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| Brownlowia latifiana R.C.K.Chung
[upper] Fruiting leafy twigs.
[lower] Inflorescence with young flower buds (left and centre), opened flower (centre) and mature flower bud (right). |
Abstract
A new species, Brownlowia latifiana (Malvaceae-Brownlowioideae), endemic to Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia, is described and illustrated. This new species has most of its morphological characters that are related to those of the genus Jarandersonia. Therefore, a standard morphological taxonomic revision and morphometric analysis were carried out to assess the status of Brownlowia latifiana. Results of the morphometric analysis based on morphological characters showed that Brownlowia latifiana is embedded within the clades of Brownlowia but distanced from the clades Jarandersonia. Brownlowia formed a distinct clade in the clustering tree well separated from the Jarandersonia. A distribution map and a conservation assessment using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria are provided.
Keywords: Conservation, endemic, flora, Malaysia, taxonomy, Malvaceae, Eudicots
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| FIGURE 6. Brownlowia latifiana R.C.K.Chung. A. Flowering leafy twigs. B. Fruiting leafy twigs. C. Inflorescence with young flower buds (left and centre), opened flower (centre) and mature flower bud (right). D. Inflorescence with opened flowers and mature flower buds. |
Brownlowia latifiana R.C.K.Chung, sp. nov.
Type:— PENINSULAR MALAYSIA. Terengganu: Dungun, Jerangau Forest Reserve, buffer zone by the stream of Compartment 95, 65
m altitude, 21 July 2009 (flowers and fruits), Y.C. Chan & C.L. Lim FRI 65055 (holotype KEP [barcode
246218]; isotypes A, K).
Brownlowia latifiana is closely related to B. argentata and B. tersa in leaf texture, type of indumentum and other flower and fruit characters. However, the former differs from the latter, B. argentata and B. tersa, by its narrowly elliptic leaves (vs. ovate to broadly ovate or lanceolate), glabrous beneath (vs. densely covered with scales), 10−20 pairs lateral veins (vs. 4−10), large transversely ellipsoid fruits (vs. small depressed obovoid), absence of androgynophore (vs. presence and elongated to 6 mm long, 3 mm thick), persistent calyx lobes (vs. absent), and thick fruit stalk (vs. thin stalk). The main morphological differences between these three species are shown in Table 3.
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Etymology:— This species is named after the current Director-General of Forest Research Institute Malaysia
(FRIM), Dato’ Dr Abd. Latif bin Mohmod, for his contributions in securing fund of RM7.6 million for the Project
of Safeguarding the Forest Plant Diversity of Peninsular Malaysia under the Ninth Malaysian Plan; successfully in
acquiring the ownership of FRIM land area of 544.3 ha from the Selangor State Government in 2007; and in obtaining
the recognition for FRIM as the Natural Heritage Site in 2009 and the National Heritage in 2012.
Distribution and habitat:— This species is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, known from Jerangau Forest Reserve
and Sg. Jerangau in Dungun, Terengganu. It occurs in undulating and riverine areas of lowland dipterocarp forest on
clay sandy and alluvial soils at about 65 m elevation.
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| FIGURE 6. Brownlowia latifiana. A. Flowering leafy twigs. B. Fruiting leafy twigs. C. Inflorescence with young flower buds (left and centre), opened flower (centre) and mature flower bud (right). D. Inflorescence with opened flowers and mature flower buds. E & F. Infructescences with young fruits. |
R. C. K. Chung and E. Soepadmo. 2017. Brownlowia latifiana (Malvaceae-Brownlowioideae), A New Species from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia.
Phytotaxa. 298(2); 134–146. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.298.2.3
