Monday, August 24, 2020

[Botany • 2020] Sonerila cardamomensis (Melastomataceae) • A New Species from Cambodia


Sonerila cardamomensis S.H.Cho

in Shin, Song, Phourin, ... et Cho, 2020.

Abstract
Sonerila cardamomensis, a new species of family Melastomataceae from the Central Cardamom Protected Area in Koh Kong province of southwestern Cambodia, is described and illustrated. The species is similar to S. violifolia Hook.f. ex Triana, but is readily distinguished by its cordate leaf base, lack of setae at the nodes, longer pedicels, smaller petals, smaller hypanthiums and smaller capsules.

Keywords: Cambodia, Central Cardamom Protected Area, new species, Sonerila


Figure 2. A–E Sonerila cardamomensis 
A habit B flowers C immature capsules D mature capsules E short bulbous rhizome.
 Photos by Seong-Hyun Cho.

Figure 1. Sonerila cardamomensis 
A Flowering individual B fruiting individual C–D developing flower E mature flower F petals (right: abaxial, left: adaxial) G style and Stigma H filament and Anther I gynoecium J leaf K upper surface of leaf L lower surface of leaf M immature capsule N mature capsule O seeds.
 Cho et al. CB-4467. Illustration by Ye-Seul Jang.  

Sonerila cardamomensis S.H.Cho, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Sonerila cardamomensis is most similar to S. violifolia Hook.f. ex Triana, which is distributed in Myanmar and Thailand but is readily distinguished from the latter by the cordate leaf base, lack of setae at the nodes, longer pedicels, smaller petals, smaller hypanthia and smaller capsules (Table 1).

Distribution and habitat: Sonerila cardamomensis grows on sandstone rocky area in evergreen forest from 420 to 600 m.a.s.l. Endemic to southwestern Cambodia, S. cardamomensis is at present known only in the Central Cardamom Protected Area in Koh Kong province.


Jae-Seo Shin, Bo-Kyeong Song, Chhang Phourin, Hyosig Won, Kyong-Eun Lee and Seong-Hyun Cho. 2020. Sonerila cardamomensis (Melastomataceae), A New Species from Cambodia.  PhytoKeys. 156: 139-144. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.156.55866