Thursday, August 31, 2023

[Botany • 2023] Goniothalamus hmoope (Annonaceae) • A Third Species of Goniothalamus from New Caledonia and Lectotypification of G. obtusatus


 Goniothalamus hmoope Munzinger & D.M. Johnson,  

in MunzingerJohnson et Saunders, 2023. 

A new species is described from New Caledonia in the genus Goniothalamus, which now includes three endemic species from the archipelago. The new species was first collected over 150 years ago, but had not been subsequently studied until now. Material of the New Caledonian taxa was included in a recent molecular phylogeny, which shows that they are related and belong to the same clade, but they are easily distinguished from one another by morphology. Goniothalamus hmoope sp. nov. differs from G. obtusatus by its smaller leaves and its monocarps that are terete and 3-8 seeded (vs narrowly ellipsoid, ellipsoid, subglobose to obovoid, 1-3-seeded), and from G. dumontetii by its flat leaves with plane secondary veins (versus slightly bullate with impressed venation), and its monocarps that are terete (vs flattened elongate with lateral triangular projections). The new species, which is restricted to the North Province and can be abundant in the Mt. Panié range, was assessed by the New Caledonian Red List Authority as Vulnerable (VU) based on the IUCN Red List criteria.

KEYWORDS: Annonaceae, Oxymitra, Richella, endemic, IUCN status, lectotypification, new species

Goniothalamus hmoope Munzinger & D.M. Johnson, sp. nov.:
A, flower, side view with one outer petal removed; B, habit; C, seed, view from micropylar end; D, seed, side view; E, outer petal, adaxial view; F, inner petal, adaxial view; G, stamen, abaxial view; H, carpel, ovary dissected to show row of ovules; I, Flower with petals and most of stamens removed, showing sepals, three stamens, six carpels, and torus.
A, E-I, based on McPherson 6466 (MO3224998); B-D, based on McPherson 5249 (MO3208807). 
Drawing by Kate Stenger. 
Scale bars: A, B, 1 cm; C-F, 5 mm; G-I, 1 mm.

Field photos of Goniothalamus hmoope Munzinger & D.M. Johnson, sp. nov.:
 A, trunk with slash; B, adaxial face of leaves; C, abaxial face of leaves; D, inflorescence borne on trunk (cauliflory); E, flower from below; F, cauliflorous fruit; G, ramiflorous fruit seen from above.
 (Photos; A-C, F, G, © Ph. Birnbaum; D, E, © P. Lowry).

Goniothalamus hmoope Munzinger & D.M. Johnson, sp. nov.

Goniothalamus species distinguished from congeners by the combination of a truncate apex of the anther connective, narrowly cylindrical and slightly bifid funnel-shaped stigma, narrowly oblong (dactyliform), torulose monocarps with up to eight seeds, and mucilaginous trichomes on the testa.

Vernacular name. — Hmoope (Nemi language) (Munzinger 2013).

Etymology. — The specific epithet refers to the vernacular name.
 

 
Jérôme MUNZINGER, David M. JOHNSON and Richard M. K. SAUNDERS. 2023. Novitates neocaledonicae XIV: A Third Species of Goniothalamus (Blume) Hook.f. & Thomson from New Caledonia and Lectotypification of G. obtusatus (Baill.) R.M.K. Saunders. ADANSONIA. 45(20); 327-335.  sciencepress.MNHN.fr/en/periodiques/adansonia/45/20
DOI: 10.5252/adansonia2023v45a20