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| Sonerila bolavenensis Soulad., Tagane & Suddee, |
ABSTRACT
A new species, Sonerila bolavenensis (Melastomataceae), from the Bolaven Plateau, southern Laos, is described and illustrated. Sonerila bolavenensis is easily recognized by its tiny stature up to 3 cm tall (including inflorescence), small ovate to rounded leaves 0.3–1.4 × 0.35–1 cm, petioles 0.2–0.8 cm long, and 1-flowered inflorescence. A vernacular name and preliminary conservation status are provided.
Keywords: Bolaven Plateau, Champasak Province, Dong Hua Sao NPA, flora, Indochina, taxonomy
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| Sonerila bolavenensis Soulad., Tagane & Suddee. A. habitat (on sandstone rock, growing with Begonia sp.); B & C. habit; D & E. colour variation of the abaxial leaf surface; F & G. flowers; H. parts of type collection Souladeth et al. L3439 (left three from isotype [KAG155803]; right one from holotype [FOF0005189]). J. stem (some leaves removed) and tuber (from holotype [FOF0005189]). Photos: A–E, G by Shuichiro Tagane, F by Sukid Rueangurea. |
Sonerila bolavenensis Soulad., Tagane & Suddee, sp. nov.
Sonerila bolavenensis is similar to Sonerila vatphouensis (endemic to Laos) in having an acau-lescent habit, but differs in its small size up to 3 cm tall (vs 7 cm tall in S. vatphouensis), small lamina (0.3–1.4 × 0.3–1 cmvs 3.5–5.5 × 3–4.5 cm), 1-flowerederect inflorescence (vs (2–)3-flowered scorpioid cyme) and hypanthium sparsely covered with villous hairs (vs glabrous). Sonerila bolavenensis is also similar to S. tuberosa C.Hansen described from Stung Treng province, Cambodia, but differs in having a globose tuber covered with short dark brown hairs (vs bulb-shaped tuber, densely covered with pale brown intertwined curly hairs in S. tuberosa), shorter petioles (0.2–0.8 cm long vs 3–4 cm long), 1-flowered erect inflorescence (vs (1–)2–7-flowered scorpioid cyme), and hairy hypanthium (vs glabrous).
Distribution.— Laos (so far known only from the type locality).
Ecology.— Growing with Begonia sp. on the side of a large, shaded sandstone rock (Fig. 1A) in lower montane forest at 1,100 m elev. Observed flowering in December in 2019.
Etymology.— The specific epithet refers to the name of the plateau (Bolaven Plateau) where we collected the plant.
Vernacular name.— Seedin Bolaven (ຊີດິນບໍລະເວນ) (proposed here).
Phetlasy Souladeth, Shuichiro Tagane, Somran Suddee, Deuanta Kongxaysavath and Sukid Rueangruea. 2021. Sonerila bolavenensis, A New Species of Melastomataceae from Laos. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 49(1); 106-110. DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2021.49.1.13
ຊີດິນບໍລະເວນ: ແນະນຳພືດຊະນິດໃໝ່ຂອງໂລກ ອີກຊະນິດຈາກໂຄງການສຳຫຼວດພືດບໍລະເວນ
