New combinations and a new species in Morella (Myricaceae)

2005·1.9 MB·

by  J Herbert

New Combinations and a New Species in Morelia (Myricaceae)
Jane Herbert
School of Biology, Sir Harold Mitchell Building, l niversity of St Andrews, k\ 16 9TH,
United kingdom, [email protected]
ABSTRACT. I he molecular support for current ge¬ proposal to conserve the name Myriea with the con¬
neric concepts in Myricaceae lias made it necessary served type of M. cerifera E. (one of the fleshy-
to make new combinations in Morelia. Morelia com¬ fruited species) in an attempt to minimize the num¬
prises approximately 47 species found in the Old ber of necessary name changes. However, the
and New World tropics, three new combinations Committee for Spermatophyta (Brummill, 1999) re¬
are made here: Morelia adenophora, M. nan a, and jected the proposal. Thus Myriea gale is the lee-
M. punctata. Morelia nana is leetotypified, and a totype of Myriea (Herb. Einn. No. 373 11 list.
new species, M. rivas-martinezii, is described. France]; lectotype designated by Jonsell & Jarvis
Key words: Canary Islands. China, Cuba, Mo¬ (in Jarvis et ah, 1993)), and the majority of species
relia, Myriea, Myricaceae, Taiwan. previously known as Myriea must be transferred to
Morelia. The following key separates the two gen¬
With tin* exception of the monotypic genera era:
Comptonia E’Heritier ex Aiton (northeastern
U.S.A.) and Canacomyrica Guillaumin (New Cale¬ ki \ to Diffkrkntiatk Myrica and Morelia
donia), the species of Myricaceae have traditionally
la. Shrubs deciduous; leaves with sunken stomata;
been referred to the Uinnaean genus Myriea (Cron- inflorescences borne on the previous year's
quist, 1981: kuhitzki. 1993; Zomlefer, 1994; Takh- growth; fruits dry with adherent spongiose brac-
tajan, 1997). There are, however, significant differ¬ teoles, water-dispersed.11 erica
lb. Shrubs or trees evergreen; leaves with stomata
ences between the two deciduous species with dry
not sunken; inflorescences borne on the present
fruits of the temperate Northern Hemisphere (Myr¬
year’s growth; fruits papillose, fleshy, sometimes
iea gale L. and M. hartwegii S. Watson) and the with a waxy covering, bird-dispersed .... Morelia
remaining ca. 47 evergreen species with papillose,
New combinations in Morelia have been made
fleshy fruits that are disjunctly distributed in the
for species in North America (Wilbur, 1994). Africa
Old and New World tropics. Some authors have rec¬
(Killick et ah, 1999). Malesia (Turner, 2001), South
ognized these two groups at the subgeneric level
America (Parra-O., 2002), and some in Central
(Engler, 1888; Melchior, 1964; Elias, 1971), while
America and the Caribbean (Wilbur, 2001; Knapp,
others have given them generic status (Spach,
2002). In the course of the preparation of a Ph.I).
1841: Chevalier, 1901; Baird, 1969, unpublished
thesis on Myricaceae, in whic h new molecular data
thesis, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill;
support the recognition of Morelia (Herbert, 2005),
Wilbur, 1994; Judd et ah, 1999; Pol hill & Verd-
it became apparent that some new combinations in
court, 2000). Previous authors have used both Myr¬
Morelia were necessary. A new species is described
iea E. and Morelia Loureiro to refer to the evergreen
and three new combinations are made here to pro¬
species, and a long history of nomenclatural diffi¬
vide valid names for species recognized in a forth¬
culties is associated with the typification of these
coming molecular phylogenetic paper.
two genera.
In the only monograph of the family, Chevalier
Morelia adenophora (Hance) J. Herbert, comb,
(1901) placed the dry-fruited species in the genus
nov. Basionym: Myrica adenophora Hance, J.
Gale Duhamel. It can be assumed that he consid¬
Bot. 21: 357. 1883. TYPE: [China.) “In di-
ered one of the fleshy-fruited species to typify the
cione Ting-on ins. Hai-nan, m. Nov. 1882,” II.
genus My rica, in which he placed the majority of
C. Henry 22159 (holotype, BM).
species. However, he did not cite types for these
genera. Subsequent authors (e.g.. Baird, 1969, un¬ This species occurs in Hainan, Guangdong, and
published; Wilbur, 1994) have retained Myriea for Guangxi in China (Lu & Bornstein, 1999); variety
the dry-fruited species, adopting Morelia for the re¬ kusanoi Hayata is recognized in the* Flora of Tai¬
maining taxa. wan (Yang & Lu, 1996). Morelia adenophora is a
Recently, Verdeourt and Polhill (1997) made a shrub (up to 3 m in height) and is closely related
Novon 15: 293-295. 2005.
