Desmopsis wendtii G.E.Schatz, 2018

Schatz, G. E., Maas, P. J. M., Kamer, H. Maas-van de, Westra, L. Y. T. & Wieringa, J. J., 2018, Revision of the Neotropical genus Desmopsis (Annonaceae), Blumea 63 (1), pp. 67-86 : 83-84

25. Desmopsis wendtii G.E.Schatz , sp. nov. — Fig. 4c ; Map 8

Desmopsis wendtii is recognized by its strictly trunciflorous inflorescences, relatively long pedicels (30–50 mm long) bearing scale-like basal and upper bracts, unequal petals, the inner petals narrower, and 12–17 ovules in two rows. — Type: Wendt et al. 4053 (holo CHAPA; iso MEXU, MO, NY, U, WIS, XAL), Mexico, Veracruz, Mun. Minatitlán, 12 km NE of Uxpanapa, along road to Díaz Ordaz , loma SW of Díaz Ordaz and NW of Poblado, 200 m, 13 May 1983 .

Tree 10–14 m tall, 25–40 cm diam; young twigs sparsely cover- ed with appressed hairs, soon glabrous. Leaves: petiole 7–15 mm long, 1–3 mm diam; lamina oblong-elliptic to oblongobovate, 10–30 by 3–10 cm, chartaceous, shiny and glabrous above, glabrous below, base acute, apex acuminate (acumen 5–15 mm long), primary vein impressed above, secondary veins 8–12 on either side of primary vein, raised above, tertiary veins raised above, reticulate. Inflorescence and flower indument: pedicels and outer side of bracts, sepals, and petals sparsely covered with appressed hairs to glabrous. Inflorescences 1–3- flowered, borne on the main trunk from near the base to 2 m high; pedicels 30–50 mm long, c. 1 mm diam; basal and upper bracts scale-like, broadly ovate, 1–2 mm long; sepals broadly ovate, 3–6 by 3–6 mm, spreading; petals greenish yellow to yellow, with a red blush inside at the base at anthesis, unequal, outer petals elliptic to ovate, 20–30 by 8–14 mm, inner ones oblong-elliptic, 24–25 by 7–9 mm; carpels 5–10, ovaries 2–2.5 mm long, densely covered with appressed, silvery hairs, stigma spherical to obpyriform, c. 1 mm diam, sparsely covered with appressed hairs, ovules 12–17, in two rows. Monocarps and seeds unknown.

Distribution — Mexico (Veracruz).

Habitat & Ecology — In tropical wet forest with Acacia usamacintensis , Brosimum sp. , Compsoneura sprucei , Dialium sp. , Guarea sp. , Guatteria grandiflora , Pouteria sapota , Terminalia sp. , Zuelania sp. , etc. At an elevation of c. 200 m. Flowering: April, May; fruiting: not known.

Vernacular names — Not recorded.

Field observations — ‘Flowers with a fragrance of ripe banana, with an element of formalin’ (Wendt et al. 4053, Mexico).

Other specimens examined. MEXICO, Veracruz, Mun. Minatitlán, 12 km NE of Uxpanapa, along road to Díaz Ordaz, loma SW of Díaz Ordaz and NW of Poblado, 200 m, Schatz & Wendt 988 (MEXU, MO, WIS).

Note — The strictly trunciflorous habit distinguishes D. wendtii . The flower closely resembles those of the genus Guatteria , which, however, possess a single basal ovule, imbricate petals, and axillary inflorescences. The biseriate condition of the ovules is shared with a number of species from Costa Rica including D. biseriata (also from Panama), D. heteropetala , and D. talamancana .

Figures

Fig. 4 a. Desmopsis talamancana G.E.Schatz & Maas. Fruiting branch. — b. Desmopsis uxpanapensis G.E.Schatz. Flowering branch. — c. Desmopsis wendtii G.E.Schatz. Flowering branch (a: Aguilar & Jiménez Madrigal 4317, type, U; b: Wendt et al. 4838, MO; c: Wendt et al. 4053, type, WIS).