Euphorbiacearum sertum Novo-galicianarum revisarum

43 Pages·1995·36.3 MB·

by  R Mcvaugh

Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 20: 173-215. 1995.
EUPHORBIACEARUM SERTUM NOVO-GALICIANARUM
REVISARUM
McVaugh
Rogers
Department
of Biology
North
University of Carolina
Chapel North Carolina 27599-3280
Hill,
This contribution should be regarded as complementary to a previously pub-
new members
lished paper dealing with and otherwise interesting of the Euphor-
(McVaugh As
genera Chamaesyce and Euphorbia
biaceae, of the 1993). in that
paper, data on some individual species are presented below essentially in the form
on same
of treatments for the Flora Novo-Galiciana, with concentration the area.
A
map of Nueva Galicia, and an index to localities, may be found in Flora Novo-
volume same volume 450-
436-453. work,
Galiciana, 1992, or the
17, pp. in 13, pp.
467. 1993. In the following pages the citations of specimens include mention of the
herbaria which the individual specimens have been seen; these herbaria have
in
been indicated by the appropriate acronyms, as listed in Index Herbariorum, edi-
tion 8 (New York 1990). For the privilege of loans of types and other critical
am many
and and
material indebted to herbaria, especially to the curators staffs
I
BH, CAS, CHAPA, DAV, GH, IBUG, MEXU, MICH, MO,
G, IEB, K,
at C, F,
POM, TEX, ZEA.
UC, US, WIS, and
P,
ACALYPHA
Acalypha delgadoana McVaugh, nov., frutex monoicus ramosus, ramulis
sp.
quam
rufis puberulis lenticellatis; folia sparsim setulosa vel hispidula, petiolis laminis
cm cm
multo brevioribus, laminis lanceolatis (2.5-) 4-10 longis, (0.8-) 1.5-2 (-3)
quam cm
3-6
3-4-plo longioribus latioribus; spicae 9 terminales solitariae,
latis,
25-40 minuteve
longae
tenues, bracteis inter se distantibus, unifloris, hispidulis, vix
mm
plerumque
glandulosis, 6-7-dentatis, maturitate explanatis, ca 2.5-3 2 (-3)
latis,
mm
longis, dentibus triangularibus vel deltoideis, subaequalibus vel dente centrali
cm
6
prolongato; spicae axillares, filiformes subsessiles ca 3.5 longae; styli 2.5-3.7
mm
mm
longi, multifidae; capsula 3-lobata hispida ca 3 lata, conspicue verrucosa;
mm
semina
ca longa.
1.6
known
Hillsides in pine-oak forest, only from foothills of the Pacific slope in
western Jalisco, ca 500-750 m, flowering and fruiting in July.
km km
Cabo
Mpio. Corrientes, ca 20 S of Puerto Vallarta and 20 from El
Jal.,
MEXU,
(A MICH,
Delgado Delgado
Tuito 357, the holotype, isotype; 355,
S.
MEXU,
(CHAPA, km
MICH); Zimapan
road toward the mines of [from the
4.5,
N &
Rosa Puga IBUG).
road-jet. of El Tuito] (Perez de 1571,
la
cm woody
Shrub, reported as 70-90 high, branched above, the branches up to
mm
at least 5 in diameter, fluted in drying, with reddish brown bark and large
some
lenticels; branchlets finely puberulent, usually with curved coarser hairs as
mm
more
well; leaf-blades setulose adaxially, the hairs up to than long, thick-
1
ened and sometimes
at base with a basal ring of thick-walled cells; abaxial surface
173
CONTR. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM VOLUME
174 20
hispidulous, mostly on the veins; stipules conspicuous but before the leaves
falling
mm
mature, narrowly triangular or triangular-subulate, scarious, reddish, 2-3 long,
mm mm
much
0.5-0.7 wide 10-17
(-1) at base; petioles stout, (-30) long, shorter
cm cm
than the blades; blades lanceolate, (2.5-) 4-10 long, (0.8-) 1.5-2 (-3) wide,
3-4
times as long as wide, long-acuminate and sometimes falcate apex (seldom
at
merely acute), shallowly cordate or emarginate the rounded base, pinnately
at
veined but the lateral veins steeply ascending; margins shallowly crenate-serrate
with (20-) ca 30 teeth on each edge; abaxial leaf surfaces green (as the type), or
in
dark 6 cm
red; spikes [one seen, past flower] axillary, filiform, interrupted, ca 3.5
long, nearly sessile, the flowers and floral bracts hispidulous; 9 spikes clearly
mm mm
cm
terminal, 3-6 long (on peduncles 3-12 3-4
long), diameter, flexu-
in
mm
25-40
ous, the bracts loosely scattered along the axis, often (1-) 3-5 apart; 9
mm
bracts -flowered, hispidulous, 1-1.5 long flower, ca 6-7-toothed;
in fruiting
I
mm
bracts usually explanate, ca 2.5-3 wide, the teeth triangular-deltoid, acute,
sometimes sparingly and on more
finely stipitate-glandular the margins, or
less
mm mm
equal and ca high and the bract 2 long, or the central tooth prolonged,
1
mm mm
mm
up to 2 long and wide at base and the bract then ca 3 long; styles
1
mm
red, 2.5-3.7 long, multifid half their length or more; 9 sepals persistent,
mm
membranous,
sometimes
reddish, triangular-ovate, ca 0.7-0.8 0.3-0.4
long,
mm
mm mm
wide
at base; capsule deeply 3-lobed, hispid, ca 2 high and 3 wide,
covered on by narrow
the distal half fleshy erect spinelike processes up to ca 0.4
mm
mm mm
long; columella persistent, stout, oblong, ca 1-1.3 long, 0.5 thick,
acutely 3-angled, 3-pronged apex; seeds gray-brown,
at elliptic-ovoid, acute,
1.6
mm mm
long, 1.2 wide, smooth, cellular-reticulate, with a fleshy oblique crest.
