Phytotaxa 130 (1): 50–54 (2013) ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)

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Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press Article PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)

http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.130.1.6

A new species of Renealmia (Zingiberaceae) from Colombia

JUAN C. OSPINA & RAÚL E. POZNER

Instituto de Botánica Darwinion (IBODA), casilla de correo 22, B1642HYD San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
[email protected]

Abstract

Renealmia elianae (Zingiberaceae), a new species from the Central Andes of Colombia is described and illustrated.
Renealmia elianae is morphologically close to R. puberula, differing by the inflorescence position, corolla size, labellum
texture, surface and color, and size of the epigynous glands.

Introduction

Renealmia Linnaeus f. (1781: 79) currently includes about 85 species of medium to large sized, rhizomatous
herbs with a pantropical distribution: 23 species are native to Africa (Schumann 1904, Koechlin 1965,
Dhetchuvi 1996); about 62 species are found in the Neotropics (Maas 1975, 1977, 1979, 1982, Maas & Maas
1987, 1990). A phylogenetic analysis by Särkinen et al. (2007) suggested that Renealmia is monophyletic.
The taxonomy of Renealmia is covered by regional floristic studies (Maas 1975, 1977, 1979, 1982, Bolaños et
al. 2010, Idarraga & Callejas 2011) and later additions of new species (Maas & Maas 1987, 1990, Dhetchuvi
1996). The taxonomy of neotropical species of Renealmia is complex and has been reviewed only once by
Maas (1977), after which a number of additional species were described. During the study of the species of
Renealmia from the western slopes of the Central Andes (“Cordillera Central”) of Colombia, a specimen
similar to R. puberula Steyermark (1964: 340) was found. However, its leaf morphology and apical
inflorescence suggest a clear difference from any of the species of Renealmia recorded from the Cordillera
Central of Colombia (Vargas 2002, Idarraga & Callejas 2011). After a study of herbarium collections, a
bibliographic revision of the Neotropical species of Renealmia and several fieldtrips to locate natural
populations, we are confidently presenting a new species.

Material and Methods

Collections from COL, CHO, FAUC, HUA, HUQ, JAUM, and MEDEL were morphologically studied and
compared with floristic and taxonomical studies of the Neotropical species of Renealmia (Maas 1975, 1977,
1979, 1982, Maas & Maas 1987, 1990, Bolaños et al. 2010, Idarraga & Callejas 2011). Several fieldtrips to
Circasia and Armenia (Quindío) were undertaken, where the first author sampled populations of Renealmia,
made herbarium vouchers and fixed rhizomes, flowers and fruits in FAA (formalin : acetic acid : 70% ethyl
alcohol, 1:1:18, Johansen 1940). Photographs and field observations of growing patterns, rhizomes, and the
position of the inflorescence on the plants were also taken.

50 Accepted by Manuel Belgrano: 7 Aug. 2013; published: 10 Sept. 2013

Taxonomy

Renealmia elianae J.C. Ospina & Pozner, sp. nov., Fig. 1

Renealmia elianae is morphologically similar to R. puberula in its plant size, plicate leaves, inflorescences a thyrse,
similar indument of reproductive structures, and color of both seeds and arils. It differs from that species in its apical
inflorescence on leafy stems (basal on short bracteate shoots in R. puberula), labellae 3.0–3.6(–4.0) mm (versus 9–
10 mm in R. puberula), whitish to translucent, smooth and membranaceous (versus white to yellow, herbaceous,
wrinkled in R. puberula), corolla 5.0–6.0(–6.5) mm (versus ca. 12 mm in R. puberula), and epigynous glands 2.0–
2.5 mm (versus 0.8–1.5 mm in R. puberula). Renealmia elianae shares with R. cernua Macbride (1931: 14) the
apical inflorescence on leafy stems, but it differs by the leaf blades obovate, plicate (narrowly elliptic, non-plicate in
R. cernua), inflorescence thyrsoid (spiciform in R. cernua), bracteoles widely divided, green (entire, yellow in R.
cernua), calyx urceolate and flowers whitish to translucent (calyx tubular and flowers yellow to red-orange in R.
cernua).
Type:—COLOMBIA. Quindío: Circasia, Vereda Rio Bamba, finca La Secreta, 1600 m, May 2009, J. C. Ospina
González 255 (holotype COL!, isotypes FAUC!, HUQ!, SI!).

