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| Vaccinium carmesinum M.N.Tamayo & P.W.Fritsch, in Tamayo, Coritico, Amoroso, ... et Fritsch, 2022. |
Abstract
Vaccinium carmesinum is described as a new species of Ericaceae from Mt. Tago Range, Mindanao Island, Philippines. It is similar to V. platyphyllum Merrill and V. luzoniense S.Vidal but is distinct from the former by longer and wider leaves, longer racemes, longer bracts, glabrous corollas, and glabrescent fruits, and from the latter by longer petioles, leaf glands distributed along the blade margin, glabrous rachis, and lanate filaments. Vaccinium carmesinum bears the widest leaves among Philippine Vaccinium. Its discovery increases the number of Vaccinium species recognized in the Philippines to 37.
Key words: Mindanao, Pantaron Mountain Range, Vaccinieae, volcanic-igneous
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| Vaccinium carmesinum M.N.Tamayo & P.W.Fritsch. A. Leafy branchlet. B. Inflorescences showing flower buds and foliaceous bracts. C. Corolla. D. Dissected flower showing stamens, style, ovary, hypanthium, and calyx. E. Dorsal view of stamen. F. Ventral view of stamen. G. Fruit cross section. Illustration by M. N. Tamayo. |
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| Vaccinium carmesinum M.N.Tamayo & P.W.Fritsch. A, B. Flowering branchlet. C. Leafy branchlet. D. Inflorescences showing flower buds and foliaceous bracts. E. Longitudinal section of flower showing corolla, style and stamens. F. Immature fruits. Photographs: A, D by D. S. Penneys; B, E, F by MAKP; C by D. N. Tandang. |
Vaccinium carmesinum M.N.Tamayo & P.W.Fritsch, sp. nov.
Diagnosis:—Vaccinium carmesinum resembles V. platyphyllum Merrill (1917: 294) and V. luzoniense S.Vidal (1886: 168), but differs from the former by longer and wider leaves, longer racemes, longer bracts, glabrous corollas, and glabrescent fruits, and from the latter by longer petioles, leaf glands distributed along the length of the blade margin, a glabrous inflorescence rachis, and lanate filaments.
Distribution and Habitat:—Vaccinium carmesinum is endemic to two mountains (Mt. Kiamo and Mt. Limbawon) in Mt. Tago Range, Mindanao, growing in tropical lower montane rainforest to upper montane rainforest. Populations of V. carmesinum were mostly found near summits where they thrive on volcanic-igneous or clay substrate with abundant humus. They also occur in areas of open shaded mossy forests, or on ridges covered in heathland scrub. Paratypes of the new species were collected on ca. 10–30% west-facing slopes.
Etymology:—The epithet carmesinum is derived from the Greek word for crimson (blood red), as depicted by its crimson red petioles, floral bracts, peduncle, rachis, pedicels, hypanthium, and calyces. Moreover, a crimson red stain is extracted in notable quantity when the plants are soaked in a denatured alcohol solution.
Maverick N. Tamayo, Fulgent P. Coritico, Victor B. Amoroso, Darin S. Penneys, Danilo N. Tandang and Peter W. Fritsch. 2022. Vaccinium carmesinum (Ericaceae), A New Species of Blueberry from Mt. Tago Range, Mindanao Island, Philippines. Phytotaxa. 533(3); 173-180. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.533.3.3