This species Acalypha and A. schiedeana shrubby
is like cincta in habit,
its its
terminal, elongate and usually solitary 9 spikes, and 9 bracts with relatively few
however,
teeth. as far as can determine, unique having the combination
It is, I in
of very narrow leaves, sparse and mostly eglandular pubescence, and very slender
9 spikes with short bracts exposing the capsules. The capsules A. cincta nor-
in
mally surpass and conceal the bracts, as they do infrequently A. schiedeana, but
in
both these species are amply distinct from A. delgadoana other ways, as indicated
in
below. All the following are characterized by having long terminal 9 spikes on
stems or branches usually unaccompanied by subordinate
solitary,
lateral (axil-
more
lary) 9 spikes; teeth o[ the 9 bracts, than about 10 number, setose but
if in
not glandular-ciliate (rare exceptions A. schiedeana, with acicular-subulate
in rigid
mm
6-10
stipules often long).
4-10 cm cm
Leaf-blades lanceolate, (2.5-) long, (0.8-) 1.5-2 (-3) wide, 3-4 times as long as
I.
mm
wide, thinly setulose or hispidulous; 9 bracts in fruit 2-3 long, the 6-7 teeth finely and
sparingly stipitate-glandular on the margins. delgadoana.
A.
commonly cm
Leaf-blades ovate or broadly ovate, 3-5 wide or wider, and rarely more than
I.
2-2.5 times as long as wide; 9 bracts various.
9 bracts 2-flowered, 10-15 (-17)-toothed, setose (not glandular); young herbage and stems
2.
densely and whitish
stiffly pilose. A. mollis.
9 bracts -flowered, (5-) 7-9-toothed, stipitate-glandular or essentially glabrous.
1
mm
Stipules acicular-subulate with 6-10
3. rigid tips, (2.5-) long; leaf-blades light green,
membranous, when young
strigose but mostly nearly glabrous at maturity, the lamina
mm
m mm
when
dry copiously papillose; 9 spikes up to 10 thick, the bracts 4-5
fruit
long, in ours 7 (-1 )-toothed, sparingly stipitate-glandular on the margins or seldom on
1
he outer surface
as well. A. schiedeana.
I
mm mm
3. Stipules nearly linear, ribbon-like, membranous, up to 8-10 long and 8-1
0.
wide
at base; blades green (often drying a bronzy green), with narrow paler green
margins, the abaxial surface sometimes dark red except the green margin; blades densely
MCVAUGH: EUPHORBIACEAE
175
1995
pubescent and often much whitened when young, in age sometimes glabrescent, the
mm
lamina usually not noticeably papillose; 9 spikes up to ca 6 thick in fruit, the bracts
mm
2-2.5 long (surpassed and hidden by the capsules), (5-) 7-9-toothed, glabrous or
A.
not glandular. cincta.
strigose,
McVaugh,
Acalypha gigantesca nov., frutex subglaber, ramis glabris; peti-
sp.
adaxiale brevibus curvatis foliorum laminae ovatae, caudato-
instructi;
oli pilis
cm ambabus
acuminatae, usque ad 7 longae, in superficiebus pilis sparsis subrigi-
mm
venarum pilorum longiorum
dis 0.5-1 longis instructae, et basi in axillis caes-
denso ornatae; spicae 6 non visae; spicae 9 terminales solitariae, bracteis
pite
subfoliaceis 1-2-floris (flore unico evolventi), glabris eglandulosisque, 10-14-den-
mm
mm mm
mm,
8-10 4.5-6 longis (-10 dente centrali 2-2.5
apertis
tatis, latis,
mm
5-6 ovarium
ramosi;
prolongate) includenti); ca longi, gla-
ultra ceteris styli
brum; capsula tota glabra, laevis.
&
Ramos
Known
only from poor specimen, A. Flores M. Patricia G.
single
a
MICH, Mpio. La Huerta, Puente de
2901, the holotype, collected in Jalisco,
W
km
subdeciduous
Arroyo seco, ca 5 of Ej. Miguel Hidalgo, in tropical forest,
m
Aug
with immature 15 1991, 40 elevation.
