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NEW A ENDEMIC FOR PUERTO SPECIES RICO: DENDROPHTHORA BERMEJAE (VISCACEAE) Department Biology of University of Victoria V8W Columbia 3N5, Canada Victoria, British T.A.Carlo Department Ecology and Evolution of Colorado Boulder University of at Colorado 80309-0334 Boulder, J.E.Aukema Department Zoology of North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 A illustrated. This novelty is similai to /) serpyllijhlia (< iriseb.) from Hispaniola and Cuba. key to the four now known from Puerto Rico provided. species is Beyond Dendrophthora a neotropical genus of about 110 species (Kuijt 2000). the is Andean from Mexico and mostly South Greater Antilles, ranges southern to Bolivia in is it major America. In the Caribbean, about 32 species are recorded, with concentrations known Cuba and Hispaniola. Three of the Caribbean species are from Puerto Rico. in The from Cabo Rojo present contribution reports a fourth species the region. & Aukema, nov.— Puerto Cabo Dendrophthora bermejae Carlo Type: Rico. Kuijt, sp. Hwy Guaiacum Rojo: roadside, PR-302, 17°58'07.8"N, 67°08'04.09"W, on & Aukema Aug 37 30 m, 29 2004, A. Carlo E. (holotype: officinale L., T. J. MAPR! UPRRP! LEA! NY! UPR!; isotypes: US!). Fig. 1. minusve monoica. plerumque Planta glabra, plus erecta, paucifolia, Inflorescentia quaque 3-10 2-4-juga, internodiis fertilibus unisexualibus, bractea fertili flores sub- mm, tenenti, floribus uniseriatis. Fructus 6 x 3.5 petalis erectis. when Somewhat internodes 4 cm, grooved glabrous, leafy plants, to terete, erect, dry; base of lateral branches and inflorescences subtended by brownish, carinate prophylls with fimbriate margins, these prophylls occasionally subtending slightly one additional inflorescences or innovations; cataphylls absent or small pair to 1.5 cm Leaves above the base, these often Basal foliar structures transverse. few, fertile. cm cm to 5 long, to 2 wide, obovate, apex rounded to truncate, base tapering to an mm more indistinct petiole ca. 2 long; venation or less palmate, with several veins running far towards the leaf Monoecious. Inflorescences both single on older tip. growth below and compound, squamate groups in axillary positions leaves in distal to them, where usually composed of two or three pairs of lateral inflorescences plus cm cm one peduncle 1.5-3 terminal one. Individual inflorescences to 6.5 long, long, without cataphylls, followed by 3-4 somewhat flattened, uniseriate, fertile internodes, the proximal one or two (three) female, the distal one or two male, the female internodes FIG. Dendrophihoru hcrmcjtie (the sex of female internodes not indicated 1. is \ ""' compound i |l "i> ! ! 'ii '"""in iniloi c, ii. in. .in |» tl (.iiji.IixH I. Smaller . l iiitlouseciRY v\iili hasal ejt.iph', >., lual inflorescences subtended by foliage leaves. Ii I . divi iteral inflorescence, placed below foliage leaves . mode, the lower flow- .... i i i.l I 1 . . m O & ers replaced by small ...... .< ,uh nil LI A, Carlo Aukema LEA;c, if .. .! b. 5, - , LEA.) Curio d. ul.JJ, ci up with to 8 flowers per series (16 per internode), the male internodes to 10 flowers per series (20 per internode), the latter crowded in a groove with low, delicate parti- mm mm between tions flowers. Fruit 6 long, 3.5 in diameter, ovoid, yellowish green, petals erect. CARLO & AUKEMA: DENDROPHTHORA BERMEJAE 2005 KUIJT, 117 Additional Specimens Examined. Puerto Rico. Caho Rojo: Las Palmas, road PR-303 side, at entrance to Pitahaya State Forest, on (uutiuatm Carlo 32 LA), Carlo A officinalis. (LEA)...?..? el ul. (I. \iikcmn III (LPR);La Salmi n Uutiuaim offumali Chardon al 500 (UPR); Quebrada ) , Cajii, Liogier 36831 (UPR); Barrio Boqueron, Penones de Melones, upper slopes near summit, dry forest on limestone, 17°59.83'N, 67°10.97'W, 100 m, on Gutmiawi ofliam wlro nu* ' flu l S — I <S PRRP) Woodbury Without R.O. (UPR). locality: 01.5025) .v./,. (ft ( t Dendrophthora bermejae represents a remarkable endemic apparently restricted to the