Oldfeltia, a new genus of the Compositae-Senecioneae from Cuba

6 Pages·2002·1.5 MB·

by  B Nordenstam

Comp.Newsl. 38, 2002 65
Oldfeltia^ a new genus ofthe
Compositae-Senecioneae from Cuba
BertilNordenstam& RogerLundin
DepartmentofPhanerogamicBotany
Swedish MuseumofNaturalHistory
Box50007,SE-104 05Stockholm,Sweden
Abstract
Thenewmonotypicgenus OldfeltiaB. Nord. & Lundin(Compositae-Senecioneae)
isdescribedfromtheOrienteofCuba,basedonSeneciopolyphlebiusGriseb.,aspe-
cieswhichhashithertobeenmisplacedinSenecioandPentacalia.
Introduction
ThelargeandalmostcosmopolitantribeSenecioneaeisrepresentedinCubabyabout
25 species, most ofwhichhave inthe past been placed inthe over-expanded genus
Senecio (e.g., Grisebach 1862, Greenman 1912, Alain 1962). A few species are
firmly placed in Erechtites, Emilia and Shqfera, which are clearcut genera with no
problems of delimitation. Those still remaining in Senecio (or transferred to
Pentacalia, cf below)presentmoreseriousproblems asregardsgenericposition.
WehavestudiedsomeofthespeciesonfieldtripstoCubain 1995aswellasmaterial
inCuban herbaria(HAC, HAJB; abbreviations inaccordancewith Holmgren etal.
1990).
InFloradeCubavol. 5 (Alain 1962) 21 species ofSenecio are listed, all shrubs or
smalltreesplusafewvines,andinadditionthewidespreadweedS. vulgaris,whichis
anannualherbandthetypeofthegenus. The latteristhe onlyCubanspecieswhich
canberetainedinSenecio.Oftheothers, 13 specieshavebeententativelytransferred
toPentacaliaCass. (Proctor 1982, Borhidi 1992), where theyare notwell placed.
Instead, they will have to be referred to a couple of different genera in need of
description. Thisworkisongoingby one ofus (B.N.). Inthepresentpaperwe only
dealwithone species, whichwedistinguishas anewmonotypic genus. Wepropose
thename Oldfeltia, inappreciationofthe dedicatedworkofMrs. KarinOldfeltas
Swedish Ambassador to Cuba in 1991 to 1995. Her love for Cuban nature is
manifestedinherworksofartaswellasherencouragementandassistancetonatural
scientistsvisitingtheislandduringhersejouronthe island.
66 Comp.Newsl. 38, 2002
Senecio polyphlebius Griseb. was one of several species transferred by Borhidi
(1992) to Pentacalia. The latter is a large Andean genus oflianescent or epiphytic
shrubswithscatteredalternateoroppositeleaves.Asunderstoodbysomeauthorsina
widersense,PentacaliaincludessubgenusMicrochaete,alargegroupoferectshrubs
orshrublets with usually closely setand oftensmall leaves, and acharacteristic ele-
mentofthep^amovegetation,reachingitsnorthernlimitinthesmallparamorefiiges
ofCostaRica.However,thisgroupisoftenseparatedasgenusMonticalia C.Jeffrey.
TheCubanspeciesarenotsufficientlyalliedtothesetwogeneratobeincludedinany
ofthem.
In Alain's key to the species ofSenecio (Alain 1962), S. polyphlebim is wrongly
characterizedashavingradiatecapitula. hithetext,however,thefloretsarecorrectly
described as "flores 5-6, todas tubulares", in other words the capitula are discoid.
Thisspecieshasanumberofothercharacteristicssuggestingthe status ofaseparate
genus. It is ashrub with large undivided leaveswithdistinctlyserrate ordenticulate
margins. The discoid capitula are numerous and massed in terminal paniculate-
corymbose synflorescences. The involucre is unusual, being cylindrical and pale
whitish-greenwithcloselyconniventphyllaries.Theanthersareshortlycaudate.The
style brancheshave conical ortriangulartips withclavatepapillae and sometimes a
minuteapicaltuftofafewlongertrichomes.
Description
&
OldfeltiaB.Nord. Lundin,gen. nov. (Compositae-Senecioneae)
Syn.: SenecioL. Sect. SyllepisGriseb., Mem.Acad.Amer. Scient. etArtium,N. Ser.
8:515,1862.
&
Type: O.polyphlebia(Griseb.)B.Nord. Lundin; SeneciopolyphlebiusGriseb.,
I.e.
Frutexerectusramosusglaber.FoliaaltemabasisensiminpetiolumattenuataIntegra
oblanceolata vel oblongo-obovata herbacea acuminata arete pinnativenosa venis
divaricatis, margine distincte serrulato-denticulata. Capitula numerosa homogama
discoideacymosa,cymisinsynflorescentiamterminalemcorymbiformemdispositis.