fruit
m
Shrub branches glabrous, the leaves glabrous except for scattered
tall;
1
mm
0.5-1 long on both surfaces (especially on younger leaves), a con-
hairs
stiff
spicuous abaxial tuft of longer hairs at the base of the blade, similar but smaller
on
and an adaxial of curved hairs
tufts in the axils of the foliar veins, line stiffish
mm
up (probably not
the petiole; stipules subulate, deciduous, to 3 long; petioles
cm
of full-sized leaves) 1.5-2 long; blades (probably not as large as ordinary
cm cm
up long and wide, caudate-acuminate, auricu-
cauline leaves) ovate, to 7 3
late-emarginate the rounded base; margins shallowly serrate with 15-18 teeth
at
and
on each edge; blades palmately 7-9-veined at base, the veins pale abaxially
prominently convex; 6 spikes and flowers unknown; 9 spikes terminal, green
cm cm when
more wide
with a reddish tinge, 2-2.5 long, than pressed; 9 bracts
1
1-2-flowered flower developing), subfoliaceous, glabrous, not glandular, reni-
(1
mm
body
form (when opened), then 8-10 wide, serrate with 10-14 teeth, the of
mm
mm
beyond
the bract 4.5-6 long with central tooth prolonged 2-2.5 this,
mm
falcate-acuminate, the lateral teeth sharp, antrorsely curved, ca 0.5 high; 9
mm
ovary and capsule
sepals triangular-acuminate, sharp-pointed, 0.7 long; gla-
mm
5-6 with slender branches; capsule smooth, 3-lobed,
brous; ca long, distal
styles
mm
mm
oblate, ca 3 in diameter (probably slightly immature), ca 2.5 high; seeds
not seen.
In the context of the Flora Novo-Galiciana this an extraordinary species.
is
Our genus Acalypha almost never glabrous the extent
other species of the are to
described above, a smooth and glabrous ovary rare in Acalypha, the prolonged
is
and
central tooth of the 9 bracts unusually prominent, the large tuft of hairs at
is
key
the base of the leaf-blade is a very unusual feature. In the following it is
shrubby
contrasted with similar-seeming species.
branches indeterminate growth.
All spikes axillary, the in
1.
among
and inconspicuous the
Plants eglandular or nearly so (glands, present, sessile
2. if
mm
9 bracts eglandular; seeds 1.1-1.3 long; veins of the abaxial leaf-surface sparingly
hairs);
beset with antrorsely curled or straight hairs, the surface itself eglandular. A. vagans.
stiffish
on
Plants more or beset with gland-tipped hairs; 9 bracts with marginal glands the
less
2.
teeth and often on the abaxial surface; veins of the abaxial leaf-surface copiously fringed
with soft straight hairs standing more or less at 90° from the vein, the surface itself bearing
dark
very short-stalked glands.
CONTR. UNIVERSITY OF HERBARIUM VOLUME
176 MICHICJAN
20
mm
m
3. Seeds 1.7-2 long; habitat mostly 2000 or higher; larger leaf-blades 7-13 cm long,
commonly
with 30-35 (-45) teeth on each edge: covering of gland-tipped hairs usually
whole
extensive, the plant often resinous. A. langiana var. vigens.
mm
3. Seeds 1.3 long; species mostly of lowlands, up to ca 1500 m; larger leaf-blades 4-
1
cm commonly
7(-?10) long, with 20-25 (-30) teeth on each edge; covering of gland-
tipped hairs conspicuous and resinous, or often fine, pale or whitish, evident mostly on
the 9 bracts. langiana var. langiana.
/\_
Terminal
I. spike present, 9 (sometimes with a few 6 flowers or a sterile seta al the tip), usually
much
larger than the 9 spikes (if any) in the upper axils; branchlets glabrous; 9 bracts
mm
glabrous, eglandulai. up lo ca 7 long with 10-14 teeth, including a prolonged central
mm
tooth 1-2 long; ovary and capsule smooth, glabrous; leaf blades ovale, thinly strigose
adaxially and with a large tuft of pale hairs (mostly abaxial) the base and smaller
at tufts in
the larger vein-axils, otherwise glabrous.
A. gigantesca.
Acalypha McVaugh,
lagopus sp. nov., annua, bractearum 9 dentibus maiori-
mm
bus
5-6. basibus deltoideis. apicibus 2-3
setosis filiformibus vel subulatis
mm
longis longe setosis inslruclis: spicac 6 ut videtur terminales, 5-20 longae,
pedunculis
ca aequilongis
suffultae; spicac 9 axillares et ut videtur terminales.
mm mm
compactae, ellipsoidales vel suborbiculares, 10-28 longae, 8-15 diametro;
laminae
slyli indivisi; folioi urn ovatae vel suborbiculares, plerumque obtusae, 1-2
cm
(-4) longae.
Areas
of old lava flows, with Cordia, Amphipterygium, Apoplanesia, weedy
in
and on
fields roadsides, along 300-400 m. and
irrigation ditches, flowering
fruiting
Aug-Sep
known.
as far as
w
and Michoacan
S in the basins of the Rio Tepalcatepec and Rio Balsas,
NW
reaching our area near Apatzingan ("4 mi" McVaugh
Apatzingan,
of 179/7.
WSW
MICH,
km
the holotype; 11-13 of Apatzingan, road Dos Aguas and
to
MICH;
&
Aguililla (Dieterle 426/, Mpio. Paracuaro ["Antunez"], Rodriguez
C.
CHAPA),
Qiwzada known
and
1360, also from Mpio. San Lucas Huetamo"].
["Distr.
Santa Cruz
{Hinton 6434, K).