southwestern Sierra Bermeja and Costa Bermeja area, where presently it is endangered by residential, commercial, tourist, and agricultural development. not It is known to occur within any protected area. The species appears to be related to D. ser- ! & Krug Urb. from Hispaniola and Cuba from much lia rriseb.) but, aside i. its Ill ( I number larger general stature, distinct in a of important respects. Dendrophthora is cm serpyllifolia has leaves that rarely exceed in length, with a mucronulate apex, 1 and the placement of foliage leaves irregular. Dendrophthora bermejae, instead, has is cm more leaves to 5 in length, or less rounded at the tip. Dendrophthora serpyllifolia also has cataphylls in several positions, especially on vegetative laterals and on the all compound lowest inflorescence units of ones (Kuijt 1961); D. bermejae has fewer its The much cataphylls. flowers of D. serpyllifolia occur in smaller series (2-3 flowers per fertile bract) than in D. bermejae (to 10 flowers per fertile bract). The sex distribution in D. serpyllifolia uncertain but the species probably dioecious; in any case, is is it does not have the almost invariable, curious distribution of male and female flowers, or the slightly flattened fertile internodes exhibited by the present species. Dendrophthora bermejae shows an unusual variability in several morphological Some and aspects. inflorescences lateral branches bear basal cataphylls, while others we do not; have not found any regularity in this feature except that the individual inflorescences making up a compound arrangement never seem to bear cataphylls. It common be phenom- for inflorescences to associated with the axils of cataphylls, a is enon not known elsewhere Dendrophthora although known from in several species Phoradendron The compound of the closely related (Kuijt 2003). inflorescences of a may be subtended by cluster foliage leaves or not. one two num- In of the collections cited {Carl lowest flowers of a tl \, ber of female fertile internodes have been replaced by small lateral inflorescences This probably and encountered (Fig. Id). teratological in nature, also occasionally is is in other species of Dendrophthora and Phoradendron (see Kuijt 1959, Fig. lie). The known may four species of Dendrophthora from Puerto Rican be distin- guished with the following key. Key Dendrophthora to the Species of Puerto Rico in monoecious Fruits or 2 pei fertile bract; plants or dioecious. 1. 1 2. Young branch ith rninuh "hi mng epid rm haii mile flowers (1) 2 per fertile bract; 1 i prophylls inconspicuous, not obviously fused. D. brachylepis Jrb. \ Young 2. branches glabrous; ten iK' A\e. per fertile bi el |io|>h\li onspicuous, fused into (1 i I < compound domingmsis a structure. (Spreng.) Eichler /). mom 3-8 Fruits pei ion nil. bi pi nt 1. e< i« < i Male and female flowers intermixed; inflorescence branches often sinuous, internodes 3. fertile [I 1-12 o mi 20) pi (in 1 a ( i . >r < . i , ( ) i I til > I t ill 1 & along the fertile internode. D. fiagelliformis (Lam.) Krug Urb. Male and female flowers on separate internodes, the male flowers on terminal internode, the 3. female flowers on lower ones; inflorescence branches more internodes oi less light: fertile ;ti 3 or 4 per inflorescence, each bearing 3-10 (lowers; fruits crowded on fertile internode. CONTR. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HERBARIUM 118 ACKNOWLEDGM ENTS MO nul il alllllOI H k IO' JC |g, IJH illl HI. i;il Up|)< I 1. III. I 111 ii .' I. > I n>' hum Canada! DEB-04-07826; Council ol (h. .iiu.n.l „ s \ »i.mt I II ,. I , , ( Wc Smith Conservuiion Research Fellowship (JEA). thank CTrejo and an anonyi J. 1 1 helpful s LITERATURE CITED A 1954. study of hcterophylly and inflorescence structure in Dentin jt, J. (Loranthaceae). Acta Bot. Neerl. 506-546. 8: A Wcntia 1961. revision of /) v/<// luhora oranili ac 6: -145. . ( I ) I An .2000. updaU mln iphihorn Vim iceae) Bot lahr oi In /' I ( Monograph hlmn Boi Monoju .2003. ol I'Iu>,;hI \'isca Sysl ' i. ( . i (