In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography.
๐ฝ๐๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
Distribution/habitat: Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Endemic: Yes
Distinctive traits: ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ช๐ข ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฌ grows on shady, moist, rocky slopes alongside a small creek in Bujon, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. The new species resembles ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ช๐ข ๐ฑ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐บ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ด in having smooth and glossy stems, membranous, shiny leaves, oblong to oblanceolate lamina, acuminate apex, and a green ovary with pink wings. However, it is distinct in having short stems, broadly ovate stipules, leaves with acute bases and serrated margins, and capsule wings with slashed or jagged margins. ๐. ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฌ has been observed to bloom and fruit during the months of April to June.
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)
Described by: Freddie Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro, Danilo Tandang, and Rosario Rubite
Etymology: Its species name, ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฌ, comes from the Bisayan/Cebuano word for โslicedโ or โslashed,โ referring to the margin of the capsule wings.
Significance
There are numerous medicinal plants and endemic species in the province of Surigao del Sur in southern Mindanao, but limited data on their identification and conservation are available. Discoveries and descriptions like this not only help fill the knowledge gap, but may also inspire other researchers to study these native plants.โMF
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.
