A New Species of Faramea (Rubiaceae) from Amazonian Peru

Abstract

A new species of Rubiaceae from Amazonian Peru, Faramea vasquezii C. M. Taylor, described and illustrated here, appears to be related to F. capillipes and F. quadricostata. Faramea Aublet is a neotropical genus of perhaps 100 species distributed from southern Mexico and the Antilles to Paraguay and Bolivia. It is considered closely allied to Coussarea Aublet, and these two genera comprise the tribe Coussareae. Faramea is distinguished within the Rubiaceae by its one-locular ovary with separate basal ovules and fruits usually with only one developed seed. Additionally, Faramea can usually be recognized by its stipules that terminate interpetiolarly in a triangular, usually aristate segment, branches with the leaves usually held in a distichous attitude (and the internodes twisted ca. 900 to accommodate this arrangement), white or frequently bright blue corollas usually with a welldeveloped tube, subglobose to frequently strongly oblate leathery fruits, and seeds with a chartaceous testa. The aristae of the stipules frequently are elongated and crossed at the stem apex. The leaves of a few species have pronounced brochidodromus venation similar to that of many Melastomataceae, with well-developed submarginal veins and secondary veins spreading at right angles from the midrib; however, the venation of Faramea vasquezii C. M. Taylor is more typical of Faramea. During a review of the Rubiaceae known from Peru (Taylor & Pool, 1993), the following new species was discovered. Faramea vasquezii C. M. Taylor, sp. nov. TYPE: Peru. Loreto: Maynas, Alpahuayo, Estaci6n IIAP, 20 Oct. 1984, R. Vdsquez & G. Criollo 5785 (holotype, MO; isotypes, AMAZ, USM). Figure 1. Faramea capillipedi Mueller Argoviensis affinis, sed ab ea internodiis costatis complanatis, foliis minoribus nerviis secundariis paucioribus munitis, lobulis calycinis longioribus ac lobulis corollinis brevioribus differt. Glabrous shrubs or small trees to 4 m tall (flowering at 0.3 m tall); stems strongly flattened and costate, the distalmost internodes 3-6 mm wide below the leaves. Leaves opposite; blades elliptic to NOVON 3: 492-493. 1993. rarely somewhat lanceolate, 13-23 cm long, 3-9.5 cm wide, at apex acuminate with tip 1.2-2 cm long, at base cuneate to usually acute or sometimes attenuate, subcoriaceous, glabrous; secondary veins 10-14 pairs, looping to interconnnect, with 1(-2) intersecondary veins usually well developed, without domatia, with the costa, secondary, and intersecondary veins prominulous above and below, the lesser venation reticulate and visible to slightly raised; petioles stout, 3-6 mm long; stipules with sheath 0.31 mm long, abruptly contracted to an awn 3-15 mm long. Inflorescences axillary and occasionally also terminal, 4.5-5 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, fascicled, ebracteate, peduncles 2-4 per axil, 12-28 mm long, cymes once or usually twice divided into 2-3 branches or pedicels, pedicels 6-18 mm long, filiform, flexuous; calyx limb with truncate tube 0.30.5 mm long, lobes 4, narrowly triangular, 0.6-1.5 mm long, acute; corollas funnelform, white to yellow, glabrous, tube 2-3 mm long, lobes 2.5-3 mm long, triangular to lanceolate. Fruiting pedicels markedly thickened distally; fruits subglobose, 6-7 mm long, 7-9 mm wide, smooth, becoming red to purple and then black. Distribution and habitat. Amazonian Peru, in upland or seasonally flooded forest on sandy soils at 100-400 m, most frequently collected in primary forest. Phenology. Collected in flower February, April, August, and October to December, in fruit January to May, July, August, and October to November. This species is distinguished by its usually axillary inflorescences with relatively long flexuous pedicels, strongly flattened and costate internodes, and corollas with the tube shorter than or equal to the lobes. It is similar to Faramea capillipes Mueller Argoviensis in general aspect and inflorescence structure, and these species are probably closely related. Faramea capillipes differs from F. vasquezii in its slightly costate but generally rounded internodes, papyraceous to membranaceous leaf blades 5-12 cm long with 7-8 secondary veins, calyx limb with lobes 0.1-0.2 mm long, and corollas with lobes 5-6 mm long. This new species is also similar to F. quadricostata Bremekamp (emend. Steyermark, 1967), which shares a similar general This content downloaded from 207.46.13.59 on Mon, 13 Jun 2016 06:24:49 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Volume 3, Number 4 1993 Taylor Faramea vasquezii