Lycianthes peninsularis M. Anguiano & Aarón Rodr., 2025

Anguiano-Constante, Marco Antonio & Rodríguez, Aarón, 2025, A new species of Lycianthes series Meizonodontae (Capsiceae, Solanaceae) from the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, Phytotaxa 701 (3), pp. 250-260 : 251-256

Lycianthes peninsularis M. Anguiano & Aarón Rodr. , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 and 2 , Table 1).

Type:— MEXICO. Baja California Sur: La Paz, Sierra de La Laguna , Rancho Termopilas, km 16 de la brecha a San Antonio de la Sierra, 23°42’9.88” N, 109°59’8.86”W, 807 m, 14 September 2021 (fl, fr), M. Anguiano et al. 902 (holotype: IBUG!; isotype MEXU!) .

Diagnosis:— Lycianthes peninsularis differs from L. dejecta by its decumbent stem growth, indument of simple trichomes or glabrous, calyx appendage not reflexed in fruit, and fruit round, ovoid or conic and light green at maturity.

Geophyte, prostrate to decumbent, to 1 m in diameter. Indument of simple, white, uniseriate, multicellular, eglandular, spreading trichomes. Roots fusiform, to 25 cm long, 5 cm in diameter. Stems green or variegated with darker green lines, pubescent to glabrescent; first sympodial unit decumbent; first sympodial branching point dichasial, followed by a mixture of monochasial and dichasial branching; subsequent sympodial growth extensive, the sympodial units bifoliate. Leaves simple, those of the upper sympodia usually paired and unequal in size, the larger ones with blades 4.2–14.2 × 2.7–8.9 cm, the smaller ones with blades 1.8–6 (–7) × (0.7–) 1–4 cm, leaf pairs similar in shape, blades ovate to deltate, chartaceous, glabrous to pubescent, primary veins 4–6 on each side of the midvein, base cuneate to attenuate, decurrent onto the petiole, margin entire, apex acute, petioles 0.3–1.5 cm long. Flowers solitary, axillary, oriented horizontally; peduncles absent; pedicels (37.2–) 45.6–69 (–85.2) mm and erect in flower, (30.8–) 72.3–103.5 (–115.3) mm long and deflexed in fruit, glabrous to moderately pubescent with spreading trichomes; calyx 2.5–4.8 mm long, 3–5.6 mm in diameter, obconic, margin truncate, with 10 linear, somewhat spreading appendages 3–7 mm long; fruiting calyx enlarged, (2.7–) 4–6.8 (–12) mm long, (5–) 9–15 mm in diameter, appendages lax and lying against the fruit, 4–8 (–10) mm long; corolla 1.2–2.3 cm long, (1.7–) 2.2–4.6 cm in diameter, rotate to reflexed in orientation, with abundant interpetalar tissue, white to lilac, with maroon to purple stripes along the major veins adaxially, green, white, or purple and glabrous veins abaxially; stamens unequal, straight to curved, the four shortest 6–7.1 mm long, the longest one 9.9–11.3 mm long, the anthers ovate to lanceolate, free of one another, yellow, glabrous, poricidal at the tips, pores ovate; pistil with glabrous ovary 2.6 mm long, style 10.7–11.5 mm, linear, straight to curved downward, the stigma lobed. Fruit a berry, remaining attached to calyx at maturity, pendent, (4.3–) 8.2–16 mm long, (7.4–) 9.4–17.21 mm in diameter, round, ovoid to conic, exocarp light green to green at maturity. Seeds 1.9–3.6 × 1.8–2.7 mm, rounded, slightly compressed, reniform to depressed-obovate, dark brown to black.

Distribution and ecology: — Mexico. Baja California Peninsula: Baja California Sur, La Paz, in the Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra de La Laguna ( Fig. 3 ). The habitat includes the tropical dry forest, oak forest and oak-pine forest ( Fig. 4 ). It has been found between 600 and 1700 m elevation. It shares habitat with Bursera spp. , Brahea brandegeei (Purpus) H.E. Moore (1975: 168) , Calliandra spp. , Cylindropuntia spp. , Ferocactus townsendianus Britton & Rose (1922: 127) , Jatropha spp. , Opuntia spp. , Quercus albocincta Trel. (1924: 193) , Pinus lagunae (Rob. -Pass.) Passini (1987: 337) , Populus brandegeei C.K. Schneid. (1904: 23) , Prosopis spp. , Quercus brandegeei Goldman (1916: 321) , Quercus tuberculata Liebm. (1854: 181) , Vachellia farnesiana (L.) Wight & Arn. (1834: 272).