Involucrum cylindricum viridi-album glabrum minute paucicalyculata; bracteis 5
uniseriatislanceolatispraeterapicesdeltoideosareteconniventibussedpostanthesin
divergentibus.Receptaculumplanumbreviterfimbrillato-denticulatum.Flosculidisci
hermaphroditi 5-6; corolla flava tubulosa sensim ampliata quinquelobata, lobis
lanceolatiscanalibus resiniferismedianis instructisapiceminutepapillatis.Antherae
basicaudatae;cellulaeendotheciiparietibusverticalibusnoduliferis;filamenticoUum
basi dilatatum. Styli rami apice obtuse conici papillati, dorso hirsutuli, areis
stigmaticis separatis. Cypselae oblongae glabrae decemcostatae, carpopodio
.
Comp.Newsl. 38, 2002 67
distincto.Pappisetaenumerosaepluriseriataealbaevelflilvaeminutebarbellataebasi
connataepersistentes.
WhendescribingthespeciesGrisebach(1862)placeditinasectionofitsown,which
he named Senecio sect. Syllepis, stressing the discoid capitula and the "involucri
squamisconnatis".Thesinglespecies isdescribedinsomemoredetailbelow.
Oldfeltiapolyphlebia(Griseb.)B. Nord. & LinsfDiN,comb. nov.-Fig. 1
Basionym: SeneciopolyphlebiusGriseb., Mem.Acad.Amer. Scient. etArtium,N.
Sen 8:515, 1862.
Syn.: Pentacaliapolyphlebia(Griseb.)Borhidi,ActaBot. Hung. 37: 89, 1992.
Type: Wright329,propeMonteVerde, secusripasrivulorum insylvisopacas
(n.v.).
Erectbranchingglabrousshruborsmalltree2-6mhigh. Stemsribbedorangular,up
to 20 cm in diam. Leaves alternate, crowded toward the branch ends, undivided,
oblanceolate to oblong-obovate, petiolate or tapering to a petioliform narrow base
(petiole 1-5 cm long), 10-50 cm long, 4-8 cm wide, flat, herbaceous, distinctly
midribbed and with numerous lateral pinnate veins, margins distinctly serrate to
serrulate-denticulate. Capitula numerous, cymose-corymbose in terminal
synflorescences, homogamous, discoid. Involucre cylindrical, glabrous, minutely
calyculate; involucral bracts uniseriate, 5, closely connivent but separating after
mm mm
anthesis, narrowly oblong, 5.5-9 long, 1.5-2.5 wide, 5-7-veined, pale
yellowish or whitish-green with thinner pellucid margins, somewhat thickened
basally,tipsdeltoid,obtuseorsubacuteandminutelypuberulous-fimbriate.Calyculus
mm mm
bracts 3-5, ovate-deltoid, 1-1.5 long, 0.5-1 wide. Receptacle flat, shortly
fimbrillate-denticulate. Florets 5-6; corolla yellow, tubular below, gradually
widening above, 5-6 mm long, glabrous, 5-lobed, tube basally somewhat dilated,
mm
lobesnarrowlyoblong-lanceolate, 1.5-2 long,withmarginalveinsandadistinct
tofaintmidline,apicallythickened(subcucullate)andminutelypapillate.Anthersca.
2 mm longincl. theoblong-ovate obtuseapical appendage; endothecialtissueradial
(with thickenings on longitudinal walls); base shortly caudate (tails ca. 1/2 collar
length); filament collar somewhat dilated towards the base with larger cells. Style
mm
brancheslinear,ca.2 long,withseparatedstigmaticareasinside,outsideminutely
scabrid-papillate,apexobtuselyconicalwithclavatepapillaeandsometimesasmall
apical tuft centrally; style base placed on a short stylopodium. Cypsela narrowly
oblong, 4-7 mm long, glabrous, witii 10 nerves and 10 resiniferous ducts;
carpopodiumdistinct, of5-7 cell layers. Pappusbristlesnumerous, pluriseriate, 5-7
mm
long, slender,whiteortawny,minutelybarbellate, basallyconnate,persistent.
Floweringperiod: Febr.-May.
68 Comp. Newsl. 38, 2002
Collectionsexamined:
Cuba. Prov. Holguin,Moa, indisturbedmontaneevergreenforest,alongroadMoa-
Melba,30kmfromMoa,alt.450m, 1995,Nordenstam&Lundin337(HAG,NY,S),
NoRDENSTAM & LuNDiN 340 (HAG, HAJB, K, NY, S), Nordenstam & Lundin 341
(HAG, HAJB, K, NY, S); Prov. Holguin; Moa, Sierra de Moa, along road Moa-
Toldo, 400-500 m, 1987, A. Glaro, HAJB 62122 (HAJB); Prov. Holguin, Frank
Pais,Alto de Mono 1987, M. Bassler et al. HAJB 60766 (HAJB); Prov. Holguin,
Moa, La Melba, 450-500 m, 1980, A. Alvarez et al. HAJB 42403 (HAJB); Prov.
