Abstract
BackgroundThe extensive forests over limestone of the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) on Samar Island, Philippines harbour a rich variety of unique species. In this contribution, we describe and illustrate a new Loranthaceous mistletoe, endemic to Samar Island named Decaisninatomentosa, representing the 12th member of the genus reported to the Philippines.New informationThis new species is similar to D.confertiflora (Merr.) Barlow with respect to the presence of shortly and densely off-white tomentose inflorescence and 6-merous flowers. However, it is unique amongst congeners in having tomentose and partially fused bracteoles which cover almost or entirely the ovary of individual flowers in the triads. To date, D.tomentosa seems to be restricted to the SINP and is only known from a handful of individuals. More studies are needed to properly assess the demography, host range, conservation status and phylogenetic position of this distinctive species of mistletoe.
Highlights
The Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) in Samar Island, Philippines is one of the largest contiguous old-growth forests in the country, covering approximately 333,300 hectares of mostly lowland dipterocarp rainforest and forest over limestone (Mallari et al 2001, UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] 2007, Taylor et al 2015)
This new species is similar to D. confertiflora (Merr.) Barlow with respect to the presence of shortly and densely off-white tomentose inflorescence and 6-merous flowers
D. tomentosa seems to be restricted to the SINP and is only known from a handful of individuals
Summary
The extensive forests over limestone of the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) on Samar Island, Philippines harbour a rich variety of unique species. In this contribution, we describe and illustrate a new Loranthaceous mistletoe, endemic to Samar Island named Decaisnina tomentosa, representing the 12th member of the genus reported to the Philippines. We describe and illustrate a new Loranthaceous mistletoe, endemic to Samar Island named Decaisnina tomentosa, representing the 12th member of the genus reported to the Philippines This new species is similar to D. confertiflora (Merr.) Barlow with respect to the presence of shortly and densely off-white tomentose inflorescence and 6-merous flowers. Keywords forest over limestone, island endemics, parasitic plants, Samar Island Natural Park, Santalales, taxonomy
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