Ladenbergia siranensis (Rubiaceae: Cinchoneae), a new species

from the Sira Mountains, Eastern Andes of Central Peru, and the identity
of Ladenbergia acutifolia
EDER A. CHILQUILLO TORRES1,2, ANDRÉ OLMOS SIMÕES3, AND JOAQUINA ALBÁN CASTILLO2
1
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de
Campinas, Av. Monteiro Lobato 255, Campinas, SP CEP: 13083-970, Brazil; e-mail:
[email protected]
2
Departamento de Etnobotánica, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos,
Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru; e-mail: [email protected]
3
Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av.
Monteiro Lobato 255, Campinas, SP CEP: 13083-970, Brazil; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract. A new species of Ladenbergia (Rubiaceae) has been found in the Cordillera de Sira
in the eastern Andes of central Peru. It is here described as Ladenbergia siranensis, and it is
morphologically similar to L. acutifolia, L. graciliflora and L. shawistigma. It differs from
these by a shrubby habit, coriaceous, narrowly elliptic leaves, few-flowered inflorescences, the
hypanthium hirtellous outside, small and deeply lobed calyx, a glabrous style, and fruits with
reddened hirtellous pubescence. A key to these four species is provided.
Keywords: Neotropics, outlying range, sclerophyllous vegetation, taxonomy.

The Cordillera El Sira is an isolated mountain permanent plots in the ATY have contributed
range situated between the Pachitea and Ucayali substantially to increasing the knowledge of its
rivers in the easternmost outlying range of the tree flora (Monteagudo et al., 2014).
Andes mountains, in Central Peru, Huánuco Re- The neotropical genus Ladenbergia Klotzsch
gion (Terborgh & Weske, 1975). This mountain belongs to tribe Cinchoneae of Rubiaceae
range reaches a maximum elevation of ca. 2500 (Andersson, 1995a; Andersson & Antonelli,
m, exhibiting 7000 mm of annual rainfall (Kuijt & 2005), and comprises ca. 35 species (Andersson,
Graham, 2015), and has been described as a 1997; Taylor & Gereau, 2010; Chilquillo, 2016),
unique ecosystem, because of its potential for distributed from Costa Rica to Bolivia. Its distri-
yielding new taxa and its relatively high number bution is centered in the Tropical Andes of which
of endemic species of vertebrates (Terborgh & the Peruvian Andes holds the highest diversity
Weske, 1975; Duellman & Toft, 1979; Harvey with 14 species (Andersson, 1995b; Chilquillo
et al., 2011) and plants (Monteagudo et al., 2014). et al., 2017). Ladenbergia is distinguished from
Early botanical explorations in the Cordillera other Rubiaceae genera by the following combi-
El Sira were conducted by Theodore Dudley in nation of features: tree or shrubby habit, terminal
1969, as part of a larger program to measure the inflorescences, heterostylous flowers, distally
distribution of avian species along the Altitudinal ridged corolla lobes, capsules that are septicidal
Transect Yuyapichis (ATY) (Terborgh & Dudley, with basipetal or acropetal dehiscence and numer-
1973). Later, an Austrian-Peruvian Expedition ous flattened seeds with winged margins
directed by W. Morawetz in 1987–1988 revisited (Andersson, 1994, 1997).
the ATY and made plant collections that included Ladenbergia is morphologically similar to
new species and new distributional records (e.g., Cinchona L. and is usually confused with it in
Prance, 1995; Sastre, 1996; Grant, 2004; the field. The two genera are similar in vegetative
Wasshausen, 2007). Recently, forest inventories characters and in inflorescence form and fruit, but
by RAINFOR (http://www.rainfor.org) in they differ in floral characters: Cinchona has pale

Brittonia, 71(2): 166Y171 (2019), DOI 10.1007/s12228-018-9562-0

ISSN: 0007-196X (print) ISSN: 1938-436X (electronic)
© 2019, by The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY 10458-5126 U.S.A.

