C. van, 2019, Ficus pongumphaii (Moraceae), a new species from Thailand, compared with the ambiguous species F. talbotii, Blumea 64 (2), pp. 108-114 : 110

Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew , sp. nov. — Fig. 1 , 2 , 3a 2, b2, c2, d2 , 4a 2, b2

Shrub, at least up to 3 m high. Leafy twig brown pubescent to tomentose to villous. Leaf lamina elliptic to suborbicular to obovate, upper surface whitish or brown tomentellous, lower surface brown floccose tomentose to villous. Fig pedunculate,basal bracts persistent,strigose.Receptacle obovate,brown floccose or villous. Synconial internal hairs present. Epidermis multi-layers. Enlarged lithocysts abundant adaxially and only few abaxially. — Type: B. Chantarasuwan 180910-4 (holo THNHM; iso L), Thailand, Lop Buri, Thawung, Wat Khao Samorkhorn , 18 Sept. 2010 .

Deciduous shrub, up to 3 m tall, intermittent growth not prominent. Leafy twig 1.5–2.5 mm thick, brown pubescent to tomentose to villous, periderm persistent. Leaf spirally arranged, lamina elliptic to suborbicular to obovate, 2.7–6.5 by 1.9–4.8 cm, apex apiculate, the acumen blunt, base cuneate, upper surface whitish or brown tomentellous, lower surface brown floccose tomentose to villous, lateral veins 5–7 pairs, usually branching (furcated away from margin), basal pairs ending up to 2/5–1/2 the length of the lamina, usually branching. Petiole 0.8–1 cm long, brown tomentose, drying brown, epidermis persistent. Stipule 0.4–0.6 cm long, persistent, brown strigose or tomentose, epidermis of bud scale persistent. Figs in axils of leaves or just below the leaves, solitary or pairs, peduncle 2–3 mm long, tomentose; basal bracts 3, 1–1.5 mm long, brown strigose, persistent. Receptacle obovate, 0.6–0.7 cm diam when dry, brown floccose or villous, apex convex, ostiole c. 2 mm diam, upper ostiolar bracts glabrous; internal hairs present. Staminate flowers dispersed, sessile to pedicellate, tepals 2 (or 3), ovate, obovate or spatulate, free, red-brown. Pistillate flowers sessile to pedicellate, ovary red-brown, tepals 3, ovate, obovate or spatulate, free, red-brown.

Distribution & Habitat — A species seemingly endemic to Thailand, occurring on limestone hills at a 30–600 m elevation.

Specimens examined. THAILAND, P. Palee 278 ( L), Chiang Mai, Sanh Gahm Pang , 2 May 1995 ; A. Marcan 1437 ( BM), Ratchaburi, 15 July 1924 ; R. Pooma , K. Phattahirankanok , S. Sirimongkol , M. Poopath 3820 ( BKF, L), Lopburi, Tha Wung, Wat Khao Samorkhorn , 20 Apr. 2004 ; P. Phonsena, D. Chusithong , N. Loetsombunsuk 5718 ( BK, BKF, L), Lopburi, Tha Wung, Wat Khao Samorkhorn , 21 Dec. 2007 ; B. Chantarasuwan 180910-4 ( L, THNHM), Lopburi, Tha Wung, Wat Khao Samorkhorn , 18 Aug. 2010 ; B. Chantarasuwan 081212-2 ( L), Lopburi, Tha Wung, Wat Khao Samorkhorn , 8 Dec. 2012 ; Put 2394 ( BK), Saraburi, Hin Lap , 18 Aug.1929 ; Nai Noe 130 ( BK), Muak Lek, Kao Mak Kok , 17 July 1925 ; C. F. van Beusekom & T. Smitinand 2036 ( BKF, L), Chon Buri, Sriracha, Sri Chang island , 7 Nov. 1969 .

Figures

Fig. 1 Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew. a. Twig with leaves and figs; b. figs; c. fig in longitudinal section; d. staminate flower; e. stamen; f. sessile pistillate flower; g. pedicelled pistillate flower (B. Chantarasuwan 180910-4, THNHM). — Drawing: Pajaree Inthachup, 2015.

Fig. 2 Photos of live Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew. a. Habit in natural habitat; b–d. twigs with leaves and figs; e. fig; f. fig in longitudinal sec- tion. — Photos by Bhanumas Chantarasuwan.

Fig. 3 Cross sections and cuticular macerations of the leaf laminas of Ficus talbotii King (left column) and Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew (right column). a1. Leaf margin without indumentum of F. talbotii; a2. leaf margin with indumentum of F. pongumphaii; b1. lamina of F. talbotii showing multi-layered epidermis on both sides and enlarged lithocysts on both surfaces; b2. lamina of F. pongumphaii showing multi-layered epidermis on both sides and enlarged lithocysts adaxially; c1. abaxial cuticular maceration of F. talbotii showing few hairs (black arrows); c2. abaxial cuticular maceration of F. pongumphaii showing many hairs; d1. petiole of F. talbotii with few hairs; d2. petiole of F. pongumphaii with an abundant hairs (a1, b1, d1: M. Nur SFN 34388, L; a2, b2, c2: R. Pooma et al. 3820, L; c1: M.F. Newman et al. 1148, L; d2: B. Chantarasuwan 180910-4, THNHM). — Photos by Bhanumas Chantarasuwan.

Fig. 4 Free hand paradermal leaf surfaces of Ficus talbotii King (left column) and Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew (right column). a1. Abaxial paradermal leaf surface of F. talbotii showing radiating epidermal cells around lithocysts (black arrows); a2. abaxial paradermal leaf surface of F. pongumphaii showing a few radiating epidermal cells around lithocysts (black arrows) and abundant hairs; b1. adaxial paradermal leaf surface of F. talbotii showing radiating epidermal cells around lithocysts (black arrows) and no indumentum; b2. adaxial paradermal leaf surface of F. pongumphaii showing radiating epidermal cells around lithocysts (black arrows) (a1, b1: M.F. Newman et al. 1148, L; a2, b2: P. Palee 278, L). — Photos by Bhanumas Chantarasuwan.