Preliminary conservation status: — Lycianthes peninsularis is endemic to the Sierra de La Laguna. It is represented by six populations and eight collections. Each population has more than 10 individuals. The EOO is 151.879 km 2, and the AOO is 24 km 2. Based on the IUCN (2022) criterion B geographic range size, the preliminary assessment category is Endangered (EN). The main threats of L. peninsularis are farming and deforestation.

Phenology: —Flowering specimens have been collected from July to September, while specimens with mature berries have been collected from September to November. The corollas open at 7:00 am and close at 11:00 am.

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the Baja California Peninsula, the region where the plants grow.

Additional specimens examined (Paratype): — MEXICO. Baja California Sur: La Paz, Sierra de La Laguna, cañón La Burrera Agua del Palmillar, 866 m, 23°31’44.94’’N, 110°1’39.86’’W, 21 October 1993 (fr), J. L. León de la

Luz 6962 (HCIB!); El Paraje de Cano, Sierra de La Victoria, 1614 m, 23°35’N, 109°55’W, 30 September 1994 (fr), M. Domínguez 800 ( HCIB!) ; Sierra de La Laguna, Sierra la Victoria, Rancho San Antonio de La Sierra , 600 m, 23°40’ N, 109°53’W, 28 August 1997 (fl), M. Domínguez 2027 ( HCIB!) ; Sierra de La Laguna, Agua del Palmillar , 865 m, 23.528476° N, 110.027038° W, 2 September 2008 (fl), J. L. León de la Luz 8131 ( HCIB!) ; Sierra de La Laguna, Sierra Victoria, en las faldas lado E del Cerro Las Mulas , Rancho Fisher a su lado E, 1614 m, 23.604116°N, 109.92731°W, 23 August 2017 (fl), A. Medel-Narváez et al. 951 ( HCIB!) ; Rancho Termopilas, km 16 de brecha a San Antonio de la Sierra , Sierra de La Laguna , 675 m, 23°42’9.88’’N, 109°59’8.86’’ W, 14 September 2021 (fl, fr), M. Anguiano et al. 901 ( IBUG!). Rancho Termopilas, km 16 de brecha a San Antonio de La Sierra , Sierra de La Laguna , 675 m, 23.702764°N, 109.985805°W, 23 September 2021 (fl, fr), E. Ruiz-Sanchez et al. 720 ( IBUG!)