Plants rhizomatous, growing in dense groups, 70–100 cm, with ginger-like fragance. Stems erect,
herbaceous, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Sheaths (8–)10–25 × 3.8–5.0 cm, light green to whitish, coriaceous to
herbaceous, abaxial surfaces sparsely with malpighian (T-shaped) trichomes at the distal end. Ligules 2.90–
9.61 mm, membranaceous, with sparse trichomes. Petioles absent. Blades obovate, 40–55 × 33–35 cm,
coriaceous, bases attenuate, apices acuminate; adaxial sides dark shiny green, glabrous, secondary nerves
prominent (plicate blade); abaxial sides light green, pubescent. Inflorescences oblong, 15–20 × 7–10 cm,
apical thyrses crowning every foliose stem, subtended by a bract 15–20 cm, narrowly oblong, acuminate;
bracts of the inflorescence rachises narrowly triangular, subtending 3–4 flowered cincinnae (base and
median zone of the inflorescence) or 1–2-flowered cincinnae (at the apex of the inflorescence), bracteoles
tubular, margins open. Calices urceolate, 6–7 mm, dark green, coriaceous, with malpighian (T-shaped)
trichomes. Corollas lobulate, 5.0–6.0(–6.5) mm, whitish, with malpighian (T-shaped) trichomes and
glandular dots; labellae widely spathulate, 3.0–3.6(–4.0) mm, smooth, translucent to whitish at base,
membranaceous, revolute margins sinuate, with malpighian (T-shaped) trichomes. Staminodia 2, linear,
minute, lateral, 0.7–1.2 mm, green to purple, with malpighian (T-shaped) trichomes; Stamens 1, appressed to
the style, filament long, anthers oblong, 1.3–1.5(–1.8) mm, white with red dots. Stigmas capitate, 0.6–1.0
mm, yellow to greenish, papillose; styles terete, 9.0–9.5 mm, white, smooth, glabrous; ovaries ovoid, 2.8–3.0
mm, dark green, densely pubescent; epigynous glands 2.0–2.5 mm, white, surrounding the style base. Fruits
capsules ellipsoid, 5.3–7.8 × 7.0–8.5 mm, dark red to black, pericarp 1.0–1.5 mm thick, densely pubescent.
Seeds ovoid- asymmetrical, 3.0–3.6 mm in diameter, yellow to black. Arils orange.
Etymology:—Dedicated to Eliana K. Quintana Ángel, the biologist who first found a population of this
species.
Distribution:—Renealmia elianae grows in a relictual premontane forest, surrounded by an agricultural
area with cattle grazing, from the median zone of the Central Andes (“Cordillera Central”) of Colombia, along
the western slopes, in Municipio Circasia, between 1500 and 1700 m elevation.
Additional specimens examined (paratypes):—COLOMBIA. Quindío: Vereda Rio Bamba, finca La
Secreta, 1600 m, 11 October 2005, E. Méndez 3987 (COL, HUQ); 3 June 2008, J. C. Ospina & E. Méndez 164
(COL, HUA, HUQ); 15 August 2010, G. D. Cano & J. C. Ospina s.n. (COL, FAUC, HUA). Vereda
Mesopotamia, Finca Mesopotamia, 1650 m, April 2009, J. C. Ospina 215, 216 (COL, FAUC, HUA); May
2009, J. C. Ospina 256 (COL, FAUC, HUA).

Discussion

Among the characters usually used to discern and characterize the species of Renealmia, the position of the
inflorescence on the plant, traditionally described as apical (on long leafy stems) or basal (on short, bracteate

A NEW SPECIES OF RENEALMIA FROM COLOMBIA Phytotaxa 130 (1) © 2013 Magnolia Press • 51
FIGURE 1. Renealmia elianae. A, habit. B, cincinnus with bract of the rachis. C, flower, lateral view with bracteole. D, flower, front
view. E, epigynous glands, style, stigma, and fertile stamen (corolla partially removed). F, labellum and staminodia (style and fertile
stamen on the left). G, fruit with persistent sepals, part of pericarp has been removed to show the seeds. H, malpighian T-shaped
trichome. Drawn by Francisco Rojas from J. C. Ospina González 255 (holotype COL).