Published Online: 16 January 2019

2019] CHILQUILLO ET AL.: LADENBERGIA SIRANENSIS (RUBIACEAE) 167

to deep pink or purple-red corollas that are dense- basal portion with the upper part acuminate, gla-
ly pubescent in the throat, while Ladenbergia has brous to puberulous, 1–1.1 × 0.3–0.35 cm. Petioles
white corollas or flushed with pink on the tube 1.1–1.65 cm long, glabrous to sparsely puberulent.
base that are glabrous or shortly puberulous in the Leaves opposite, blades plane, thick in texture
throat (Andersson, 1995a). when fresh, chartaceous when dry, 6.5–10.2 ×
During recent botanical exploration at the ATY, 1.4–2.25 cm, narrowly elliptic (length/width ratio
the first author found several species of 4.1–4.6), acute at base, acute to acuminate at apex,
Ladenbergia that were also collected by the adaxial surface matte to subnitid and glabrous,
Austrian-Peruvian Expedition: L. klugii abaxial surface with midrib +/- hirtellous from
Andersson, L. muzonensis (Goudot) Standl., bristly hairs, intervenous surface glabrous or
L. graciliflora K. Schum., L. macrocarpa (Vahl) sparsely and minutely strigulose, margins weakly
Klotzsch), and an undescribed species that was revolute, tuft domatia absent, secondary veins 6–8
previously misidentified as L. acutifolia (Ruiz & pairs, weakly brochidodromous, slightly sulcate
Pavon.) Klotzsch. Here, we describe and illustrate above, prominent beneath, tertiary venation weak-
the new species and compare it with similar spe- ly evident above and below with alternate-
cies of Ladenbergia. percurrent arrangement. Inflorescence terminal,
branched to 1–2 orders, 5–9-flowered, broadly
obtriangular in outline, axes villosulous, peduncles
Material and methods 1–1.2 cm, rachis 0.8–1 cm, two-noded, with axes
dichasial, bracts linear-lanceolate, generally decid-
This study is based on standard taxonomic uous. Flowers 6-merous, nocturnal, strongly fra-
methods, and is part of a comprehensive revision- grant, sessile to subsessile with pedicels 0.5–
ary study of Ladenbergia by the first author. The 1.5 mm long, bracteoles 1–2.5 mm long.
following herbaria were consulted: CEN, CR, F, Hypanthium obconic, pilosulous to tomentulose,
G, GB, HOXA, INB, MO, MOL, NY, R, RB, UB, 3–3.8 × 2.5–3 mm. Calyx 4–4.7 mm long, deeply
UEC, USJ, USM. The digital databases and lobed, lobes acute, 3–3.6 mm long, puberulous to
photos of specimens from COL, CUZ, K, MA, hirtellous outside, glabrous to sparsely hirtellous
P, QCA, QCNE, US were also consulted. Termi- inside. Colleters not seen. Corolla salverform,
nology was adapted from Andersson (1998). The fleshy, white, tube 12–15 mm long, hirtellous out-
conservation status assessment was based on the side, inside villous in upper half and glabrous in
IUCN Red List categories and criteria (IUCN, lower half, lobes 12.5–14 mm long, ridged part
2012) and subsequent guidelines (IUCN glabrous to puberulous, central part hirtellous.
Standards And Petitions Subcommittee, 2017). Filaments 0.5–1.1 mm long and attached ca. 9–
10.5 mm above base of corolla tube (ca. 75% of
Taxonomic treatment tube length). Anthers 3.9–4.1 mm. Style ca. 9 mm
long, glabrous, stigmatic lobes ca. 3.5 mm long.
Ladenbergia siranensis Chilq., sp. nov. Type: Capsules woody, oblong-cylindrical, externally
Peru, Huánuco: Cordillera del Sira, Provincia puberulous to hirtellous, indument red/reddened,
Pachitea, elfin forest after the BCampamento 30–35 × 4.5–5.5 mm, endocarp 0.4–0.5 mm thick.
Peligroso^, 74°43’W, 9°25’S, 1700 m. elev., 1 Seeds flattened, oblong-fusiform, 11.5 × 4.1 mm,
May 1988, B. Wallnöfer 17-1588 (holotype: with wings marginally fimbriate (Fig. 1).
GB; isotypes: W–unmounted, LZ–not seen). Distribution and habitat.—Ladenbergia
(Fig. 1, 3B) siranensis is only known from summit of the Cor-
dillera El Sira, Pachitea, Huánuco, Peru (Fig. 2).
Diagnosis: Ladenbergia siranensis is distinguished from These mountains lack traces of human activities.
other Ladenbergia species by its shrubby habit; narrowly el- Their summit (1700–2000 m) is covered by
liptic, coriaceous leaves, few-flowered inflorescence; hypan- sclerophyllous vegetation, usually called Bbosque
thium hirtellous outside; small (4–4.7 mm long) and deeply
lobed calyx, corolla tube 12–15 mm long; glabrous style, and
enano^ (Vásquez et al., 2010), characterized by
fruits with reddened hirtellous indument. the absence of trees and predominance of shrubby
plants (Ilex sp., Clethra castaneifolia Meisn., Styrax
Shrubs, 3–4 m tall. Young branches glabrous or vilcabambae (D. R. Simpson) B. Walln, Symplocos
sparsely puberulous, with trichomes ferrugineous. quitensis Brand, Clusia sp., Gordonia fruticosa
Stipules shortly fused at the base, oblong in the (Schrad.) H. Keng, Gaultheria sp., Myciaria sp.,
168 BRITTONIA [VOL 71

FIG 1. Line drawing of Ladenbergia siranensis Chilq. A. Flowering branch. B. Stipules. C. Detail of venation leaf blade. D.
Flower and bud. E. Detail of the inside of the calyx. F. Detail of the inside of the corolla. G. Style. H. Fruit. I. Seed. (Drawn by Klei
Souza from B. Wallnöfer 17-1588, GB-6123490.)