Specimens examined of Lycianthes dejecta : — MEXICO. Aguascalientes: Calvillo, La Labor, El Zapote de La Labor, 5 km al noreste de La Labor, 1826 m, 21°58’33.54’’N, 102°39’4.19’’W, 29 August 2022 (fl), M. Anguiano et al. 980 (IBUG!). El Llano, 1 km al SW de Palo Alto, 2014 m, 21°54’28’’N, 101°58’15’’W, 24 June 2013 (fl), J. C. Sierra-Muñoz 758 (HUAA!, MEXU!). Durango: Durango, 1890 m, 24° 1’ N, 104° 39’ W, April to November 1896 (fl, fr), E. Palmer 347 (BM!, G!, K!, NY!, S!). Súchil, 4.8 km al noroeste de Súchil o 1.5 km al noroeste de la Hacienda El Mortero, 1962 m, 23°39’50.21’’N, 103°56’53.55’’W, 9 July 2023 (fl), M. Anguiano et al. 1010 (IBUG!). Vicente Guerrero: 7 km al SSE, por la carretera a Súchil, 1970 m, 23°40’45’’N, 103°57’5’’W, 25 July 1984 (fl), S. González 2854 (ANSM!, CIIDIR!, CFNL!, IBUG!, IEB!, SLPM!). Guanajuato: Cerca de San Miguel Allende, Río Laja, Atotonilco, 1850 m, [20°59’55.53’’N, 100°48’19.79’’W], 8 August 1980 (fl), Kishler 923 (MEXU!). San José de Iturbide: Near Rancho El Guajolote, SW of San José Iturbide, one hwy exit S of exit to San José on W side of hwy 57, take dirt road E and cross river, 1829 m, [20°54’11.31’’N, 100°24’55.17’’W], 16 September 1991 (fl, fr), E. Dean & T. Starbuck 253 (DAV!, MEXU!, NY!, UC!, XAL!). San Luis de la Paz: Mesa de Pueblo, along road NW of town, 2348 m, [21° 24’ 49.97’’ N, 100° 35’ 2.32’’ W], 4 June 1991 (fl), E. Dean & T. Starbuck 224 (XAL!). Rancho La Misión, 8 Km al noreste de San Luis de la Paz, 2900 m, [21°20’18.86’’N, 100°27’55.47’’W], 11 August 1988 (fr), E. Ventura & E. López 6129 (CIIDIR!, IEB!, MEXU!). Cerro de la Santa Cruz, 2000 m, [21°16’51.45’’N, 100°30’48.64’’W], 21 June 1990 (fl), E. Ventura & E. López 8363 (IEB!, MEXU!). Predio El Cortijo, a 16 km al NE de la ciudad de Dolores Hidalgo sobre la carretera a San Luis de la Paz, 1906 m, 21°13’8’’N, 100°47’54’’W, 17 August 1996, R. Ocampo 47 (QMEX!). Santa Brígida, camino a Pozos, 2100 m, [21°16’N, 100°30’W], 18 July 1991 (fl), E. Ventura & E. López 9284 (CIIDIR!, IEB!, MEXU!). Mesa del Pueblo, 8 Km al norte de San Luis de la Paz, 1850 m, [21°21’19.31’’N, 100°20’36.59’’W], 17 July 1989 (fl), E. Ventura & E. López 6871 (CIIDIR!, IEB!, MEXU!). Hidalgo: Ajacuba: Rincón del Gato, barranca al norte del poblado Emiliano Zapata, Sierra de Chicavasco, ejido Emiliano Zapata, 2280 m, 20°9’30’’N, 99°1’30’’W, 20 August 1988 (fl), I. Díaz et al. 27 (MEXU!). Tepeapulco: Cerro Tres Peñas, 2500 m, [19°48’43.67’’N, 98°32’59.8’’W], 9 September 1975 (fr), A. Ventura 248 (CAS, IEB!, F!, MEXU!, MO, UCR). Terrenos de Tepeapulco, 2600 m, [19°49’N, 98°31’W], 14 August1975 (fr), A. Ventura 402 (ARIZ, CIIDIR!, F!, MEXU!). Outskirts of Tepeapulco, base of Cerro Tres Peñas, near ruin of Jihuingo and rock quarry, 2530 m, [19°49’N, 98°32’W], 21 Septiembre 1991, E. Dean & T. Starbuck 261 (DAV!, MEXU!, UC, XAL!). Cerro Xihuingo, Los Cides 5 km al noreste de Tepeapulco, 2517 m, 19° 48’ 26.3” N, 98° 31’ 45.4” W, 24 September 2022 (fr), M. Anguiano et al. 985 (IBUG!). Tolcayuca: Carretera 40D, km 119 Atlacomulco-Puebla (Arco Norte), 2400 m, 19°57’3.11’’N, 98°59’25.2’’W, 24 September 2022 (fr), M. Anguiano et al. 982 (IBUG!). 3.3 km al NE de Tolcayuca rumbo al mirador, 2551 m, 19°58’30’’N, 98°56’38.61’’W, 16 September 2023 (fr), M. Anguiano & A. Rodríguez 1040 (IBUG!). Jalisco: Lagos de Moreno: Carretera Lagos de Moreno-León, km 31, 2020 m, [21°10’25.94’’N, 101°43’25.56’’W], 15 July 1991 (fl), H. Arreola-Nava 1270a (IBUG! IEB!). Ojuelos de Jalisco: Chinampas Jalisco, 1.7 km al norte de la carretera Mex. 70 (Ojuelos-Aguascalientes), 2112 m, 21°48’57.46’’N, 101°48’58.24’’W, 1 October 2019 (fr), M. Anguiano et al. 692 (IBUG!). Same locality, 5 July 2021 (fl), J. P. Ortiz-Brunel 1118 (IBUG!). México: Valley of Mexico, fields, near Guadalupe Mt. Zacualco, [19°38’17.52’’N, 98°16’28.43’’W], 10 July 1865 (fr), M. Bourgeau 543 (BR!, F!, G!, M!, P!). Valley of Mexico, c. San Cristóbal, 2800 m, [19°35’12.67’’N, 99°5’11.15’’W], 25 May 1951 (fl), E. Matuda 21145 (MEXU!). Ecatepec: 2 km al noreste