Annual
or of indefinite duration from a stout upright taproot, as far as known
with short central stem up to 6-8 (-710) high, and longer prostrate decumbent
basal branches; leaves usually opposite at the two lowest nodes, these separated
mm
by an internode 4-1 long, the branches from these nodes horizontally spread-
1
cm
up
ing, to ca 20 long, with long (4-6 cm) proximal internodes and ascending
herbage
tips; puberulent with short curved hairs, the 9 peduncles also hispid with
mm
up
stiff erect hairs to 2 long, the leaf-blades mostly glabrous, ciliate-margined
and with few
a stiff superficial hairs; stipules triangular-subulate, caducous,
stri-
mm
mm
gose, less than long; petioles filiform, 6-15 (-30) long; blades 0.9-2
(-4)
1
cm
cm
long, (0.4-) 0.8-1.8 (-3) wide, ovate (often very nearly perfectly egg-
shaped), or the lower ones suborbieular, obtuse apex or seldom subacute, rounded
at
at base; margins shallowly and often obscurely serrate (except in the basal third)
with ca 8-15 teeth on each edge; leaves and inflorescences tending be concen-
to
trated the approximate node(s)
at distal of a branch, there often with 4-5 leaves
subtending 1-3 axillary (or terminal) 9 spikes and 6
a single (?axillary) spike-
small axillary spikes, both 9 and d\ occur occasionally lower nodes, the
at at least
9 apparently infertile, -flowered on a capillary peduncle; 6 spikes 0.5-2
distal
1
mm
cm
long, 1.5-2 thick, on erect capillary peduncles about long
as as the spikes;
mm
9 spikes very compact, multibracteate, 10-28 8-
ellipsoid to orbicular, long,
mm
15 thick, the spreading filiform setose tips of the bracts conspicuous; 9 bracts
mm
membranous,
4.5-7 lobed about when
long, half their length or a more,
little
mm
flattened flabellate, 5-7 wide al the bases of the lobes; lobes 5-6 (sometimes
.
MCVAUGH: EUPHORBIACEAE
1995 177
mm
and
with or 2 additional outer lobes ca long), with deltoid base green
1 1
mm
subulate or filiform tips 2-3 long, these densely setose with spreading hairs 1-
mm
more
on
2 long, the proximal portion of the bract thinly setose, especially the
mm mm
nerves; styles undivided, 5-6 long; capsule deeply 3-lobed, ca 2 wide, 1.5
mm
mm
high, hispidulous and distally with weak setae up to 1.3 long; seeds
mm mm
smooth, minutely
elliptic-ovoid, acute, ca 1.5 long, thick, cellular-reticu-
1
with an oblique fleshy
late, crest.
Most branches
of the large 9 spikes at the tips of the are clearly axillary, at
mm
them
nodes less than 5 apart; the solitary 6 spike associated with always
seems be subtended by but whether always cannot
to a leaf, in fact axillary,
it is I
Among
ascertain. the annual species of which the 9 bracts have 3-5 (-7) teeth
with prolonged filiform setose tips, this one seems most likely to be confused with
may
Acalypha alopecuroidea. These be contrasted about as follows:
mm
same
6 spikes seemingly terminal, 5-20 long, on erect peduncles about the the length; 9
1.
spikes clustered at 4-5 approximate distal nodes; styles entire as far as known; leaf-blades
cm
nearly egg-shaped or suborbicular, mostly obtuse at apex, ca 1-2 (-4) long; basin of Rio
w
go
Tepalcatepec, Michoacan. A. a pus.
I
mm
mm
6 spikes axillary, (1-) 3-10 long, on weakly spreading peduncles mostly 2-3 long,
1.
some
usually arising in the same axils with 9 spikes; at least 2 spikes appearing terminal, but
mm
most of them axillary, on peduncles 4-6 (-8) long; styles (in ours) mostly entire, some-
times irregularly bifid distally; leaf-blades broadly ovate to ovate-cordate, acuminate, 2.5-7
cm Nucva
long, (1.3-) 1.4-1.7 (-2) times as long as wide; widespread in Galicia. A. alopecuroidea.
DC.
Acalypha langiana Muell. Arg. Linnaea 34: 159. 1865; in Prodr. 15, part
2:811. 1866.
DC.
Acalypha vagans glandulosa Muell. Arg. Linnaea 34: 161. 1865; in
[var.]
(3
DC.
Prodr. 15, part 2: 829. 1866. 1 Acalypha brachyclada Muell. Arg. in Prodr. 15,
&
part 862. 1866. Acalypha palmeri Pax Hoffm. Pflanzenreich IV. 147. xvi [Heft
2:
157. 1924.
85]:
Steep bluffs and rocky hillsides, matorral subtropical, pine-oak forest, tropical
Brosimum,
deciduous forest with Lysiloma, Coccoloba, Hitra, thorn forest with
m
Haematoxylum, sea-level to ca 1500 in the Pacific lowlands and foothills, flow-
ering Jun-Sep or almost throughout the year. Similar plants from higher eleva-
tions, up to ca 2350 m, are discussed below.
Palmer
Son., Dgo., Nay., Col. (Manzanillo, 941 in 1890, US!, isolectotype
Jal.,
MICH
of A. palmeri; negs. 1342!, 1343!), Mich., Gro. (Baqueta, Langlasse 497,
syntype of A. palmeri), Oax. ["in valle Oaxacana prope Quilapa (Liebm. a
cl.
!
Lange commun. the type; G!, a young 9 fragment, lectotype, here designated,
),"
Liebmann 5749, 4 sheets, C!, isolectotypes; "prope Guatulco in Mexico occidenta-
Liebmann lectotype here designated of A. vagans glandulosa].
