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| Magnolia ottoi A. Vázquez, Tribouillier & Archila in Vázquez-García, Tribouillier-Navas, Archila & Véliz-Pérez, 2020. |
Abstract
A new species of Magnolia subsect. Talauma (“jomcoj”), Magnolia ottoi, is described and illustrated. The conservation status of this new species is proposed as critically endangered (CR) according to IUCN criteria. An identification key and a map with the distribution of the new species and other species of Magnolia subsect. Talauma from Guatemala and neighboring areas (Honduras and Chiapas, México) is also presented. Our field research also unveiled the Mayan Q’eqchi’ ancestral taxonomic knowledge which differentiates magnolias of two different subsections, Magnolia and Talauma, based on wood quality and properties. They consistently distinguished them as “coj” and “jomcoj” respectively.
Keywords: Magnolia subsect. Talauma, Magnolia steyermarkii, Magnolia quetzal, Magnolia ottoi, Magnolia atlantida, Magnolia cochranei, Magnolia lacandonica, Magnolia perezfarrerae, Mayan Q’eqchi’, Magnoliids
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| FIGURE 2. Magnolia ottoi. Material from the holotype, except O, collected by Otto Alvarado (recorded by Tribouillier & Archila MG007). A. Sepals. B. Outer petals. C. Inner petals. D. Stamens. E. Gynoecium. F–G. Spathaceous bracts. H. Leaf. I. Inner fleshy petal, top view. J. Inner fleshy petal, side view. K. Developing gynoecium. L. Icon of M. ottoi (with flattened whorls). M. Bract of inner floral bud. N. Fruit pubescence. O. Fruit, P. Fruit axis, without seeds. Photographs by Fredy Archila. |
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| FIGURE 3. Magnolia ottoi. A. Fruit in the process of drying. Material collected by Otto Alvarado (recorded by Tribouillier & Archila MG-007). B. Inner side of the Fruit during dehiscence. C. Dorsal side of fruit. D. Carpels splitting and leaving the fruit axis with seeds still attached. E. Seed with red sarcotesta. Photographs by Fredy Archila. |
Magnolia ottoi A. Vázquez, Tribouillier & Archila sp. nov.
Type: GUATEMALA. Baja Verapaz: Purulhá. 2 km south of Purulhá, 1600 m, moist-subtropical cloud forest, July 2015 (fl), Otto Alvarado (recorded by Tribouillier & Archila MG-005) (holotype BIGU; Isotype IBUG).
Magnolia ottoi is similar in leaf shape to M. steyermarkii but it differs from the latter in the size of its leaves (leaf length to width ratio: 1.83–2.22 vs. 1.50–1.76) and flowers (20.2–22.2 cm vs. 12.0–13.0 cm in diameter) and the number of bracts (2 vs. 1); stamens (102–108 vs. 75–78) and carpels (38–50 vs. 30–32). Also the carpels of M. ottoi are beaked vs. acute in M. steyermarkii
Etymology and ethnobotany:— The species epithet honors Otto Alvarado, collector of the species. The ancestral
Mayan (Q’eqchi ‘) understanding of Magnoliaceae includes recognizing species of different sections classifying them
as Coj (sect. Magnolia) and Jomcoj (sect. Talauma). When visiting one of the ranches one of the companions proceeded
to show us two wood planks indicating that the trees of the subsect. Magnolia (Coj) had a high-quality wood, while
the trees of the subsect. Talauma (Jomcoj) was considered bad wood for construction because its fibers are not strong
enough and it was easily cracked, so they rather use them as firewood for cooking.
Distribution and ecology:— Magnolia ottoi is endemic to Purulhá, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala (Fig. 1). Only known
from the type locality. Although 5 km from the type locality, in the Biotope of the Quetzal Mario Dary-Rivera, Fredy
Archila and Erick Tribouillier observed several juvenile plants of Magnolia, these had very large leaves and possibly
correspond to this new species. The only known trees (3) inhabit very humid forests at three different elevations 1550–
1650 m, pp 2284 mm, t 16–230 C; wavy topography. Common species include: Liquidambar styraciflua Linnaeus
(1753: 999), Persea donnell-smithii Mez (1892: 113), Pinus pseudostrobus Brongniart (1828: 46), Persea schiedeana
Nees von Esenbeck (1836: 130), Rapanea ferruginea (Ruiz López & Pavón 1798: 280) Mez (1901: 429), Clethra spp.,
Morella cerífera (L.) Small (1903: 337), Eurya seemanniana Pittier (1922: 480), Pouteria viridis (Pittier 1914: 84)
Cronquist (1946: 290) and Magnolia archilana A.Vázquez, Tribouill. & Véliz in Vázquez-García et al. (2019: 222).
Flowering in March, and fruiting from March to April.
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| FIGURE 1. Distribution of species of Magnolia sect. Talauma in Guatemala and adjacent countries. |
J. Antonio Vázquez-García, Erick Tribouillier-Navas, Fredy Archila and Mario Esteban Véliz-Pérez. 2020. Magnolia ottoi (Magnoliaceae) A New Species from Purulhá, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala: Conservation and Mayan Q’eqchi ‘ Ethnotaxonomy. Phytotaxa. 455(3); 187–195. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.455.3.1