52 • Phytotaxa 130 (1) © 2013 Magnolia Press OSPINA & POZNER

shoots close to the rhizome), deserves particular interest. Field observations by the first author revealed that
this change in the inflorescence position is the consequence of two different types of growth. In species of
Renealmia with apical inflorescences, every aerial shoot produces normal leaves and ends its growth with a
terminal inflorescence, well exposed above the foliage, being at the same time vegetative and reproductive
shoots [e.g. R. cernua, R. densiflora Urban (1921: 18), R. pyramidalis Maas (1975: 479) and our new species
R. elianae]. On the other hand, in those species with basal inflorescences, the rhizomes produce two types of
aerial shoots: leafy, relatively long, vegetative shoots, and short, bracteate, reproductive shoots, with a
terminal inflorescence close to ground level [e.g. R. aromatica Grisebach (1864: 601), R. ferruginea Maas
(1975: 476), R. ligulata Maas (1975: 477), R. nicolaioides Loesener (1927: 65), R. thyrsoidea Poeppig &
Endlicher (1838: 26), R. puberula, R. concinna Standley (1927: 249)]. Therefore, the position of the
inflorescence in the plant could not only be a key character to discern R. elianae from R. puberula, but also a
valuable taxonomical feature to identify other species of Renealmia.

Key to the species of Renealmia from the Central Andes of Colombia

1. Inflorescence apical, e.g. every aerial shoot leafy, ending in a terminal inflorescence, well exposed above the foliage
of the plant ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
- Inflorescence basal, e.g. two types of aerial shoots, foliose-vegetative and floriferous-reproductive. Floriferous
shoots, short, bracteate, bearing inflorescences close to ground level, well below the foliage of the plant ................ 3
2. Leaf blades narrowly elliptic, non-plicate; inflorescence spiciform; bracteoles tubular, entire, yellow; calyx tubular;
flowers yellow to red-orange . ........................................................................................................................ R. cernua
- Leaf blades obovate, plicate; inflorescence thyrsoid; bracteoles tubular, widely divided, green; calyx urceolate;
flowers whitish to translucent ........................................................................................................................R. elianae
3. Leaf blades obovate, plicate, herbaceous .................................................................................................... R. puberula
- Leaf blades narrowly elliptic, non-plicate, coriaceous ................................................................................................ 4
4. Scapes 50–70(–100) cm, dry forests below 1000 m elevation ................................................................. R. aromatica
- Scapes 10–20(–35) cm, premontane and montane moist forests between 1600–2500 m elevation............................. 5
5. Inflorescences spiciform or racemiform; bracts of the rachis whitish to pink; flowers yellow to yellowish-red ....... 6
- Inflorescences thyrsoid; bracts of the rachis red to orange; flowers white................................................................... 7
6. Petioles present (2.0–12.5 mm); leaf blades (80–)90–130 cm; bracts of the rachis narrowly triangular to ovate-trian-
gular; floral structures densely pubescent with brown appressed trichomes ......................................... R. nicolaioides
- Petioles absent; leaf blades 20–50(–60) cm; bracts of the rachis obovate; floral structures glabrous or with sparse
white malpighian (T-shaped) trichomes ....................................................................................................R. thyrsoidea
7. Calyx tubular, (18–)20–30 mm; floral structures densely pubescent [velvety ferrugineous indument, with mal-
pighian (T-shaped) trichomes] ...................................................................................................................R. ferruginea
- Calyx turbinate, 8–13(–15) mm; floral structures glabrous or with sparse, simple, white trichomes [rarely mal-
pighian (T-shaped)] ........................................................................................................................................ R. ligulata

Acknowledgements

We thank Red Latinoamericana de Botánica and the Andrew W. Mellon foundation for their financial support
through the fellowship RLB2010–P06. We also thank Dr. Fernando Zuloaga for allowing us to use the
facilities at Instituto de Botánica Darwinion and we thank Francisco Rojas for the botanical illustration.

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