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| Vaccinium hamiguitanense P.W. Fritsch in Fritsch, Amoroso, Coritico & Penneys, 2020. |
Abstract
Vaccinium hamiguitanense, a new species from the Philippines, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to V. gitingense Hook. f. but differs by having smaller leaf blades, leaf blade margins with 2 to 4 impressed more or less evenly distributed crenations (glands) per side, inflorescences with fewer flowers, shorter pedicels that are puberulent and muriculate, and a glabrous floral disk. The new species is endemic to Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental Province of Mindanao Island in Tropical Upper Montane Rain Forest and low (“bonsai”) forest on clay derived from ultramafic rock. We assign an IUCN Red List preliminary status as Data Deficient.
Keywords: Endemic, IUCN Red List, Mindanao, new species, Philippines, Vaccinium
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| Fig. 1. Vaccinium hamiguitanense P.W. Fritsch. A. Flowering branchlet. B. Leaf, abaxial view. C. Pedicel and flower. D. Distal portion of pedicel, hypanthium, calyx, and style. E. Ovary in cross section showing axile placentation and five locules, each locule with incomplete false partition emanating from ovary wall and two locules shown in each of four of the locules. F. Distal portion of filament, and anther, oblique-lateral view. G. Stamen, ventral view. H. Infructescence showing bracts, bracteoles, and fruit. A foliaceous bract subtends each pedicel, and the bracteoles can be seen as minute narrowly deltoid structures at the bases of the two proximal pedicels. A-G based on P.W. Fritsch 2027 (BRIT, CAS) and images of the living plants; H based on P.W. Fritsch 1984 (BRIT, CAS) and images of the living plants. Illustration by Samantha Peters. |
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| Fig. 2. Images of living Vaccinium hamiguitanense and its habitat. A. Habitat at peak of Mt. Hamiguitan of low ("bonsai") forest. B. Habit with leaves predominantly in abaxial view. C. Branchlet with inflorescence. D. Inflorescence with flowers in bud and (in apical view) at anthesis. E. Immature fruit with persistent bracts. F. Submature fruit, apical view. Note small glands at apex of appressed persistent calyx lobes. B, C, P.W. Fritsch 2027; photographs by P.W. Fritsch. D-F, Plants and Lichens of the Southern Philippines Survey 725; photographs by J.G. Opiso. |
Vaccinium hamiguitanense P.W. Fritsch, sp. nov.
Haec species Vaccinio gitingensi Elmer simillima, sed ab eo foliis parvioribus ad margine crenulatis, floribus inflorescentiae paucioribus, pedicellis brevioribus puberulis muriculatis, disco glabro differt.
Etymology.— The specific epithet refers to Mt. Hamiguitan, to which the species is endemic.
Peter W. Fritsch, Victor B. Amoroso, Fulgent P. Coritico and Darin S. Penneys. 2020. Vaccinium hamiguitanense (Ericaceae), A New Species from the Philippines. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 14(2); 281-287. DOI: 10.17348/jbrit.v14.i2.1009