(5782), C!, p
li,"
The type of A. brachyclada was cited as "In Peruvia aut in Mexico (hb. Pavon!
nunc in hb. Boiss. )." The presumed holotype, at G! ex herb. Boiss. (a fragment in
G-DC!), bears a ticket (?written by Pavon), "Croton glandulosum," with no indi-
branch
cation of geographical origin. a flowering of a stipitate-glandular
It is
shrub, apparently with spikes mostly
axillary,
all
<S
C
The specimens of Liebmann 5749 at bear 9 spikes only, as indicated by the
good
description the protologue. Except that the spikes are younger, they are a
in
The
match Palmer US, Acalypha herbage
for 941 at the lectotype of palmeri.
is
many
and
densely stipitate-glandular, the leaves are coarsely dentate, of the 9
spikes end in a sterile seta. There no indication that Mueller Argoviensis actually
is
VOLUME
CONTR. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM
20
178
saw any of the material at Copenhagen; none of the four sheets bears his charac-
annotation-label. Mueller did not state without qualification, as he often
teristic
A
did, that he had seen the material "in hb. copenh." Of langiana he added "a
cl.
Lange messem Euphorbiacearum copiosam Liebm. lectam bene vole
inter a
cl.
com
muni
cat a."
C
The
material of A. vagans glandulosa bears Mueller's annotation.
at
It is
(3
a flowering specimen consisting of three branches. cannot distinguish from
I ll
Acalypha langiana. Mueller included an informal grouping of species that he
in
it
called Acrogynae, described as having "spicae foem. terminales saepeque et axil-
some The young
lares," that with at least 9 spikes terminal. specimens are so
is,
that difficult to be sure, but appears that the spikes are axillary with the
it is it all
younger ones toward the The only species western Mexico with which
tips. in it is
likely to be confused A. subviscida, and in that the terminal 9 spikes are usually
is
commonly
conspicuously terminal, and develop very early stage of flowering,
at a
often ahead of the axillary spikes below them.
In the type-material of Acalypha palmeri, as in the majority of our specimens
referred here to A. langiana, the terminal tooth of the 9 bracts notably pro-
is
longed, whereas A. langiana was originally described as having the terminal tooth
"reliquis nee majore nee productiore." This particular variation does not appear
to be taxonomically significant. Both the lowland and highland representatives
in
may
of A. langiana, bracts with and without a prolonged central tooth be found
on same
the plant.
The Mexico Acalypha and umbrosa
species-complex includes langiana A.
that in
Brandg., namely an assemblage of shrubby monoecious plants with inflores-
all
cences axillary, and the herbage sparsely to densely vestite with gland-tipped
The number
need
resinous hairs, is in of further study. of available collections is
make
and need on
not large, collectors to additional field-observations variation
in local populations. Specimens that have been called A. langiana vary from
examples with few small pale glands and those nearly confined to the 9 bracts, to
resinous-glandular to such an extent that the herbage covered and darkened by
is
the glands. This dense covering of glands particularly noticeable highland
in
is
m
populations (mostly 2000 and above), but not confined to them. In addition
is
from
to the variation in glandularity, sexual expression varies plant to plant in
may
ways that cannot explain. be that the glandularity controlled largely by
It is
I
some
genetic but instances the sexual expression, the
factors, at least in rela-
i.e.,
numbers of 8 and 9 spikes produced, seems be influenced by the environ-
tive to
common
The
ment. most situation seems to be that in which a majority o[ the
plants at one locality produce mostly 8 spikes, these very often bearing one or
few 9 and fertile bracts on the peduncle near base. In at least one instance, at a
&
(McVaugh
lowland locality near Colima, most plants were of this description
W86 McVaugh
Koelz in 1959; 15503 in 1957), but a single plant that had been
severely clipped or browsed {McVaugh 15512) was producing new shoots bearing
exclusively long multibracteate 9 spikes.
In individual plants with numerous 8 spikes, these seem to develop before
Some
upper mature
the 9 spikes the individuals with 9 spikes the
in axils. in
may
upper however, bear the same time undeveloped 6 spikes elsewhere
axils, at
on the plant. In an isotype of Acalypha palmeri {Palmer 941, US), one branchlet
The
bears 9 spikes and another bears 8 spikes with 1-2 9 flowers base.
at
coordinating mechanism and some other groups of Acalypha deserves
in this
some study; possible that the same mechanisms have been involved the
in
it is
MCVAUGH: EUPHORBIACEAE
179
1995
development of the dioecious habit and in the change from indefinite to definite
growth-habit.
and
Similar states have been observed in the closely related scarcely distin-
guishable montane plant of Nueva Galicia that in 1961 (Brittonia 13: 148, in key)
I
many
identified as Acalypha umbrosa Brandg. In general appearance and in indi-
vidual characters, montane plant suggests a larger and more luxuriant version
this
now
of the lowland Acalypha langiana, and believe best treated as a variety
is
it
I
now
more ample Acalypha umbrosa
of that species. Study of the material of
montane though
available shows that not identical with our plant, surely
it is
closely related to and to the lowland A. langiana. It is heavily glandular, resem-
it
montane most specimens
bling our plant in this respect, but the leaves in are
shorter and more widely ovate, not conspicuously long-acuminate, with fewer and
and and
rounder marginal teeth, relatively longer petioles, smaller 9 bracts seeds.
evidently somewhat modified insular taxon, but position with respect to
a its
It is
remains be
A. langiana to clarified.
way upland from
have been any separate the
not able to find satisfactory to
I
which seems
the lowland populations of A. langiana except by seed-size, consis-
tently larger in the montane plants. In the latter, also, the glandular covering is
more
usually darker and denser, resinous; the leaves tend to be longer, relatively
narrower and more narrowly acuminate, and with finer and more regular margin-
maximum more numerous
and
teeth; the 9 bracts at size are longer with teeth.
al
somewhat and
All these characters except seed-size are subjective inconsistent.
