 |
| Friesodielsia parvimitra Satthaphorn & Leerat., |
Abstract
During botanical expeditions focused on the study of Annonaceae in Thailand, specimens resembling Friesodielsia glauca were collected from the lower part of peninsular Thailand but were believed to differ from that species in vegetative, flower, and fruit characters. A morphological investigation of the new specimens and species complex was conducted. Specimens (including types of F. glauca and similar species collected from Thailand and adjacent regions) were examined in the following herbaria: A, BK, BM, BKF, E, K, KEP, KKU, L, PSU, QBG, SING, and US. As a consequence, the new species Friesodielsia parvimitra, endemic to peninsular Thailand, is described and illustrated. The conservation status of the new species was provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR, B2ab(iii)) following the IUCN’s guidelines. In addition, F. argentea, previously regarded F. glauca, is reinstated here as a distinct species based on several morphological differences and is reported as a new record from Thailand. Photographs, line drawings, and a revised key to F. glauca and similar species are presented.
Keywords: endemic; Flora of Thailand; ultramafic soil; Uvarieae; Yala
 |
| Line drawing of Friesodielsia parvimitra. (A): flowering branch, (B): close-up of flowering branch, (C): flower, (D): sepal (outside), (E): sepal (inside), (F): outer petal (outside), (G): outer petal (inside), (H): inner petal (outside), (I): inner petal (inside), (J): stamen (front), (K): stamen (back), (L,M): pistil, and (N): monocarps. All drawn by J. Satthaphorn. |
 |
| Photographs of Friesodielsia parvimitra. (A): habit, (B): flowering branch, (C): close-up of flowering branch with non-anthesis flowers, (D): flower at anthesis, and (E): fruits. Photos (A–D) by C. Leeratiwong, (E) by J. Satthaphorn. |
Friesodielsia parvimitra Satthaphorn & Leerat., sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Friesodielsia parvimitra superficially resembles F. glauca in having inner petals shorter than half of the length of its outer petals, but differs in its non-glaucous lower leaf surface, much shorter flower pedicels (12–16 mm long vs. 20–40 mm long in F. glauca), shorter bracts (0.5–0.8 vs. 0.9–1.7 mm long), reduplicate sepals 2–3 mm long (vs. non-reduplicate sepals 4.0–5.5 mm long), and inner petals 4–5 mm long with puberulous appressed hairs on the outside surface (vs. 7–10 mm long with a glabrous outside surface).
Etymology: The specific epithet pertains to the inner petals that are connivent and short (less than 5 mm long), resembling a headdress.
Vernacular: Bu-nga klip lek (บุหงากลีบเล็ก).
Jiratthi Satthaphorn , David M. Johnson and Charan Leeratiwong. 2024. Friesodielsia parvimitra (Annonaceae), A New Species from Peninsular Thailand and a Note on F. argentea.
Plants. 13(2); 189. DOI: 10.3390/plants13020189
(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Systematics and Taxonomy)