Rinorea niccolifera (Violaceae), a new, nickel-hyperaccumulating species from Luzon Island, Philippines.

Edwino Fernando,Marilyn Quimado,Augustine Doronila

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.37.7136

Abstract

A new, nickel-hyperaccumulating species of Rinorea (Violaceae), Rinorea niccolifera Fernando, from Luzon Island, Philippines, is described and illustrated. This species is most similar to the widespread Rinorea bengalensis by its fasciculate inflorescences and smooth subglobose fruits with 3 seeds, but it differs by its glabrous ovary with shorter style (5 mm long), the summit of the staminal tube sinuate to entire and the outer surface smooth, generally smaller leaves (3–8 cm long × 2–3 cm wide), and smaller fruits (0.6–0.8 cm diameter). Rinorea niccolifera accumulates to >18,000 µg g-1 of nickel in its leaf tissues and is thus regarded as a Ni hyperaccumulator.

Highlights

Rinorea Aublet (Violaceae) is a pantropical genus of forest shrubs and trees
We describe a new species of Rinorea discovered in remnant forest on ultramafic soils that is a nickel-hyperaccumulator
Rinorea niccolifera is most similar to Rinorea bengalensis by its fasciculate inflorescences and smooth subglobose fruits with 3 seeds, but it differs by its glabrous ovary with shorter style (5 mm long), the summit of the staminal tube sinuate to entire and the outer surface smooth, and its generally smaller leaves (3–8 cm long × 2–3 cm wide) and smaller fruits (0.6–0.8 cm diameter)

Summary

Introduction

Rinorea Aublet (Violaceae) is a pantropical genus of forest shrubs and trees. It is the second most species-rich genus in the family after Viola L., with an estimated total of 225–275 species throughout the tropics (Wahlert and Ballard 2012). In Rinorea, at least three species are known to hyperaccumulate the heavy metal nickel.

Results

Conclusion