Thursday, July 4, 2019

[Botany • 2019] Heterostemma ficoides (Apocynaceae: Asclepiodoideae) • A New Species with Fig-like Flowers from Northern Thailand


Heterostemma ficoides A.Kidyoo

in A. Kidyoo, 2019.

Heterostemma ficoides A.Kidyoo, a new species of Heterostemma sect. Oianthus with a fig-like flower discovered in northern Thailand is here described. Photographs, line illustrations and detailed comparison with the similar species, H. vasudevanii Swarupan. & Mangaly are provided. Heterostemma ficoides resembles H. vasudevanii in having a fleshy globose flower and the presence of the inner corona appendages, but clearly differs in leaf shape, leaf venation, presence of dense hairs on the outer and inner surfaces of the corolla, and apex of the staminal corona lobes. An identification key to the species of sect. Oianthus is presented.

Keywords: Ceropegieae, evergreen forest, inner corona appendages, sect. Oianthus


Fig. 2 Heterostemma ficoides. A habitat; B flowering branch; C inflorescence; D fruit; E longitudinal section of flower; F cross section of flower; G top view of gynostegium. Photos: Aroonrat Kidyoo.

Heterostemma ficoides A. Kidyoo sp. nov. 

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘ficoides’ alludes to the striking similarity of its flower to a fig of Ficus species.



Aroonrat Kidyoo. 2019. Heterostemma ficoides (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae), A New Species with Fig-like Flowers from Northern Thailand. Kew Bulletin. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-019-9815-4