Saturday, November 18, 2017

[Botany • 2017] Magnolia montebelloensis • A New Species in Section Magnolia from Lagunas de Montebello National Park, Chiapas, México, with A Key to Magnoliaceae of Chiapas


Magnolia montebelloensis   A.Vázquez & Pérez-Farr.

 Vázquez-García, Pérez-Farrera, Gómez-Domínguez, Muñiz-Castro & Sahagún-Godínez, 2017

Abstract

A new species of Magnolia, from the Lagunas de Montebello National Park, in the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. Magnolia montebelloensis belongs to section Magnolia; it differs from M. poasana in its smaller habit, densely pubescent terminal twig internodes, stipules and spathaceous bracts, shorter peduncular internodes and more numerous stamens. A key, an ecological and a conservation assessment of the eight Chiapan species of Magnoliaceae are included. Magnolia montebelloensis grows in montane rain forest and is contrasted with other Chiapan Magnolia species regarding their climate and vegetation preferences. It was assessed as critically endangered (CR) according to IUCN B1ab(ii,iii) and B2ab(iii) criteria. Half of Magnolia species in Chiapas occur in protected natural areas, and thus immediate action is required to protect the other four species, M. faustinomirandae, M. mayae, M. sharpii and M. zamudioi. Seven out of the eight Magnolia species (88%) are not found in ex-situ collections despite being endangered or critically endangered.

Keywords: Magnolia guatemalensisMagnolia hondurensisMagnolia poasana, “Tajchack” (Tzeltal language), Magnoliids

FIGURE 4. Magnolia montebelloensis. A. Flower after male phase. B. Flower manually forced open with stamens removed. C. Flower bud with densely hirsute spathaceous bract and early vegetative buds. D. Leaf stipule in late vegetative bud. E. Gynoecium with early axillary leaf buds and terminal internode; sepals, petals and stamens removed. F. Developing fruit. G–H. Fruits during dehiscence. Illustration by Esaú Vázquez-Verdejo. A–C & E from the holotype. D, F–G from Vázquez-García et al. 10107; H from Vázquez-García et al. 10108.

FIGURE 2. Magnolia montebelloensis. A. Tree, standing at the base Miguel Muñiz & Antonio Vázquez. B. Stipule on late leaf bud. C. Leaves. D. Flower bud with spathaceous bract and early axillary leaf buds. E–F. Flowers forced open with and without stamens, respectively. G. Flower after male phase. H. Developing gynoecium, with axillary leaf buds. I. Developing fruit. Photographs by Antonio Vázquez, A–C & I from Vázquez-García et al. 10107; & D–H, from the holotype.

Magnolia montebelloensis A.Vázquez & Pérez-Farr., sp. nov.

Eponymy:—This species is named after the Lagunas de Montebello National Park, the type locality. 



J. Antonio Vázquez-García, Miguel Ángel Pérez-Farrera, Héctor Gómez-Domínguez, Miguel Ángel Muñiz-Castro and Eduardo Sahagún-Godínez. 2017. Magnolia montebelloensis, A New Species in Section Magnolia from Lagunas de Montebello National Park, Chiapas, México, with a key to Magnoliaceae of Chiapas.  Phytotaxa. 328(2); 101-114. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.328.2.1