de San Andrés de las Cañadas, 2771 m, 19°35’3.59’’N, 99°5’46.12’’W, 27 July 1983 (fl), R. Fernández 1682 (IEB!, ENCB, MEXU!). Rancho El Copal, cerca de San Juan Ixhuatepec, 2400 m, [19°31’38.44’’N, 99°6’32.08’’W], 14 September 1982 (fr), J. Rzedowski 37903 (IEB!, ENCB). Huehuetoca: N of Huehuetoca along the road to Apaxco, ca. 4.2 road mi from building Los Arcos in downtown Huehuetoca, W side of rd, 2165 m, [19°53’21.82’’N, 99°12’ 5081’’W], 1 July 1990 (fl), E. Dean & L. Solano 202 (BM, DAV!, MEXU!, MO, NY!, UC, XAL!). Same locality, 3 August 1991 (fl), E. Dean & T. Starbuck 243 (DAV!, MEXU!, UC, XAL!). Same locality, 29 October 1991, E. Dean & T. Starbuck 304 (DAV!, MEXU!, XAL!). Michoacán: Zinapécuaro: 0.5 km al noroeste del balneario Atzimba, 1890 m, 19°52’11’’N, 100°50’37’’W, 24 July 2011 (fl), P. Carrillo-Reyes 6384 (IBUG!, IEB!). Nuevo León: Galeana: Puerto Encino, km 55 de la carretera Méx. 58 Linares-Galeana, 1760 m, 24°44’38’’N, 99°58’21.7’’W, 25 October 2017 (fr), M. Anguiano et al. 454 (IBUG!). 16.5 km al sureste de Puerto Los Pastores camino a Río de San José, 1652 m, 24°39’45.98’’N, 99°57’5.69’’W, 10 October 2020 (fr), M. Anguiano et al. 883 (IBUG!). General Zaragoza: Cascada El Salto, 1526 m, 23°56’51’’N, 99°45’22’’W, 28 September 2017 (fr), M. Anguiano & G. Munguía-Lino 400 (IBUG!). Cerro el Viejo, 4 km al noreste de Zaragoza, 1627 m, 23°58’13.05’’N, 99°44’32.12’’W, 11 October 2020 (fr), M. Anguiano et al. 888 (IBUG!). Puebla: Caltepec: 5 km a partir de la carretera Mex. 125, camino a Caltepec, 1.2 km después de Atecoxco, 2156 m, 18°12’11.61’’N, 97°32’40.47’’W, 15 September 2023 (fl), M. Anguiano & A. Rodríguez 1025 (IBUG!). 2 km al SE de Caltepec, camino a San Luis Atolotitlán, 2080 m, 18°10’45.72’’N, 97°28’10.18’’W, 15 September 2023 (fr), M. Anguiano & A. Rodríguez 1026 (IBUG!). Between Cerro Pochote and Cerro Gavilán Chico in hills SE of town of Caltepec, along road to Atolotitlán, near small valley called La Laguna, 2073–2104 m, 18°10’42.3’’N, 97°28’11.23’’W, 15 July 1991 (fl), E. Dean & T. Starbuck 228 (DAV!, IEB!, MEXU!, XAL!). Querétaro: Ezequiel Montes: Bernal, alrededores de la Peña de Bernal, antes de comenzar a subir la peña, 2144 m, 20°44’48.06’’N, 99°57’0.17’’W, 4 July 2021 (fl), M. Anguiano 896 (IBUG!). Huimilpan: along road to Los Cues, 6 road km E of intersection with Querétaro-Huimilpan road, just NE of 3 km marker, 2297 m, [20°29’46.07’’N, 100°18’13.9’’W], 2 July 1990 (fl), E. Dean & L. Solano 204 (DAV!, MEXU!, NY!, XAL!). 0.5 road km S of marker for km along the road between city of Querétaro and Huimilpan, N side of road leading down to upper reaches of barranca, 2297 m, [20°30’10.41’’N, 100°19’30.09’’W], 2 July 1990 (fl), E. Dean & L. Solano 203 (BM!, DAV!, F!, MEXU!, MO, NY!, UC, XAL!). Querétaro: Los Jazmines, a 3.1 km al N de Rancho El Nabo, 1920 m, 20°43’15.7’’N, 100°26’40.5’’W, 23 June 2001 (fl), L. Quistian-Rangel 8 (QMEX!). San Luis Potosí: Zaragoza, 1 km al este de El Xoconoxtla, km 231 de la carretera Méx.70 San Luis Potosí-Río Verde, 2134 m, 22°6’ 3’’N, 100°41’40.5’’W, 29 September 2017 (fr), M. Anguiano & G. Munguía-Lino 405 (IBUG!). Same locality, 20 September 2020 (fr), M. Anguiano et al. 865 (IBUG!).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lycianthes peninsularis. A. Mature plant. B. Abaxial side of open corolla. C. Lateral view of open corolla. D. Mature fruit. E. Closed corolla. F. Root. Illustration by Fátima Bracamontes based on the type material (M. Anguiano et al. 902, IBUG).

FIGURE 2. Lycianthes peninsularis. A. Growth habit.B. Root. C. Closed corolla. D. Fruit. E.Abaxial side of open corolla. F. Lateral view open corolla. G. Adaxial side of open corolla. Photographs by Marco Antonio Anguiano Constante (A, C-G) and Eduardo Ruíz Sánchez (B).

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Lycianthes peninsularis in the Baja California Sur.

FIGURE 4. Habitat of Lycianthes peninsularis. A. Oak forest. B. Oak forest near river. C. Tropical dry forest. Photographs by Marco Antonio Anguiano Constante.