The differences between the following two varieties are set forth in the key above,
under Acalypha
gigantesca.
176,
p.
Acalypha langiana Muell. Arg., langiana. Acalypha langiana Muell. Arg.,
var.
as to type.
McVaugh,
monticola
Acalypha langiana Muell. Arg., var. vigens var. nov.,
mm
non langiana seminibus 1.7-2 (non 1-1.3
(regiones calidas habitat), a var.
mm)
majorum utroque
foliorum laminibus multidentatis [dentibus latere
longis,
plerumque 30-35 20-25
vice
(-45), (-30)], differt.
Barrancas and steep slopes, in mixed montane forest with broad-leaved trees,
or pine-fir forest with Quercus, Styrax, Cornus disciflora, Meliosma, Ternstroemia,
Aug-Apr.
Symplocos, Carpinus, (1500-) 2000-2600 m, flowering and fruiting
Tilia,
Known Nevado below
de Colima,
from only (northeastern slopes of
Jalisco
MICH).
(McVaugh Not Aca-
Canoa de Leoncito 13436, sheet the holotype,
2,
known from and
lypha umbrosa Brandg. Erythea 1899, which B. C. Sur,
7: 7. is
from the Revillagigedo Islands (Socorro Anthony 375, UC!, the holotype).
I.,
km
Mpio. San Sebastian Oeste), Hda. El Ototal (Mexia 1682); 15-30
(del
Jal.,
N &
of Mascota, road to San Sebastian (Anderson Anderson 5953); Mpio. Talpa,
w
km IBUG);
brecha from Cuale to Talpa (L. M. Gonzalez 1104, n slopes of
12,
(McVaugh Manantlan (many
Nevado de Colima, above Jazmfn 10030); Sierra de
"15-20 mi" SE of Autlan, Wilbur 1952; steep ridge at 2160 m, road to
collectors:
W
El Guisar, Breedlove 45728, CAS; on the bajada S and of the divide between
NE
km
McVaugh
Aserradero San Miguel Uno, and El Durazno, 13934: 2-3.5 of
km ESE
IBUG, WIS; on 7-8 Las
Las Joyas, Judziewicz al 4913, the ridge of
et
&
Lopez Guzman ZEA); Mpio. Barranca La
2400 m, Tecalillan,
Joyas, G. L. 24,
&
km SE Lego Chavez
Resbalosa, ca 10 of Llanitos, brecha to Plan de (Villa 237).
MICH
specimens except noted).
(All at as
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM VOLUME
ISO (X)NTR. 20
m
Slender arching shrub 1-2 high, puberulent or hirsutulous with pale
hairs,
the hairs on mature branchlets often obscured by the numerous yellow or dark
brown
abundant on
stout-stipitate glands, these especially the branchlets, inflores-
cence and
axes, petioles, 9 bracts, the leaf-blades sparingly or rather densely
whole
glandular, the plant fragrant, resinous; stipules very early deciduous,
flat,
mm mm
narrowly wide 2-4 cm
triangular, 1.5-2.5 long, 0.7 at base; petioles (-7)
long, mostly less than half as long as the blades; blades ovate or long-ovate, the
larger ones of the branches (below the narrower leaves of the upper nodes) 7-13
cm cm
3-6 commonly
long, (2.5-) wide, long-acuminate to caudate and falcate
at
apex, 3-veined near base (with 1-3 pairs of smaller veins below rounded
this), at
base (often narrowed, then rounded and auriculate-emarginate), serrate nearly to
commonly
the base, with 30-35 (-45) teeth on each edge; spikes those
axillary,
all
in the upper axils mostly 6 with 1-2 9 flowers base, or on some branches
at
cm
mostly or all 9; spikes in the lower axils mostly 6\ up to 7 long, with one or
mm
cm
few 9 flowers at base; S spike up to 7-10 long, 1.5-3 thick, pedunculate
cm
1-2 cm; wholly 9 spikes up to ca 5 long with up to 15 (-720) flowering bracts;
mm
bracts 2-flowered, (3.5-) 4.5-7.5 (-13) long including the prolonged central
mm
and 9-12
tooth any, wide, with (15-) 17-23 (-30) narrowly triangular acute
if
mm
teeth about twice as long as wide, 0.5-1.5 long (or a more including the
little
mm
stout glands), the middle tooth sometimes up to 2-3 long, or scarcely longer
than the others; outer surface of the 9 bracts usually densely stipitate-glandular,
the glands most abundant on the teeth, where in young bracts they may be as
mm
large as the teeth and confused with them; 9 calyx-lobes ovate, acute, long,
1
mm
glandular-dentate on the margins; styles 3.5-5 long, red, laciniate; capsule
mm
depressed, strongly 3-lobed, 3 wide, densely short-hispidulous and verrucose;
mm
seed smooth
ovoid, 1.7-2 long, nearly black, minutely
cellular-reticulate.
