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| Ceratozamia oliversacksii D.W.Stev., Mart.-Domínguez & Nic.-Mor., in Martínez-Domínguez, Nicolalde-Morejón, Vergara-Silva et Stevenson, 2022. ( ), A Species of western , . . 77, 211–219. |
Summary
Ceratozamia is a neotropical genus in the Cycadales that is particularly diverse in Mexico. In this genus, most species are endemic to Mexico and most of these species have a restricted distribution pattern. We propose and describe a new species from western Oaxaca State, Mexico, which was previously subsumed under the concept of C. robusta. The circumscription of this new species derived from a review of two associated taxa: C. robusta Miq. and C. leptoceras Mart.-Domínguez, Nic.-Mor., D.W.Stev. & Lorea-Hern. We conducted an extensive review of herbarium specimens, complemented with ex profeso fieldwork, during which we monitored populations in Oaxaca for phenological characterisation. The new species is described and illustrated. This species occurs in a wide distribution range of cloud forest in western Oaxaca. We provide a taxonomic key for all species with morphological and geographical affinity to C. oliversacksii and all species distributed in Oaxaca. The description of C. oliversacksii increases diversity in this cycad genus to six species in Oaxaca. This research highlights the study and monitoring of reproductive structures for robust taxonomic work.
Key Words: Cycadales, cloud forest, endemism, phenology, Sierra Madre del Sur
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| Vegetative morphology of Ceratozamia oliversacksii. A adult plant; B leaf at maturity; C juvenile plant; D cataphylls; E petiole; F new leaves; G habitat; H variation of leaflets. photos: L. Martínez-Domínguez. |
Ceratozamia oliversacksii D.W.Stev., Mart.-Domínguez & Nic.-Mor. sp. nov.
ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet is in memory of the distinguished neurologist and historian of science Oliver Sacks (1933 – 2015), who loved cycads and publicised them through a popular book, Island of the Color Blind and Cycad Island (Sacks 1997) and his love of Oaxaca as exemplified in his book, Oaxaca Journal, a book on the natural and cultural history of Southern Mexico with an emphasis on ferns (Sacks 2002).
Lilí Martínez-Domínguez, Fernando Nicolalde-Morejón, Francisco Vergara-Silva and Dennis Wm. Stevenson. 2022. Ceratozamia oliversacksii (Zamiaceae), A New Species of Gymnosperm from western Oaxaca, Mexico. Kew Bulletin. 77, 211–219. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12225-021-09992-x
