In May 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐จ
Distribution/habitat: Mt. Victoria, Palawan (all samples collected January 2022)
Endemic: Unspecified (but likely/possible)
Distinctive traits: This evergreen shrub or small tree grows 1 to 4 m high, coexisting with other ๐๐ด๐บ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ข species in Mt. Victoriaโs moist, shady lowland and mid-elevation forest areas. A member of the Rubiaceae family (to which the popular plant coffee also belongs), the flowers and leaves of ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด are physically similar to those of another ๐๐ด๐บ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ข species, ๐. ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฃ๐ช๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ข. However, ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด has large, leaf-like stipules that donโt overlap and have tips that taper and point in two directions. Additionally, its flowersโ sepals (collectively called calyx) and the undersides of its leaves are smooth and hairless, and it has narrowly triangular bracts. Plus, the stipules of ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด are large and semi-persistent (they generally stay attached to the plant) and long, hanging flowers; other known Philippine ๐๐ด๐บ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ข species have stipules that are caducous (they fall off before the leaf unfolds) and erect flowers. ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด has been observed to bear flowers in January and February; in July, it flowers and fruits.
Conservation status: Critically Endangered
Authors: Mary Ann Bautista, Vernaluz Chua-Mangussad, Jehson Cervancia, and Raab Bustamante
Etymology: Its species name, ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด (Latin for โhangingโ or โdanglingโ), was chosen due to the unique characteristic of its flowers.
Significance
The discovery and description of ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด was a collaborative effort by researchers from the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, Inc., the Center for Conservation Innovations, and Palawan State University. Based on molecular analysis, ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด belongs to the Pacific ๐๐ด๐บ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ข clade. It has both a restricted distribution and a relatively small number of mature individuals within its observed range (less than 10), which is why it has been designated as Critically Endangered following IUCN Red List guidelines.
With close to 2,000 known species across the world, the ๐๐ด๐บ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ข genus is among the largest angiosperm genera. Prior to the description of ๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด, the Philippines had at least 112 recognized ๐๐ด๐บ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ข species, 106 of which were said to be endemic.
๐. ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด is highly unlikely to be the last new described plant species from Palawan, as a large part of the island is ripe for exploration, and biodiversity surveys in the area yielded numerous new species that have yet to be described.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.
