Tovomita nebulosa (Clusiaceae), a new species from Cerro de la Neblina, Venezuela

Lucas C Marinho,André M Amorim,Pedro Fiaschi,Manuel Luján

doi:10.1590/1809-4392202000072

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although the number of recently described Tovomita species is relatively high, much more remains to be done, given that each new survey of representative Amazonian collections reveals many potentially undescribed taxa. In the treatment for Tovomita published in Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana, at least six distinct morphotypes did not match any previously described species. Here we recognize morphotype “D” as a new endemic species from Cerro de la Neblina. Additionally, we provide an identification key to the Tovomita species in Venezuela.

Highlights

Recent estimates indicate there are around 16,000 vascular plant species reported for Venezuela, many more taxa are yet to be described, from the country’s southern region (Huber 2008)
Diagnosis: Tovomita nebulosa is similar to T. tenuiflora Benth. ex Planch. & Triana by the large number of secondary and intersecondary veins, close and similar to each other, and nigrescent staminate floral buds in sicco, 5–7 mm long, with a cuspidate to slightly rostrate apex
As observed in T. tenuiflora Benth. ex Planch. & Triana and T. carinata Eyma, the floral buds of T. nebulosa become nigrescent in sicco

Summary

Introduction

Recent estimates indicate there are around 16,000 vascular plant species reported for Venezuela, many more taxa are yet to be described, from the country’s southern region (Huber 2008). Within the Guayana Shield, Cerro de la Neblina is the tallest mountain (3014 m) and has the highest level of endemism, with at least 104 endemic plant species (Riina et al 2019). The number of recently described Tovomita species is relatively high, much more remains to be done, given that each new investigation of representative Amazonian collections reveals many potentially undescribed taxa (Frazão and Lohmann 2018; Toledo and Souza 2018; Huamantupa-Chuquimaco et al 2019; Melo et al 2019), including the Venezuelan Amazon (Cabral et al 2016, 2018; Marinho et al 2016a, 2019; Nascimento Jr. et al 2019).

Methods

Results

Conclusion