In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa.
𝘼𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙢𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙚
Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Tago, Surigao del Sur)
Endemic: Yes
Distinctive traits: 𝘈. 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘦 resembles 𝘈. 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮 in having branching and pubescent stems, oblanceolate leaves, pubescent petioles, terminal to axillary inflorescence, and white corollas, but differs in having shorter stems, smaller leaf blades, 4 calyx lobes, and 4 corollas. Growing in a shady mossy limestone forest at a lower elevation, 𝘈. 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘦 has been observed to bloom and fruit from April to May, at the peak of the dry season.
Conservation status: Data Deficient (DD)
Described by: Freddie Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro, and Danilo Tandang
Etymology: The species is named after Evangeline Mira, a biology and language teacher at Saint Theresa College of Tandag, Surigao del Sur.
Significance
The province of Surigao del Sur in Eastern Mindanao Island is rich in medicinal plants and endemic plant species. However, only limited reports are available on the assessment of these plants. The discovery and description of 𝘈. 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘦 helps fill this knowledge gap, emphasizing the need for more research in the area.—MF
Reference:
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
