Sommera cusucoana, a new species of Rubiaceae from Honduras.

David H Lorence,Anke C Dietzsch,Daniel L Kelly

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.57.5339

Abstract

Sommera cusucoana Lorence, D. Kelly & A. Dietzsch, sp. nov., (Rubiaceae), a new species from Honduras, differs from the other Mesoamerican Sommera species by the combination of large, obovate leaves with long red petioles, glabrous or glabrate intervenal areas, red stipules, lax, sparsely pubescent inflorescences with red axes, flowers with red hypanthium and calyx, long fruiting pedicels, and dark red mature fruits. It is known only from the type locality in Cusuco National Park.

Highlights

Sommera Schltdl. is a genus of Rubiaceae ranging from southwestern Mexico through Central America to South America, usually below 2000 m elevation in evergreen wet forests and riparian forests or less often in drier pine-oak forests
Only a single individual was collected, this new species is immediately distinguished from the other Mexican and Mesoamerican Sommera species by its red petioles, stipules, inflorescences, hypanthia, fruits and infructescences, and long flowering and fruiting pedicels
The site is within Cusuco National Park, in the upper slopes of the Sierra del Merendón

Summary

Introduction

Sommera Schltdl. is a genus of Rubiaceae ranging from southwestern Mexico through Central America to South America, usually below 2000 m elevation in evergreen wet forests and riparian forests or less often in drier pine-oak forests (one species). During the course of an ecological survey of montane rain forest vegetation in Cusuco National Park in Honduras (Figure 1), a striking new species of Sommera was discovered.

Results

Conclusion