294 Novon
to Morelia liana, which occurs in the neighboring published (Greuter et al., 2000: Art. 37.1 & 37.2,
provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou (see below). Mo¬ with Art. 8.1 & 8.2). Dr. Santos has accepted my
relia adenophora is also closely related to Morelia invitation to publish the taxon here as a new spe¬
rubra Loureiro, which is widely cultivated in China cies of Morelia (on the basis of his 1980 descrip¬
and also occurs in Japan. The fruits of M. rubra tion), and this we do above.
(up to 3 cm diam.) are significantly larger than This species is sympatric with Moreliafaya (Ai-
those of M. adenophora (up to 1 cm diam.). All ton) Wilbur in the laurel forests of La Gomera, El
three species share the character of a single fruit Hierro, and La Palma in the Canary Islands. The
developing at the apex ol tlx- infrueteseence, thus mature leaves, which are small (up to 20 mm) and
differing from the other Asian species, such as M. spathulate, are distinct from the much larger and
javanica (Illume) I. M. Turner, in which more than oblanceolate leaves of M. faya.
one fruit per infrueteseence develops.
Acknowledgments. I thank Sandra Knapp,
Thomas Lammers, and one anonymous reviewer for
Morelia nana (A. Chevalier) J. Herbert, comb,
comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript.
nov. Basionym: Myrica nana A. Chevalier,
Ian Hedge (E) is thanked for comments on the man¬
Mem. Soc. Sei. Mat. Cherbourg 32: 202. 1901.
uscript. John McNeill (E) is thanked for nomencla-
TYPE: China. Yunnan Province: Bois de Mao-
lural guidance, Peter Phillipson (MO, at P) and Ar-
Kou-Tehang, an dessus du Tapintz, P. ./. M.
noldo Santos (OB I ) are thanked for checking types.
Delaray 148 (lectotype, designated here, P).
The assistance of the following is gratefully ac¬
This species is found in central and northern knowledged: the curator of the herbarium ol the
Yunnan and western Guizhou in China. At up to 3 Natural History Museum, London (BM) for loan of
m in height, it is much smaller than the more wide¬ material, the curator and staff ol the Boyal Botanic
spread M. rubra (up to 15 m). When Chevalier Gardens Kewr (K) for use ol the herbarium, and the
(1901) described this species he had not seen spec¬ staff at the Harvard University Herbaria (GH) and
imens of M. adenophora; the ranges of the two spe¬ The New York Botanical Garden (NY) for supplying
cies are contiguous, but detailed population-level digital images of types. My studies on the generic
studies of morphology and/or genetics would be re¬ concepts in Myrieaeeae were supported by an
quired to confirm their status. Morelia nana is rec¬ NEBC studentship (NER/S/A/2(X)0/03638).
ognized in the Flora of China (Eu & Bornstein,
1999). Literature Cited
Baird, J. If. 1969. A Taxonomic Revision of the Plant
\lorella punctata (Grisebach) J. Herbert, comb, Family Myrieaeeae of North America, North of Mexico.
nov. Basionym: Myrica punctata Grisebach, Ph.D. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel
Mem. Acad. Amer. Sci. Art N. S. 8 [Plantae Hill. |Unpublished.]
Rrummitt, If. K. 1999. Proposals to conserve or reject.
Wrightianae, [it. I|: 177. 1860. TYPE: [Cuba.]
Report on the Committee on Spermatophyta (1291—
“In saxosis prope Monte Verde, Feb,” C.
1292). Taxon 48: 367-368.
Wright 1460 (holotype, (ill). Chevalier, A. 1901. Monographic des Myricac^es. Mem.
Soc. Natl. Sci. N Nat. Math. Cherbourg 32: 85—340.
This species is endemic to Cuba. It has entire Cronquist, A. 1981. Myrieaeeae. Pp. 214—217 in An In¬
oblong-ohlanceolate leaves (3—5 cm long) and ovoid tegrated System of Classification of Flowering Plants.
fruits (Leon & Alain, 1951). distinguishing it from Columbia Univ. Press, New York.
Elias, T. S. 1971. The genera of Myrieaeeae in the south¬
the widespread Morelia cerifera (L.) Small, which
eastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 52: 305—318.
is found throughout the Caribbean (also in the Unit¬
Kngler, A. 1888. Myrieaeeae. Pp. 26-28 in A. Engler &
ed States and Central America) and which has lon¬ k. Prantl (editors), Die natiirliehen Pflanzenfamilien III.
ger leaves (to 8 cm) and globose fruits. t. Engelmann, Leipzig.
