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| Cedrela angusticarpa W. Palacios, in Palacios, Torres, Quintana, Asadobay, Iglesias, Quillupangui, ... et Rivas-Torres, 2023. |
Abstract
A new Cedrela (Meliaceae) species, Cedrela angusticarpa, is described through a combination of taxonomic, morphological, and molecular analyses. Cedrela kuelapensis, originally described as an endemic species of northern Peru, is also reported here as a new record for Ecuador. Cedrela angusticarpa has oblong or oblong-lanceolate glabrous leaflets, rounded at the base. Inflorescences are up to 70 cm long, and flowers present a cupuliform calyx with five regular teeth. Fruits are narrowly obovoid capsules. Through molecular analyses using nine microsatellite loci, it is evident that samples from C. angusticarpa form their own genetic cluster when compared to the most morphologically similar species, C. odorata, suggesting that they belong to a new separate species. Additionally, here we report that C. angusticarpa has a very narrow geographic range, recorded between 550 and 1300 m in elevation, and restricted to the relatively small areas of northwestern Ecuador. Climatic niche modelling techniques were used as a proxy for assessing potential distributions and habitat loss percentages for both C. angusticarpa and C. kuelapensis. Finally, IUCN Red List categories and criteria were applied to assess the conservation status of both Cedrela species analyzed here.
Andes Mountain Range, Cedrela angusticarpa, Cedrela kuelapensis, “cedro”, endemic species, Eudicots
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| Cedrela angusticarpa: Branch with inflorescences. W. Palacios et al. 18445. Photograph by W. Palacios. |
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| Cedrela angusticarpa: A. bark of an adult tree, B. lower surface leaflets (scale bar = 6 cm), C. lower surface leaflets (scale bar = 2.5 cm), D. flower (scale bar = 0.4 cm), E. cymule of inflorescence (scale bar = 1 cm), F. old fruit. A. W. Palacios et al. 18407; B, C, W. Palacios et al. 18413; D, E, W. Palacios 18445; F, W. Palacios 18755. All photographs by W. Palacios. |
Cedrela angusticarpa W. Palacios, sp. nov.
Diagnosis:— Cedrela angusticarpa is related to C. odorata. The distinctive characteristics of these species are: a) leaflets oblong to oblong-lanceolate, base obtuse or rounded, (8–)9–15 × (4–)5–6 (–7) cm in C. angusticarpa vs leaflets oblong, oblong-falcate, base usually strongly asymmetric and rounded on one side, acute or obtuse on the other, 7–14 × 2.5–4 cm in C. odorata; b) inflorescence a robust-erect panicle, 40–70 cm long in C .angusticarpa vs a curved panicle, 15–40 cm long in C. odorata; c) calyx with five teeth in C. angusticarpa vs calyx 2–3-lobed in C. odorata; d) fruits narrowly obovoid, 1.3–1.8 cm in diameter, base acute, sometimes slightly 5-angled when dry in C. angusticarpa vs fruits oblong or ellipsoid, 1.8–2.6 cm in diameter, base rounded or obtuse in C. odorata.
Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the narrow fruits recorded in this taxon, although the length is
equivalent to that of other species.
Walter A. PALACIOS, Maria De Lourdes TORRES, Martina Albuja QUINTANA, Pacarina ASADOBAY, Juan IGLESIAS, Richard QUILLUPANGUI, Estefania ROJAS, Janeth SANTIANA, Augusto SOLA and Gonzalo RIVAS-TORRES. 2023. A New Species and a new record for Cedrela (Meliaceae, Sapindales) in Ecuador: morphological, molecular, and distribution evidence. Phytotaxa. 595(2); 127-138. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.595.2.1
