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| Senyumia granitica Kiew
in Kiew & Lau, 2019.
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Abstract
The genus Senyumia was previously known from a single species, S. minutiflora (Ridl.) Kiew, A.Weber & B.L.Burtt, from a limestone karst, Gunung Senyum, in Pahang, Malaysia. Senyumia granitica Kiew, here described and illustrated, is the second species of the genus. It differs from S. minutiflora, not only in its habitat, but also in its shorter leaves, larger, non-resupinate or only partially resupinate flowers and smaller seeds. It is known from a small, fragmented population from a low range of hills. Therefore, under the IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria, it is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Keywords: New species, Senyumia granitica, Senyumia minutiflora, ecology, conservation
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| Senyumia Kiew, A. Weber & B.L. Burtt. Senyumia granitica Kiew, sp. nov. A habit B Inflorescence showing partially resupinate flower C front view of a flower from Bukit Tukau population D front view of a flower from Bukit Reban Kambing population E side view of D; Senyumia minutiflora (Ridl.) Kiew et al. F resupinate flower G side view of flower (upside down for comparison with E) H fruit of S. granitica J Trigona laeviceps on S. minutiflora, note full pollen baskets. (photographs by PT Ong). |
Senyumia Kiew, A. Weber & B.L. Burtt.
Senyumia Kiew, A. Weber & B.L. Burtt.
Beitr. Biol. Pflanzen 70 (1998 [1997]) 400; Weber, Fam. & Gen. Vasc. Pl. 7 (2004) 148.
Type species: Senyumia minutiflora (Ridl.) Kiew, A. Weber & B.L. Burtt.
Distribution: Two species, both endemic in Peninsular Malaysia.
Ecology: Lithophytic, growing in cracks and crevices in light shade either on quartz derived from granite or on limestone rocks.
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| Senyumia granitica Kiew, sp. nov. A habit B Inflorescence showing partially resupinate flower C front view of a flower from Bukit Tukau population D front view of a flower from Bukit Reban Kambing population E side view of D.
(photographs by PT Ong).
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Senyumia granitica Kiew, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: This new taxon resembles Senyumia minutiflora in its wiry, woody stem; tufted leaves with an elliptic lamina with a non-cordate base; small, white flowers and orthocarpic, strongly twisted capsule. However, the new species differs from Senyumia minutiflora in its shorter leaves that are less than 1.5 times longer than wide, flowers that are not resupinate or are partially resupinate, have a longer corolla tube and lobes of the lower lip that are flat and not reflexed and the much smaller seeds (Table 1).
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Distribution: Peninsular Malaysia, Johor, Ledang District, endemic on Bukit Reban Kambing and Bukit Tukau, on an isolated low range of granite hills from 200–500 m elevation, west of the southern tip of Gunung Ledang (formerly known as Mt Ophir).
Etymology: From its habitat, it grows in cracks in quartz rocks derived from the granite bedrock, in contrast to Senyumia minutiflora that is restricted to growing on limestone rocks.
Ruth Kiew and Kah-Hoo Lau. 2019. Senyumia granitica (Gesneriaceae) from Johor, Malaysia, the Second Species of Senyumia. PhytoKeys. 117: 37-44. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.117.31560