Greuter, W., J. McNeill, F. If. Barrie. II. M. Burdet, V.
Demoulin, T. S. Filgueiras, 1). If. Nicolson, P C. Silva,
Morelia rivas-martinezii A. Santos & ,|. Herbert, J. E. Skog, P. Trehane, N. J. Turland I). I.. Hawk-
sp. nov. TYPE: Spain. Canary Islands: Isla tie sworth (editors). 2000. International Code of Botanical
Hierro, La Dehesa, 22 Feb. 1976, A. Santos Nomenclature (Saint Louis Code). Regnum Veg. 138.
24690 (holotype, OB I ). Herbert, J. 2005. Systematies and Biogeography of Mvri-
caceae. Ph.D. Thesis, University of St Andrews. (Un¬
A. Santos (1980) intended to publish “Myrica published. |
Jarvis, C. E., F. R. Barrie, I). M. Allan & J. 1,. Reveal.
rivas-martinez” as a new species. Because different
1993. A List of Linnaean Generic Names and their
gatherings were cited as “llolotypi atque isotypi”
Types. Regnum Veg. 127.
(holotypes and isotypes), the name was not validly Judd, W. S.. C. S. Campbell, E. A. Kellogg & I’. F. Stevens.
Volume 15, Number 2 Herbert 295
2005 Myricaceae
1999. Myricaceae. Pp. 314—315 in Plant Systematics, Santos, A. 1980. Contribucion al conocimiento de la flora
a Phylogenetic Approach. Sinauer, Sunderland, Mas¬ y vegetaeion de la isla de Hierro. (I. Canarias). Fund.
sachusetts. Juan March, Ser. Univ., Cicnc. Agrar. I 14: 45—16.
KiIIii k. D. J. IP. R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. 1999. New Spach, E. 1841. Myricaceae. Pp. 256—266 in Histoire Na-
combinations in African Myricaceae. Kew Bull. 53: turelle des Vegetaux. Phanerogames. Vol. II. Paris.
993-995. Takhtajan, A. 1997. Myricaceae. Pp. 153-154 in Diversity
Knapp, S. 2002. A new combination in Morelia (Myrica¬ and Classification of Flowering Plants. Columbia Univ.
ceae) in Mesoamerica. Novon 12: 200. Press, New York.
Kubitzki, K. 1993. Myricaceae. Pp. 453-457 in K. ku- Turner, I. M. 2001. New combinations in Malesian Myri-
bitzki, J. G. Rohwer & V. Bittrich (editors). The Fami¬ caceae. Card. Bull. Singapore 53: 323—325.
lies and Genera of Vascular Plants, Vol. 2. Flowering Verdcourt, B. vK R. M. Polhill. 1997. Proposal to conserve
Plants: Dicotyledons. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. the names Myrica and Gale (Myricaceae) with con¬
Leon, H. & H. Alain. 1951. Myricaceae. Pp. 36-37 in
served types. Taxon 46: 347—348.
Flora de Cuba. Dicotiledoneas: Casual inaccae a Mcli- Wilbur. R. L. 1994. The Myricaceae of the United States
aceas. Contr. Ocas. Mus. Hist. Nat. Colegio “De La
and Canada: Genera, subgenera, and scries. Sida 16:
Salle." 10. Havana.
93-107.
Lu, A. M. & A. J. Bomstein. 1999. Myricaceae. Pp. 275—
-. 2001. f ive new combinations in the genus Mo¬
276 in W. Zheng-yi & P. II. Raven (editors). Flora of
relia (Myricaceae) for Neotropical species. Rhodora
China, Vol. 4. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Bo¬
103: 120-122.
tanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
Melchior. 11. 1964. Myricaceae. P. 40 in Fngler’s Syllabus Yang. Y. P. & S. Y. Lu. 1996. Myricaceae. Pp. 19—22 in
der Pflanzenfamilien. Borntraeger. Berlin. T. C. Huang (editor). Flora of Taiwan, Vol. 2. Angio-
Parra-O., C. 2002. New' combinations in South American spermae. Editorial Committee of the Flora ol Taiwan,
Myricaceae. Brittonia 54: 322—326. 2nd edition. Taipei.
Polhill. R. M. & B. Verdcourt. 2000. Myricaceae. Pp. I — Zomlefcr, W. B. 1994. Myricaceae. Pp. 174—176 in Guide
12 in H. J. Beentje & S. A. L. Smith (editors). Flora of to Flowering Plant Families. Univ. North Carolina Press,
Tropical East Africa. Balkema, Rotterdam. Chapel Hill & London.