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| Ardisia recurvipetala Julius, Siti-Munirah & Utteridge, in Julius, Siti-Munirah et Utteridge, 2023. |
Abstract
Recent fieldwork in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia, resulted in the collection of an endemic new species of Ardisia, described here as Ardisia recurvipetala Julius, Siti-Munirah & Utteridge. The species is a member of subgenus (§) Crispardisia on account of its vascularised glands (bacterial nodules) on the leaf margin and the terminal inflorescence on a specialised lateral branch subtended by a normal leaf (rather than a reduced bract-like leaf). Ardisia recurvipetala is unique amongst all members of §Crispardisia by having leaf margins with both vascularised glands and pustule-like structures and can be further distinguished from other Peninsular Malaysian members of this subgenus by the lamina raised between the leaf venation giving a somewhat bullate appearance, unbranched inflorescences, brownish-red pedicels and recurved corolla lobes, each with a creamy-white apex and a small pink patch at the base. Ardisia recurvipetala is known only from a single location in Terengganu and its conservation status is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).
Key words: Ericales, Malesia, Myrsinaceae, subgenus Crispardisia, Taman Negeri Kenyir, taxonomy
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| Ardisia recurvipetala Julius, Siti-Munirah & Utteridge, A flowering branches B flower bud (i), mature flower (ii) and flower with corolla removed (iii) C flower (spread) showing the stamen arrangement D adaxial view of sepal E ventral (left) and dorsal surfaces (right) of anther F anterior (left) and lateral views (right) of ovary G leaf margin with venation details and bacterial nodule H pustule-like structure on leaf margin crenation. Illustration by Mohd Aidil Nordin. |
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| Ardisia recurvipetala Julius, Siti-Munirah & Utteridge, A habitat (inset: Ai habit Aii inflorescence position on lateral shoot and main stem) B lateral branch with flowers and young fruits C, D flowers. |
Ardisia recurvipetala Julius, Siti-Munirah & Utteridge, sp. nov.
(§ Crispardisia)
Diagnosis: Ardisia recurvipetala is the only Ardisia species with the following combination of characters: leaf margins with both vascularised glands and pustule-like structures, lamina raised between the venation giving a somewhat bullate appearance, inflorescences on the main shoot and specialised lateral branches, white flowers with recurved petals with a pink patch at the base of the corolla lobes.
Etymology: The species epithet is derived from its recurved corolla lobes.
Avelinah Julius, Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah and Timothy M. A. Utteridge. 2023. Ardisia recurvipetala (Primulaceae-Myrsinoideae), A New Species from northern Peninsular Malaysia. PhytoKeys. 232: 89-98. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.232.103649
