Justicia nevlingii (Acanthaceae), a New Species from Mexico

Abstract

A new species of Justicia with heteromorphic bracts, J. nevlingii, is described from southern Mexico. The species is compared to two other heteromorphically bracted species from Mexico and Central America, J. chol and J. costaricana. It differs from these in several features, including its 4-aperturate pollen. In 1974, Larry Nevling of the Field Museum of Natural History called to the attention of the senior author an unusual collection of Acanthaceae from Veracruz representing an unknown species. Other collections resembling this species from Veracruz and Chiapas have since been assembled and studied. They are described below as a new species of Justicia with heteromorphic bracts. Justicia nevlingii Wasshausen & T. F. Daniel, sp. nov. TYPE: Mexico. Veracruz: Hidalgotitlan, 0-2 km del Plan de Arroyo-Alvaro Obreg6n, 17001'N, 94?40'W, 14 Apr. 1974, J. Dorantes et al. D-2799 (holotype, US; isotype, F). Figures 1, 2. Herba perennis usque ad 1.5 m alta. Folia petiolata, laminae ovatae, 6.5-18.5 cm longae, 3-10.4 cm latae. Spicae terminales et axillares, densae, pedunculis et rhachidibus dense pilosis. Bracteae heteromorphae; bracteae fertiles petiolatae, obovatae vel ellipticae, 5.5-12 mm longae, 2.7-6.5 mm latae; bracteae steriles lineares-lanceolatae vel lineares vel subulatae, 2-5 mm longae, 0.30.5 mm latae. Calyx 5-lobus. Corolla alba vel flavida vel cremea, 9-10 mm longa, extus pubescens trichomatibus eglandulosis. Thecae antherarum 2, superpositae, glabrae, theca inferiore basi calcarata; pollen 4-apertum. Capsula 7-8.5 mm longa, pilosa. Semina 2. Erect, perennial herbs to 1.5 m tall. Stems subquadrangular, quadrifariously pilose with trichomes eglandular, appressed and spreading, 0.72 mm long, multi-septate with maroon septae. Leaves petiolate, petioles 1.5-7.2 cm long, densely pilose, blades ovate to elliptic, 6.5-18.5 cm long, 3-10.4 cm wide, short-acuminate at apex, obtuse or rounded to subattenuate at base, entire to sinuate, upper surface glossy, sparingly pilose with trichomes appressed, lower surface more densely pilose (especially the central and lateral veins) with trichomes appressed and spreading, to 1 mm long. Inflorescence of (axillary and) terminal dense panicles of spikes to 15 cm long and 1.5-4.4 cm diam., erect or ascending, rachises densely pilose with trichomes sordid, erect, to 1 mm long. Floral bracts heteromorphic; fertile bracts petiolate, obovate to elliptic, 5.5-12 mm long, 2.7-6.5 mm wide, acute to truncate-apiculate at apex, abaxial surface pubescent with antrorse-appressed eglandular trichomes 0.10.5 mm long and glandular trichomes to 0.2 mm long, margin ciliate with cauline type trichomes; sterile bracts linear-lanceolate to linear to subulate, 2-5 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide. Bracteoles oblanceolate, 4-9 mm long, 1.2-2.2 mm wide. Calyx deeply 5-lobed, 3-5 mm long, lobes lanceolate, 2.54 mm long, 0.5-0.6 mm wide, puberulous. Corolla white to yellowish to cream, 9-10 mm long, externally pubescent with eglandular trichomes 0.2-0.5 mm long; tube 5-5.5 mm long, 0.8 mm diam. at base, 3 mm diam. at apex; limb 2-lipped, upper lip erect, rugulate, ovate-lanceolate, 3-4.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, 2-lobed at apex, lobes ca. 0.25 mm long and wide, rounded, lower lip ? spreading, 3lobed, 3.5-6 mm long, 3 mm wide at base of lobes, lobes obovate, 1.2-1.5 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm wide, rounded at apex. Stamens inserted near apex of corolla tube, 4 mm long, filaments glabrous, thecae superposed, glabrous, upper theca ca. 1 mm long, lower thecae ca. 0.8 mm long, calcarate with blunt appendage ca. 0.3 mm long; pollen prolate 4-aperturate, apertures flanked on each side by a + continuous band of exine and a pseudocolpus (Fig. 2); 2 staminode-like protrusions of corolla present near base of filaments, 0.4-1.2 mm long, densely villous. Style 6.5-7 mm long, glabrous, stigma 0.2-0.3 mm long. Capsules 7-8.5 mm long, pilose. Seeds 2, NovoN 5: 114-117. 1995. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.176 on Mon, 20 Jun 2016 05:36:11 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Volume 5, Number 1 Wasshausen & Daniel 115 1995 Justicia nevlingii