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Meriania bicentenaria Rob. Fern., R. Rojas & Michelang., Meriania callosa Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., Meriania escalerensis Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., Meriania vasquezii Rob. Fern., R. Villanueva & Michelang. in Fernandez-Hilario, Rojas Gonzáles, ... et Goldenberg, 2022. DOI: 10.3372/wi.52.52103 |
Abstract
Nine new species of Meriania are described and illustrated and M. zunacensis, originally described from Ecuador, is recorded for the first time for Peru from Andean forests in the Amazonas Department. The new species are M. bicentenaria and M. vasquezii from Pasco, M. bongarana, M. callosa and M. juanjil from Amazonas, M. hirsuta from Piura, M. megaphylla from La Libertad, M. sumatika from Cusco and M. escalerensis from the Loreto-San Martín border. Following IUCN criteria, M. megaphylla is categorized as Data Deficient (DD) as it is only known from one collection made in 1914, M. bicentenaria and M. sumatika are categorized as Endangered (EN) and the remaining new species are categorized as Critically Endangered (CR). With these discoveries, N Peru (Departments of Amazonas, Cajamarca and Piura) harbours the highest number of Meriania species in the country. Also, Peru now has a total of 34 species of Meriania and is the country with the second highest diversity for the genus.
KEYWORDS: Amazonas, Andean forests, Andean tepuis, Cusco, La Libertad, Melastomataceae, Meriania, Merianieae, Neotropics, new species, Pasco, Peru, Piura, taxonomy
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| Meriania bicentenaria Rob. Fern., R. Rojas & Michelang. |
Meriania bicentenaria Rob. Fern., R. Rojas & Michelang., sp. nov.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of roughened to dendritic trichomes evenly covering the abaxial surface of leaves, calyces with rounded lobes and without dorsal projections, campanulate, deep pink corollas, strongly dimorphic stamens, stamen connectives with acuminate to falcate, descending dorsobasal appendages and antipetalous stamens with inflated connectives.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania bicentenaria is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in the Department of Pasco, between 2200 and 2550 m. Populations of this species usually occur in pristine forests and seldom in disturbed forests.
Etymology — The specific epithet commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Independence of Peru (1821–2021).
Meriania bongarana Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of ferruginous indumentum evenly covering the abaxial surface of leaves, calyx lobes with claw-shaped dorsal projections (1.5–2.5 mm long), campanulate, pink-orange corollas, isomorphic stamens, stamen connectives prolonged below the thecae and with a slightly crown-shaped descending dorsobasal appendage.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania bongarana is a Peruvian endemic known from a single locality in the Abra Patricia Conservation Area in the Department of Amazonas, on moderate slopes at 2320 m. At this locality, M. bongarana occurs in undisturbed forests.
Etymology — The specific epithet refers to Bongará province (Department of Amazonas) in N Peru.
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Meriania callosa Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., Meriania escalerensis Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang.,Meriania vasquezii Rob. Fern., R. Villanueva & Michelang. |
Meriania callosa Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of nodes with interpetiolar flaps (0.5–3 mm long), glabrous hypanthia and calyces, calyces with callose dorsal projections, spreading, deep pink corollas, isomorphic stamens, stamen connectives with two appendages, one triangular descending dorsobasal appendage and the other dorsal appendage a mere hump, and spheroid mature ovaries.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania callosa is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in the Districts of Mariscal Benavides and Yambrasbamba (Amazonas, Peru), between 1880 and 1970 m, on moderately to strongly sloping terrain. Common tree species at this locality “CP Santa Rosa” (Fernandez-Hilario & al. 2055, 2056) include Alzatea verticillata Ruiz & Pav. (Alzateaceae), Cecropia angustifolia Trécul (Urticaceae), Ficus mutisii Dugand (Moraceae), Graffenrieda emarginata Triana (Melastomataceae), M. penningtonii Rob. Fern. & al. (Melastomataceae) and Ladenbergia riveroana Standl. (Rubiaceae).
Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the presence of callose dorsal projections on the calyx of this species.
Meriania escalerensis Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of ferruginous indumentum, calyptrate calyces with circumscissile dehiscence, spreading, deep pink corollas, isomorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with two appendages, one triangular descending dorsobasal appendage and the other blunt ascending dorsal appendage.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania escalerensis is probably endemic to elfin forests on high-elevation summits of the Cordillera Escalera (Loreto-San Martín border), on a sandstone substrate above 1950 m. The Cordillera Escalera is one of the “sub-Andean cordilleras” (Andean Tepuis sensu Neill & al. 2014) to the east of the E Andes. Common tree and shrub genera in the area include Clusia L. (Clusiaceae), Weinmannia L. (Cunoniaceae), Ocotea Aubl. and Persea Mill. (Lauraceae), Cybianthus Mart. (Primulaceae) and Palicourea Aubl. and Psychotria L. (Rubiaceae) (Neill & al. 2014).
Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the type locality “Cordillera Escalera”.
