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| Bopopia parviflora Munzinger & J.R.Morel in Morel, Duminil & Munzinger, 2021. |
ABSTRACT
A new genus of Gesneriaceae, Bopopia Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. nov., is described from New Caledonia. The genus is based on Bopopia parviflora Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. et sp. nov., a new species collected during an expedition on Mt Katalupaik, in the North Province of New Caledonia’s main island. Originally considered as a species of Coronanthera, our phylogenetic analysis – including 19 species within Coronanthereae and two individuals of B. parviflora gen. et sp. nov., and using three molecular markers (nuclear rDNA ITS, and chloroplast regions trnL-trnF and trnE-trnT) – showed that the new species is not close to Coronanthera in subtribe Coronantherinae, but belongs to subtribe Negriinae where it is sister to Depanthus. From that genus Bopopia gen. nov. differs in floral symmetry (zygomorphic vs actinomorphic) and the number of stamens (4 vs 5). From the other genera of Negriinae the new genus differs in the white corolla and its indeterminate thyrse with 3 to 5 levels of branching. The morphological circumscription of the subtribe Negriinae is amended to include Bopopia gen. nov. Two keys are provided, one to the subtribes in the tribe Coronanthereae, and one to the genera in subtribe Negriinae. Following the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, the conservation status of B. parviflora gen. et sp. nov. is provisionally assessed as Endangered (EN).
Keywords: Gesneriaceae, Gesnerioideae-Coronanthereae-Negriinae, La Planète Revisitée, New Caledonia, Grande Terre, Mt Katalupaik, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy
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| Fig. 3. Bopopia parviflora Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. et sp. nov. A. Habit. B. Upper part of stem and axillary inflorescences C. Adaxial side of leaf. D. Trunk. E. Magnified leaf showing leaf teeth (or hydathodes?). F. Flower in lateral view. G. Abaxial side of leaf. Scale bar: F = 1 mm. Photographs taken by Jérôme Munzinger. |
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| Fig. 5. Bopopia parviflora Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. et sp. nov. A. Part of plant showing opposite leaves and axillary inflorescences. B. Flower in lateral view. C. Calyx cut open to show the gynoecium. D. Longitudinal section of corolla, showing stamens (lobes unrolled). E. Top view of connate anthers. Scale bars: A = 20 mm; B–D = 1 mm; E = 0.4 mm. Drawn from photographs taken by Jérôme Munzinger and parts of the specimen Munzinger et al. 7980 preserved in alcohol. |
Genus Bopopia Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. nov.
Type species Bopopia parviflora Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. et sp. nov.,
by present designation.
Diagnosis: Bopopia gen. nov. differs from other genera of Coronanthereae in its inflorescence: an axillary indeterminate thyrse with ultimate axes being pair-flowered cymes and inferior axes being indeterminate thyrses with three to five levels of branching (vs 3-flowered cymes or solitary flowers); it differs from Depanthus in floral symmetry (zygomorphy vs actinomorphy), stamen number (4 vs 5); from Negria in inserted (vs exserted) stamens, and connate (vs free) anthers; from Lenbrassia in bilobed (vs spatulate) stigma.
Etymology: The genus is named after the land and people of Bopope (Pŵpŵp), in the vicinity of Mt Katalupaik.
Bopopia parviflora Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. et sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Bopopia parviflora gen. et sp. nov. is similar to Coronanthera clarkeana Schltr., C. deltoidifolia Vieill. ex C.B.Clarke, C. pinguior C.B.Clarke and Depanthus glaber in its glabrous adaxial leaf surface but differs in its unique inflorescence structure within the tribe and also vegetatively in leaf measurements, blade, apex and base shape, margin (entire vs serrate), and abaxial indumentum, as well as petiole length and indumentum ( Table 2).
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the small flowers as compared to other Gesneriaceae known from New Caledonia.
Jérémie Morel, Jérôme Duminil and Jérôme Munzinger. 2021. Bopopia, A New Monotypic Genus of Gesneriaceae (Gesnerioideae, Coronanthereae) from New Caledonia. European Journal of Taxonomy. 736(1), 82-101. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.736.1253
