Desmopsis brachypoda G.E.Schatz & Maas, 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 : 71-72

3. Desmopsis brachypoda G.E.Schatz & Maas , sp. nov. — Fig. 1b–e ; Map 3

Desmopsis brachypoda is recognized by its leaves which are verruculose on both sides and rather densely to sparsely covered with appressed hairs below, relatively small number of secondary veins (6–8 per side), short pedicels (10–15 mm long) with scale-like basal and upper bracts. — Type: Monro & Cafferty 4904 (holo MO; iso BM 2 sheets, INB, MEXU, PMA), Panama, Bocas del Toro, Caribbean slope of Cerro Fábrega at foot of ‘ Falso Fábrega’ in Palo Seco Reserve , second northernmost tributary of Culubre River , Pavón Camp , 1300 m, 23 Mar. 2005 .

Tree 2–8 m tall, c. 10 cm diam; young twigs and petiole rather densely covered with appressed, brown hairs, soon glabrous. Leaves: petiole 5–10 mm long, c. 1 mm diam; lamina elliptic, 10–16 by 4–7 cm, chartaceous, verruculose on both sides, glabrous above, except for some hairs along primary vein, rather densely to sparsely covered with appressed hairs below, base obtuse and slightly attenuate, apex acute to acuminate (acumen 5–10 mm long), primary vein impressed above, secondary veins 6–8 on either side of primary vein, slightly raised above, tertiary veins slightly raised above, reticulate. Inflorescence and flower indument: pedicels and outer side of bracts, sepals, and petals densely to rather densely covered with appressed hairs. Inflorescences 1–2(–8)-flowered, leaf-opposed; pedicels 10–15 mm long, c. 1 mm diam; basal and upper bract scale-like, broadly ovate-triangular, 1–3 mm long; sepals broadly triangular, 4–6 by 4–6 mm, reflexed; petals pale green to pale yellow, subequal, narrowly triangular, 15–21 by 3–4 mm, margins revolute. Monocarps 3–9, yellow-green, maturing bright orange, oblongoid-ellipsoid, 10–22 by 7–15 mm, glabrous, apex rounded, slightly constricted between the seeds upon drying, wall c. 0.3 mm thick, stipes 4–11 mm long, 1–3 mm diam. Seeds 2–5, in one row, discoid or hemispherical, 9–11 by 2–3 mm, smooth to slightly grooved.

Distribution — Panama.

Habitat & Ecology — In semi-evergreen forest.At elevations of 980–1300 m. Flowering: March; fruiting: March.

Vernacular names — Not recorded.

Other specimens examined. PANAMA, Bocas del Toro, Caribbean slope of Cerro Fábrega at foot of ‘Falso Fábrega’ in Palo Seco Reserve, second northernmost tributary of Culubre River, Pavón Camp, 980 m, Monro & Cafferty 4692 (BM, MO, PMA), 1300 m, Monro & Cafferty 4882 (PMA); Parque Internacional La Amistad, faldas del Cerro Falso Fabrega, 1020 m, Santamaria et al. 7708 (PMA); Changuinola, Parque Internacional La Amistad, 999 m, Solano et al. 5817 (PMA).

Note — Desmopsis brachypoda is distinguished by its relatively short pedicels (10–15 mm long), hence the specific name. It is also characterized by an indument of appressed hairs on the lower leaf side, and a relatively low number of secondary veins (only 6–8).

Figures

Fig. 1 a. Desmopsis bibracteata (B.L.Rob.) Saff. Flowering and fruiting branches. — b, d, e. Desmopsis brachypoda G.E.Schatz & Maas. b, d. Flowering branch; e. flowering and fruiting branches. — c. Desmopsis biseriata G.E.Schatz & Maas. Fruiting branch. — f. Desmopsis colombiana G.E.Schatz & Maas. Flowering branch (a: Schatz 1087; b. Monro & Cafferty 4904, type, MO; c. Nee & Hansen 14106, type, MO; d, e. Monro & Cafferty 4904; f. Maas et al. 10483). — Photos by: a. G.E. Schatz; d, e. A. Monro; f. P.J.M. Maas.