Freziera sp.) (Monteagudo et al., 2014), growing on Phenology.—Collected with flowers in May
sandstone with nonwoody vegetation (mosses, bro- and fruits in September.
meliads, orchids, and sedges) (Kuijt & Graham, Conservation status.—Ladenbergia siranensis
2015) (Fig. 3A). is only known from four collections from only
Etymology.—Ladenbergia siranensis is named one site in a large and poorly explored area situ-
for the type locality, to call attention to the bio- ated within the Reserva Comunal El Sira (created
logical diversity and high endemism in the Cor- by Peruvian government DS. N 037-2001-AG).
dillera El Sira, and thereby, to encourage the Its location within this communal reserve affords
preservation of that biodiversity. some protection, as does the steep topography and
2019] CHILQUILLO ET AL.: LADENBERGIA SIRANENSIS (RUBIACEAE) 169

FIG 2. Geographic distribution of Ladenbergia siranensis and morphologically similar species.

current lack of roads in the Sira which limit the Ladenbergia siranensis presents a shrubby
montane forest’s exposure to human influence. habit and is unique in the genus by the combina-
Nevertheless, mining, logging, and oil explora- tion of the following characters: oblong stipules
tion are active in the region and threaten the that are shortly fused at the base; narrowly elliptic
montane forests (Dourojeanni, 2015). As a con- (length/width ratio 4.1–4.6), thick-textured leaf
sequence, it is not possible to determine its con- blades; inflorescences few-flowered with short
servation status, and we here provide a prelimi- axes and peduncles; sessile to subsessile flowers,
nary classification of data deficient (DD; see calyx limb deeply lobed, corolla tube 12–15 mm
IUCN, 2012; IUCN Standards and Petitions long, villous inside in the upper half, glabrous
Subcommittee, 2017). styles; and capsules oblong-cylindrical with red
hirtellous indument (Fig. 3B).
Additional specimens examined. PERU. Huánuco: Cor- Ladenbergia siranensis is morphologically
dillera El Sira, Provincia Pachitea, Region Pucallpa, similar and usually confused with the poorly
elfin forest after the Campamento Peligroso, 13
Apr 1988, B. Wallnöfer 16-13488 (GB, LZ, W), 4 Sep
known Peruvian species L. acutifolia. This latter
2017, E. Chilquillo et al. 5489 (USM), 5 Sep 2017, species is known only from two collections [Ruiz
E. Chilquillo et al. 5492 (USM). & Pavon s.n (G, BM, MA, photo F-136); Schunke

FIG 3. A. Sclerophyllous vegetation on the summit of Cordillera El Sira. B. Infrutescence of Ladenbergia siranensis, frontal
view. (Photos: A, by Julio Monzón; B, by Eder Chilquillo.)
170 BRITTONIA [VOL 71

5310 (F, G, IAN, NY)]. It was treated differently (length/width ratio 2.3–2.7) with cordate or
in the taxonomic synopsis of Ladenbergia by subcordate to rounded bases; multiflowered lax
Andersson (1997) than here. Recent collections inflorescence with two or three orders of
and field observations in eastern Peru found that branching; and corolla tube 8–10 mm long.
the additional collections cited as L. acutifolia by Ladenbergia siranensis also resembles
Andersson (1997) actually correspond to the more L. shawistigma, which shares the shrubby habit,
common species L. graciliflora [Belshaw 3464 coriaceous and elliptic to lanceolate leaf blades,
(K, NY); Gentry et al. 37910 (MO)]. True and deeply lobed calyx limb. However,
Ladenbergia acutifolia can be recognized by its L. shawistigma differs from L. siranensis by its
tree habit; ovate to oblong leaf blades unbranched umbelliform inflorescence.

Key to Ladenbergia siranensis, L. acutifolia, L. graciliflora and L. shawistigma

1. Inflorescence short and unbranched, in an umbelliform cyme with three flowers; style hirtellous. ……………L. shawistigma
1. Inflorescence short to well developed and lax, in dichasial cymes with five to many flowers; style glabrous.
2. Shrubs; leaves narrowly elliptic; inflorescence branched to one or two orders, with 5–9 flowers; fruits with hirtellous red
pubescence……….......……………………………………………………………………………………… L. siranensis
2. Treelets or trees; leaves elliptic to oblong; inflorescence branched to 2–4 orders, with 12–90 flowers; fruits glabrous or with
colorless puberulous pubescence.
3. Corolla tube 30–35 mm long; capsule narrowly oblong, 40–50 mm long ....…………………………….. L. graciliflora
3. Corolla tube 8–10 mm long; capsule pyriform or oblong, 15–30 mm long ………………………………... L. acutifolia

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