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| Phragmotheca centinelensis J.C.Cerón, A.Fernández & J.E.Guevara, in Guevara-Andino, White, Pitman, Cerón, Fernández, Navas-Muñoz et Alverson, 2025. |
Abstract
During floristic inventories in remnant cloud forests of the Centinela Ridge of the Chocó Region of Ecuador, where less than 7 km2 of forest patches remain across an area of approximately 500 km2, we recently collected a new species in the genus Phragmotheca Cuatrec. We describe and illustrate this new species and contrast its morphology with known congeneric species. Due to its small range, threatened habitat and active targeting by loggers, this species is assessed as Endangered under IUCN Criterion B1B2ab(I,ii,iii,v).
Key words: Biological collections, Centinela, deforestation, endemism, extinction, Malvatheca clade, Matisieae, Matisioideae
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| Phragmotheca centinelensis J.C.Cerón, A.Fernández & J.E.Guevara A trunk B outer bark C inner bark. Photos of the type individual (Cerón et al. 4643) by Andrea Fernández and Juan Carlos Cerón. |
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| Phragmotheca centinelensis J.C.Cerón, A.Fernández & J.E.Guevara A flowering branch B flower with reflexed, concave-spoon-like petals C campanulate flowering calyx |
Phragmotheca centinelensis J.C.Cerón, A.Fernández & J.E.Guevara, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: The new species is morphologically similar to Phragmotheca hydra Fern.Alonso, but differs by its orbicular to oblong-elliptic (vs. orbicular-cordate) leaves with a mixture of long-branched fasciculate hairs and lepidote-stellate scales in the axils of the mid-vein and secondary veins on the abaxial leaf surface (vs. fasciculate hairs only); larger flowers (3.5–5.0 [including the pedicel] × 2.9–3.5 vs. 2.8–2.9 × 2.8–3.0 cm) with glabrous, concave-spoon-like (vs. linear spathulate) petals; longer, glabrous staminal column (2.9–3.6 vs. 1.7 cm and densely covered by stellate hairs); staminal lobes each bearing 6 thecae (vs. 3–4 thecae); glabrous (vs. sparsely covered with long-branched, fasciculate hairs) style; subcapitate (vs. subacute) stigma; narrower, patelliform fruiting calyx (3.3–3.9 vs. 4–4.5 cm in diameter); and ovoid (vs. globose) fruits that are proportionately more slender (5.0–7.0 × 4.0–5.3 vs. 5.2 × 6.0–6.2 cm in diameter).
Juan Ernesto Guevara-Andino, Dawson M. White, Nigel C. A. Pitman, Juan-Carlos Cerón, Andrea Fernández, Daniel Navas-Muñoz and William S. Alverson. 2025. Phragmotheca centinelensis (Malvaceae, Malvoideae or Matisioideae), A newly-discovered, critically-endangered Canopy Tree Species from a cloud forest in Pacific Ecuador. PhytoKeys. 254: 41-59. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.254.143106
Resumen: Durante inventarios florísticos en los remanentes de bosques nublados de la cordillera Centinela, en la región del Chocó en Ecuador, donde menos de 7 km2 de parches de bosque permanecen en un área de aproximadamente 500 km2, recientemente recolectamos una nueva especie del género Phragmotheca Cuatrec. Describimos e ilustramos esta nueva especie y contrastamos su morfología con las especies congéneres conocidas. Debido a su distribución restringida, hábitat amenazado y la explotación activa por parte de madereros, esta especie se evalúa como En Peligro según el Criterio B1B2ab(i,ii,iii,v) de la UICN.
Palabras clave: Colecciones biológicas, Centinela, deforestación, endemismo, extinción, clado Malvatheca, Matisieae, Matisioideae