Holguin,Moa,GayoGuan, 1975,J.AcunaHAG 12776(HAG);Prov.Oriente,Sierra
deGristal,ValledelRioLebisa, FeadelAlc6a, 850m, 1976,Borhidi&ValezHAG
14496 (HAG); Prov. Oriente, Southern part of Sierra del Gristal, Mayari, 1956,
H. Alain,J.Acuna&M.LopezFigueirasHAG5509(HAG);Prov.Oriente,Sierrade
Gristal,gulchofRioLebisa,600m, 1922,E.L.Ekman 15941 (S,NY);Prov.Oriente,
&
Palenque: GuchillasdeToa, GayoFortuna, 1972,J.Bisse,R. Berazain H. Lippold
HAJB 22811 (HAJB); Prov Oriente, Sierra de la Iberia, Taco Bay, O. de Baracoa,
1960,M.LopezFigueiras604U.0,622U. O. (HAG);Prov. Guantanamo, Baracoa,
Meseta de la Iberira, 700 m, 1985, A. Alvarez et al. HAJB 55911 (HAJB); Prov.
Guantanamo, Imias, La Yamagua, 750-850 m, 1984, J. Bisse et al. HAJB 52849
(HAJB); Prov. Santiago de Guba, Segundo Frente, between el Halcon and Batista,
1985,A. Alvarezetal. HAJB 57424(HAJB).
Oldfeltia is apparently endemic to eastern Guba (Oriente), where it is found in
submontane and montane habitats such as evergreen forest, 'pluvisilva' or 'bosque
humedo', onlateriticsoilaccordingto some collectors, andataltitudesbetween400
and850ms.m. Wenotedthattheflowerheadsemitadistincthoney-like scent.
Discussion
Thenewgenusresemblessomeotherlarge-leavederectshrubbySenecioneae ofthe
&
Neotropics, such as Dendrophorbium G. Jeffrey, Jessea H. Rob. Guatrec,
OdontoclineB.Nord.andJacmaiaB.Nord. Oldfeltiaishoweverdistinctfromallof
these by the combination of characters such as the pale greenish involucre with
initially connate phyllaries, the discoid capitula, the conical papillate tips ofstyle
branches, the caudate anthers, and the 10-costate cypselas also provided with 10
resiniferousducts.
Dendrophorbium is a South American genus with ca. 75 species in the Andean
regions. Typically its members have radiate capitula, truncate style branches with
apical sweeping-hairs, ecaudate anther base, and 5-ribbed or 5-angled cypselas.
SuchcypselasalsocharacterizethegeneraPentacaliaandMonticalia,whichareboth
Andean, the latter reaching its northern limit in the paramo refiiges ofGosta Rica.
Comp.Newsl. 38, 2002 69
B
D
)
'^,
v/
&
Fig. 1. Oldfeltiapofyphlebia(Griseb.)B.Nord. Lundin.
A. Habit, x Vi .
B. Involucre, x 2.
C.Floret, x 2.
D. Stamen, x 10.
E. Stylebranches, x 8.
F. Stylebranch, inside, x 8.
GCypsela, X 1.5.
&
K. Oldfeltpinx.,B.Nordenstamdel. (Nordenstam Lundin340inS).
70 Comp. Newsl. 38, 2002
BothdifferconsiderablyinliabitfromOldfeltia,theformercomprisingepiphytesand
vines,thelattererectshrubsorshrubletswithsmallandcloselysetleaves.
Jesseawith fourspecies isconfinedto CostaRicaand Panama(Nordenstam 1996).
They all resemble Oldfeltia inhabit, buthave radiate capitulaverydenselymassed,
conical style branches with sweeping-hairs and a distinct central hairtuft, ecaudate
anthers, anddifferentcypselas(see furtherNordenstam 1996).
Odontocline andJacmaia are both endemic to Jamaica (Nordenstam 1978). They
have radiate capitula, continuous stigmatic areas of style branches, and distinct
processesonthereceptacle. Bothdiffer significantlyinstylemorphologyfrom Old-
feltia. In the monotypic Jacmaia the style branch has an elongated acuminate
appendage (whichcaused some authors inthe pastto referitto Gynoxys). Styles of
Odontoclinehaveanobtusenudeappendagelaterallysurroundedbysweeping-hairs
(seefurtherNordenstam 1978).
Acknowledgements
Wethankthe Curatorsof HACandHAJB fortheircourtesyduringour studyvisits
and the loan ofherbarium material. Mrs. Karin Oldfelt is heartilythanked forher
watercolouroiOldfeltia.
References
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Grisebach, a. 1862. Plantae Wrightianae, e Cuba Orientali, Pars II. Mem. Acad.
Amer Scient. etArtium,N. Ser. 8: 503-536.
&
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G
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