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| Cryptocoryne paglaterasiana Naive & N.Jacobsen, in Naive, Lagud & Jacobsen, 2022. |
Abstract
Cryptocoryne paglaterasiana, a new endemic species discovered by two citizen scientists in Zamboanga del Norte, Western Mindanao, Philippines is herein described and illustrated. A detailed description, colour plates, phenology, distribution, provisional conservation status and a list of Cryptocoryne species in the Philippines are presented below. With this discovery, the Philippines now holds a total number of seven Cryptocoryne species and except for one they are endemic, rare and threatened.
Keyword: Aquatic plant, aroid, Cryptocoryne joshanii, Philippine biodiversity, Plant taxonomy, Zamboanga peninsula flora
Cryptocoryne paglaterasiana Naive & N.Jacobsen, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Spathe somewhat resembling Cryptocoryne joshanii Naive & J.R.T.Villanueva but is only 4–7 cm long (¼–½ length of C. joshanii); stigmas creamy white, ascending to erect (C. joshanii has purplish red, forwardly bent stigmas); leaves with a blackish to reddish brown purple lamina (C. joshanii has a (silvery) green lamina with irregular line markings). The plant size also significantly differs as this new species is much smaller than C. joshanii.
Eponymy: The specific epithet ‘paglaterasiana’ was coined after the names of two citizen scientists wherein ‘pagla’ was derived from Mr. Ariel Paglalulan and ‘teras’ from Mr. Edilberto Ponteras, who discovered the species and brought it to the attention of the first author.
Distribution: Endemic to the Zamboanga Peninsula. The species has so far only been found in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Western Mindanao, Philippines.
Mark Arcebal K. Naive, Yhebron J. Lagud and Niels Jacobsen. 2022. Discovery through Citizen Science: Cryptocoryne paglaterasiana (Araceae), A New Endangered Species from Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte, Western Mindanao. Taiwania. 67(4); 539-543. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2022.67.539