Acalypha (McVaugh) McVaugh,
lovelandii comb. Acalypha
nov. subviscida
McVaugh,
var. lovelandii Brittonia 13: 153. 1961.
Though
this plant was described as a variety of Acalypha subviscida. the
first
resemblances
in detail are not very close, except that in both the terminal spike
is
some
9, of the upper axils support additional 9 spikes, and the 9 bracts are usually
conspicuously stipitate-glandular. Specimens which 9 spikes have developed
in
can usually be distinguished at a glance, because in A. subviscida they are loose
and
flexuous, with the bracts well separated on the axis, whereas in A. lovelandii
they are compact, almost cylindrical, with the bracts crowded tightly except some-
times the lowest. Furthermore, in A. subviscida the lateral 6 and 9 spikes often
develop from the same axils, and the axis of the 6 spike often bears one or two 9
bracts near its base, whereas in A. lovelandii the spikes of the two sexes are
rigorously separated as far as have observed, with the 8 ones below the others
I
on the and never bearing
axis, a basal 9 bract.
Humid
wooded
ravines, ("barrancas, canadas"), precipitous slopes, pine-oak
humid montane
forest or forest with oaks and other deciduous trees, persisting
in
secondary vegetation, 1200-2100 (-3100) m, flowering and Jul-Dec.
fruiting
?Nay., JaL, Mpio. Tamazula, above La Garita, highway from Colima
to Jiquil-
&
pan (McVaugh MICH!, McVaugh
Koelz
1343, the holotype; 18041), Col., Mich.,
Mor.
(iro.,
km
JaL, Mpio. Tecalitlan, 3 SE San Isidro, brecha to Plan de Lego (Villa A
o\'
CHAPA,
Chavez 285, MICH); Mpio. Cd. Guzman, 20 km above
ca Fresnito,
MCVAUGH: EUPHORBIACEAE
1995 181
& CHAPA,
Nevado Koch MICH);
brecha to Parque Nacional El {Villa 245, Col.,
w
Nevado
foothills of the de Colima, "1-1.5 mi" above [S of] Hda. San Antonio,
s
(McVaugh Rancho
"ferny barrancas 1 16090); Mpio. Comala, El Jabalf, above
hills
'
W
km
Lago Calabozo Hermita, Rancho
side of (Lott 2995); Capilla la ca 7 of El
s
w
Jabalf, by the road from Hda. San Antonio to Comala (Phillips 1033); Mich., n
km
Ramos (McVaugh
foothills of Cerro Tancitaro, 13—14 S of Periban de 24839).
Probably the same species but the material imperfect, Mpio. Jocotepec, barranca
Jal.,
W
de El Tezcalame, of San Pedro Tesistan (Machuca 6831). Extralimital: Mich.,
Uruapan, ["northwest of town"] (Pringle 10405); Gro., Mpio. Chihihualco, Cruz
W
km &
McVaugh
de Ocote, ca 43 of Chilpancingo (Rzedowski
[airline] 287).
MICH
(All specimens except as noted).
at
m
The known Nevado
one specimen from above 3000 on de Colima
the
(Villa
&
Koch
245) persistently and softly hairy, to a greater extent than any of the
is
known
specimens from lower
elevations.
Acalypha microphylla Klotzsch Seem. Bot. Voy. Herald 278. 1856. Aca-
in
a name
lypha reptans [var.] genuina, sensu Muell. Arg. Linnaea 34: 48, as to only.
DC.
Acalypha
1865. chamaedrifolia genuina, sensu Muell. Arg. in Prodr. part
15,
(3
879. 1866, not Cretan chamaedrifolius Lam., 1786.
2:
name
This apparently the oldest for a species-complex that extends from
is
Sinaloa to Central America, on the Pacific slope at elevations of less than 1500 m,
commonly
and most found between and 1000 m. Both Mueller
sea-level (1866)
is
&
Hoffmann synonymy
and Pax (1924) relegated Acalypha microphylla to the of
West
a not very similar Indian species, A. chamaedrifolia (Lam. Muell. Arg., but
)
much
in recent years material from western Mexico has been treated as an inclu-
Nueva
Acalypha complex
sive microphylla. In Galicia there are in the at least
two one two
three recognizable extremes, treated here as species, with varieties,
more
having different habitat-preferences and or less restricted ranges within
all
The complex one few seem home
the area. includes of the taxa that perfectly at
on the ocean dunes. This prostrate plant of the seacoast, A. microphylla var.
microphylla, very different in appearance and in technical characters from erect
is
weedy
plants, treated here as A. microphylla var. interior, which are found farther
A
inland, though often very near the coast. second and seemingly more distinctive
member name
complex newly below under Acalypha
of the described the of
is
members
vallartae. Except for the characters noted in the following key, of the
all
many
complex
are similar ways.
in
Plants prostrate on sea-beaches and dunes, with trailing branches up to ca 50-60 cm long;
1.
8 15-
spikes dense, stout, as long (up to 1.5-2.5 times as long) as the peduncles, these (10-)
mm
30 long. A. microphylla var. microphylla.
Plants erect or weakly so, in various habitats, sometimes near the ocean but not on the dunes;
1.
