Justicia longibracteata J. R. I. Wood & R. Villanueva, 2025

Villanueva-Espinoza, Rosa, Deng, Yunfei, Scotland, Robert & Wood, John R. I., 2025, Preliminary notes on Justicia (Acanthaceae) in Peru, PhytoKeys 258, pp. 1-123 : 1-123

22. Justicia longibracteata J. R. I. Wood & R. Villanueva sp. nov.

Type.

Peru • [Loreto], “ Prope Yurimaguas, ad flumen Huallaga, Peruviae orientalis , ” May 1855, R. Spruce 3868 (holotype K-000202092 ex Herb Hooker, isotype K-000202093 ex Herb. Bentham, this additionaly labelled “ in sylvis praecipue recontioribus ”

Diagnosis.

Similar to Justicia miguelii V. A. W. Graham but differing as follows: leaves clearly petiolate with petioles 2–4.5 cm (not subsessile or with petioles <10 mm); bracts linear / subulate 5.5–7 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide at base (not c. 3 cm long and 1–3 mm wide; calyx lobes longer and narrower, c. 17–21 × 1.5 mm, drawn out gradually to a fine point (not 15–17 mm long and 3 mm wide, abruptly narrowed and ± cuspidate apically); corolla shorter 5–5.5 cm long (not up to 7 cm long), clearly exceeded by the bracts (not clearly exceeding the bracts). Also, somewhat resembling J. riedeliana but distinguished by the different shaped corolla with a gradually widened tube (not subcylindrical), longer bracts and calyx lobes.

Description.

Subshrub 0.5–1.5 m in height; stems ± terete, obscurely bifariously crisped puberulent. Leaves equal in each pair, petiolate, lamina 6–17 × 3–6 cm, apex acuminate, base attenuate and slightly decurrent, both surfaces subglabrous, adaxially with small cystoliths, abaxially the venation not very prominent with c. 6 lateral pairs, midvein puberulent when young, glabrescent; petioles 2–4.5 cm, glabrescent. Inflorescence of dense terminal spikes c. 8–12 cm long and 10 cm broad because of abundant linear bracts, the flowers imbricate; rhachis pubescent; peduncles 0–1.5 cm; bracts and bracteoles similar, 55–70 × 0.5–1 mm, linear, hirsute with long trichomes mixed with shorter trichomes; calyx 5 - lobed to base, lobes erect, 17–21 × 1–1.5 mm, lanceolate, gradually narrowed to a long, fine apex, pubescent; corolla 5–5.5 cm long, pinkish-purple, pubescent in bud, tube 3 mm wide at base, gradually widened to c. 7 mm after 3.5 cm, 2 - lipped, upper lip lanceolate, bifid, lower lip 3 - lobed, the lobes ovate, rounded, c. 10 × 8 mm; anther thecae oblong, 1.5 × 0.5 mm, strongly superposed, glabrous, the lower with a basal appendage; ovary glabrous. Capsule and seed not seen.

Illustration.

Fig. 21 .

Etymology.

This species is named “ longibracteata ” because of the exceptionally long bracts, which are its most distinctive feature.

Phenology.

Found in flower from May to October.

Habitat.

Lowland rainforest, c. 150– 210 m.

Distribution.

Endemic to Amazonian Peru and apparently restricted to the Yurimaguas area. Fig. 60 .

Material examined.

Peru • Loreto: Prov. de Alto Amazonas, Dist. Yurimaguas, Yurimaguas, River Huallaga , the type ; • ibid., Aug. 1902, E. Ule 6285 ( K, L) ; • ibid. lower Río Huallaga , 155–210 m, Oct. – Nov. 1929, Ll. Williams 4094 ( F) ; • ibid., 22 Oct. 1929, Ll. Williams 3900 ( F) ; Prov. Requena, Dist. Requena, Requena , 200–207 m, Oct. 2008. M. Ocrospoma 084 ( USM) .

Figures

Figure 21. Justicia longibracteata A habit B bract C bracteole D calyx E Corolla opened out to show stamens F anther G ovary. Justicia miguelii H inflorescence showing bracts and corolla. A – G drawn from Spruce 3868 H from Wood 18401 by Margaret Tebbs.

Figure 60. Distribution of Justicia riedeliana (blue circles), J. sprucei (yellow square), J. longibracteata (purple polygons) and J. rusbyi (red triangles) in Peru.