Meriania hirsuta Rob. Fern., Paredes-Burneo & Michelang., sp. nov.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of branches and leaves with hirsute indumentum (elongate fluted trichomes up to 4 mm long), campanulate, deep red corollas, slightly dimorphic stamens, stamen connectives with one dorsobasal appendage that is almost perpendicular to the thecae and antisepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded dorsobasal appendages.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania hirsuta is known only from two localities, about 5 km away from each other, between 2150 and 3035 m. This plant inhabits the montane forests of the E slopes of the Andes, at the northernmost limit of the Yungas (Comunidad Andina 2009), in the headwaters of the Samaniego river, which is part of the Chinchipe river basin. So far, this is a species endemic to Peru, found only in the Piura department (even though the paratype label records it for the Ayabaca province, it rather belongs to the Huancabamba province). Also, this species occurs in the core of the Amotape-Huancabamba zone, which is home of many other endemic species of Melastomataceae (Bussmann & Paniagua 2012; Bussmann & Paniagua 2013; Burke & al. 2017; Paredes-Burneo & al. 2018; Michelangeli & Paredes-Burneo 2019; Fernandez-Hilario & al. 2021a).
Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the indumentum of this species.
Meriania juanjil Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of elliptic leaf blades (10.8–12.7 × 2.7–3 cm) with moderately puberulent indumentum on the abaxial surfaces, 3-nerved venation, subcalyptrate calyces with small conic dorsal projections (0.5 mm long) and irregular dehiscence, campanulate, pink-orange corollas and isomorphic stamens.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania juanjil is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in Bongará province in the Department of Amazonas, on moderately sloping terrain at 2200–2300 m.
Etymology — The specific epithet “juanjil” refers to the name applied by local people in Bongará to the Melastomataceae. Because the epithet is a noun in apposition, it retains its own termination irrespective of the gender of the generic name (see Turland & al. 2018: Art. 23.5).
Meriania megaphylla Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of 4-winged and quadrangular branches, interpetiolar flaps (5–8 mm long), large leaf blades (21–29.4 × 14.8–22 cm), spreading, reddish purple corollas, isomorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with two appendages, one a triangular descending dorsobasal appendage and the other a blunt ascending dorsal appendage.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania megaphylla is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in the Pataz province (Department of La Libertad), between 2000 and 2100 m. The vegetation of this region is part of the relict montane forests from the W slopes of the Andes in NW Peru (see Weigend & al. 2005).
Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the unusually large leaves of this species.
Meriania sumatika Rob. Fern., R. Goldenb. & Michelang., sp. nov.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of 10-costate hypanthia (ridges up to 4.5 mm high in fruit), spreading, reddish purple corollas, large petals (46–55 mm long), dimorphic stamens, stamen connectives with two appendages, one a descending dorsobasal appendage and the other a blunt ascending dorsal appendage, and antisepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded dorsobasal appendages.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania sumatika is endemic to high-elevation montane forests within the Machu Picchu National Sanctuary (Urubamba province) and in the Santa Ana district (La Convención province) in the Department of Cusco, between 1800 and 2900 m. Individuals of this new species have been previously recorded by Alfaro & al. (2018), as M. tomentosa, in “Wiñaywayna” and growing with Aniba coto (Rusby) Kosterm. (Lauraceae), Gordonia fruticosa (Schrad.) H. Keng (Theaceae), Hieronyma oblonga (Tul.) Müll. Arg. (Phyllanthaceae), Meliosma peytonii A. H. Gentry (Sabiaceae) and Myrcia fallax (Rich.) DC. (Myrtaceae).
Etymology — The specific epithet comes from the Quechua “sumaq” (= beautiful) and “tika” (= flower), referring to large showy flowers of this species. Because “tika” is a noun in apposition, the epithet retains its own termination irrespective of the gender of the generic name (see Turland & al. 2018: Art. 23.5).
Meriania vasquezii Rob. Fern., R. Villanueva & Michelang., sp. nov.
Diagnosis — A species differing from other congeners by the combination of leaf blades with dense villose indumentum on the abaxial surfaces, inflorescences with flowers in regular dichasia at the ends of branchlets, subcalyptrate calyx with small dorsal projections (c. 3 mm long) and irregular dehiscence, campanulate, deep pink corollas, dimorphic stamens and antisepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded descending dorsobasal appendages.
Distribution and ecology — Meriania vasquezii is endemic to high-elevation montane forests in the Oxapampa province in the Department of Pasco, on moderate slopes at 2244 m.
Etymology — It is an honour to dedicate this species to Rodolfo Vásquez, researcher at the Estación Biológica del Jardín Botánico de Missouri, who for over 30 years has made an incredible contribution to the knowledge of the flora of Peru. He wrote Flórula de las reservas biológicas de Iquitos, Perú (Vásquez 1997) and led the publication of Flora del Río Cenepa, Amazonas Perú (Vásquez & al. 2010a, 2010b).
Robin Fernandez-Hilario, Rocío del Pilar Rojas Gonzáles, Rosa Villanueva-Espinoza, Leticia Lajo, Akira A. Wong Sato, Diego Paredes-Burneo, Luis Pillaca-Huacre, Fabián A. Michelangeli and Renato Goldenberg. 2022. Nine New Species and A New Country Record for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia. 52(1); 39-74. DOI: 10.3372/wi.52.52103