8 spikes more or less interrupted, slender to filiform, 3-6 (-12.5) times longer than the
mm
5-15
peduncles, these long.
mm
mm);
9 peduncles 15-25 long (average ca 21 9 bracts minutely hispidulous or strigu-
2.
mm
mm);
lose, without conspicuous long stiff hairs; 9 spikes linear, 3-4. 5 thick (average ca 4
cm
major leaf-blades 1.5-3.5 (-4.7) long, usually long-pointed, not abruptly acuminate;
near the ocean, but above the coastal sands. A. vallartae.
mm
2. 9 peduncles 2—12 (-20) long (average ca 8 mm); 9 bracts more or less beset with stiff
mm
straight hairs; 9 spikes oblong or ellipsoid, 4-7 (-10) thick (average ca 6 mm); major
leaf-blades various in size, usually abruptly acuminate; habitat and range various.
A. microphylla var. interior.
CONTR. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM VOLUME
20
182
Acalypha microphylla var. microphylla. Acalypha microphylla Klotzsch, as to
type. Acalypha parvi folia Muell. Arg. Linnaea 34: 161. 1865; in DC. Prodr. 15,
&
Acalypha Pax Hoffm.
part 831. 1866. nicaraguensis Pflanzenreich IV. 147.
2: ?
and
xvi [Heft 54. 1924, ex descr. habitat.
85]:
Pacific coast, on and near the dunes and sea-beaches, sometimes with Zizi-
phus, Capparis, and or Prosopis, Coccoloba, Manihot, llyperbaena, 0-2 m,
cacti,
Oct throughout Apparently same found
flowering Jul— or the year. the variety
rarely farther inland, as Mpio. La Huerta, between Nacastillo and Los Ranchi-
in
m
(A IBUG,
"postrado en lugar arenoso," 250 Flores M. etal 3083, WIS).
tos,
Seemann Secmann
Sin. (Mazatlan, 1521, K! ex herb. Hook., the lectotype,
s.n.,
K! ex herb. Benth., presumed isolectotype), Col., Oax. ["prope Agustin ad
Jal., S.
mare (Liebmann
pacificum (Liebm. herb. Hafn. )" 5760), type of A. parvifo-
in
!
G-DC!,
C!, del. Muell. Arg., lectotype here designated; a fragment, isolecto-
lia,
MICH
Liebmann 5760 Liebmann
type; (8 sheets), C!, 5760, US!, negs. 1348!,
1349!, isolectotypes], Chis.; Centr. Amer. (Nicaragua, Corinto, Braining 175, syn-
A
type of nicaraguensis, not seen).
C
ample Acalypha
1 he type-material at of parvi folia includes several speci-
mens woody
and
oi the characteristic plant o[ coastal dunes, with thick root
cm
trailing branches 30-40 long. The one specimen annotated by Mueller, like the
G-DC, much
fragment however, was an atypical plant, with upright branched
at
somewhat woody cm
stems that appear at base, 15 high or less but with the basal
was
parts wanting. This doubtless the basis for Mueller's description of as "Suf-
it
frutex circiter pedalis vel humilior."
SW
Playa La Fortuna, on dunes, "6.7 mi" of the crossing of Rio San
Jal.,
NW
& CHAPA);
Luckow
Nicolas, "8.3 mi" of Chamela (Keil 15123, Mpio. La
km
SE Chamela
Huerta, Salinas de Careyes, ca 7 of the Estacion de Biologia
(McVaugh
(Lott 2339, 2774): on the beach Barra de Navidad 19737): Col.,
at
W WNW
km
Playa de Oro, of Santiago, ca 25 of Manzanillo (Stevens
(airline)
w
(McVaugh
1875): end of Bahia de Santiago, opposite Santiago 15852): opposite
w &
Manzanillo, side of the bay (Gregory Eiten 328): Mpio. Manzanillo, between
SE (McVaugh
El Ciruelo and Cuyutlan (Gilly dunes "1 mi" oi Cuyutlan
et 10);
al.
MICH
specimens
15598). (All at except as noted).
many-stemmed
Prostrate, from a deep-seated erect mullicipital perennial tap-
m
root, forming circular mats up to or more across, sometimes flowering the
1
year and then appearing annual; herbage rather uniformly crisp-puberulent
first
or short-pubescent with curved the leaf-blades nearly glabrous but usually
hairs,
some
bearing short appressed the 9 bracts (especially on the lobes)
stiff hairs,
mm
up
usually subsetose, beset with hairs to long; stipules linear-subulate,
stiff 1.5
mm mm
strigose, long or petioles of major leaves 4-8 (-25) long; blades
less;
1
mm
orbicular-ovate, palmately 3 (-5)-veined base, the major ones 6-18 long
at
and wide, firm in texture, acute to abruptly short-acuminate at apex, broadly
rounded to cordate base; margins dentate to acutely serrate (except base)
at at
with 8-16 prominent teeth on each edge; 8 inflorescences usually con-
axillary,
mm mm
15-40
spicuous, the spikes dense, dull red, (8-) long, (-2) thick, ca
1.5
mm
(0.5-) 1-1.5 (-2.5) times as long as the peduncles (10-) 15-30 long; 9 spikes
terminal (rarely androgynous, with a few 8 flowers green, cylindrical,
at tip),
mm mm
when
developed 10-25 and 5-8
dense, long thick (not including the
fully
mm mm
when
on peduncles 5-15
styles), erect, long; 9 bracts 2.5-4.5 long,
mm
unfolded flabelliform and 6-7 wide, with 7-9 triangular-acuminate teeth 1-2.5
mm mm
long, up to 1.2-1.5 wide base (the outer ones smaller), usually termi-
at