Taxon Details: Grias theobromicarpa Cornejo & S.A.Mori
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Grias theobromicarpa, protologue
Grias theobromicarpa, protologueFamily:
Lecythidaceae (Magnoliophyta)
Lecythidaceae (Magnoliophyta)
Scientific Name:
Grias theobromicarpa Cornejo & S.A.Mori
Grias theobromicarpa Cornejo & S.A.Mori
Primary Citation:
Grias theobromicarpa (Lecythidaceae), a new species from northwestern Ecuador
Brittonia 62(2): 100 (-104 figs. 1, 2). 2010
Grias theobromicarpa (Lecythidaceae), a new species from northwestern Ecuador
Brittonia 62(2): 100 (-104 figs. 1, 2). 2010
Accepted Name:
This name is currently accepted.
This name is currently accepted.
Description:
Author: Xavier Cornejo & Scott A. Mori
Type: Ecuador. Pichincha: Mr. Romero private property, adjacent to Santa Lucía Reserve along the trail from Maquipucuna Biological Reserve, secondary wet forest, 78° 37 ' 04" W 00° 07' 18" N, 1505 m, 18 Jan 2009 (fl, fr), X. Cornejo 8083 (holotype, GUAY; isotypes, AAU, COL, K, MO, NY, QCA, QCNE, UC, US).
Description: Pachycaulous, monocaulous or once-branched, understory trees, ca. 8 m x 9 cm, the trunk cylindrical, not buttressed. Bark smooth. Stems glabrous, the leaf-bearing ones to 40 mm diam. Leaves: petioles sessile or subsessile, to ca. 4 cm long, suborbicular and wavy in cross-section, glabrous; blades oblanceolate, 95-150 x 28-42 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, with abundant punctations abaxially, these sunken in fresh leaves, but sometimes inconspicuous after drying, the base attenuate and finally broadly cuneate to subtruncate, the margins entire, the apex narrowly- to broadly-obtuse and shortly acuminate; venation brochidodromous, the secondary veins in 42-46 pairs, the tertiary veins finely percurrent, the higher order venation difficult to see. Inflorescences cauline, short racemes, with 1 to 3 flowers, the rachises glabrous, 1-7 mm long; pedicel 3-7 mm long, glabrous, subtended by a triangular bract, 1.5-1.8 x 1.3-1.5 mm, bracteoles not apparent. Flower buds globose, enclosed by calyx; mature flowers 2.5-3.5 cm diam. at anthesis, when petals oriented upwards, ca. 7-8 cm when artificially spread horizontally; hypanthium, turbinate, ca. 4 x 4 mm (2-3 x 2-3 mm when dry), glabrous, greenish and abundantly white-verruculose abaxially; calyx splitting in 2 cucullate lobes at anthesis, the lobes ca. 7 x 12 mm, glabrous, light-green; petals ± ovate to ovate-orbicular, at anthesis, erect (i.e., not spreading), and adaxially concave (cucullate) at anthesis, rounded to obtuse and erect to reflexed inwards at apex, ca. 2.7-2.9 x 2.2 cm (slightly smaller, ca. 2.2-2.7 x 1.7 cm, when dry), pinkish-white in bud, pearl-white to somewhat greenish- or pinkish-cream at anthesis; androecium obloid, forming carnose tube, 9-11.5 x 14-17 mm (ca. 8 x 10 mm when dry), externally creamish-white, divided into 2 chambers, arching from base to apex abaxially, the lower chamber erect or nearly so adaxially, the upper chamber arching inward, with 34-40 stamens, inserted in two levels, one level at rim, the other just below rim, the filaments tapered (not abruptly constricted) at apex, the outermost ca. 3 mm long, the connectives expanded, cucullate, notched at apex, with lateral flaps covering most of the smaller thecae, the anthers oblongoid, ca. 3-4 mm long (2-3 mm when dry), laterally compressed, with introrse dehiscence, rounded at apices of thecae; ovary 4-locular, with 1-3 ovules per locule, glabrous and truncate at summit, with an intrastaminal disc, ca. 0.2-0.3 mm high, with a shallow depression between disc margin and style, the style linear, white, ca. 1 mm long. Fruits narrowly obovate, 9-10 x 4-5.2 cm, prominently longitudinally 8-ridged, irregularly green and brown variegated, and abundantly white-lenticellate when fresh, the base cuneate, the apex truncate, crowned by a disc with a prominent margin when fresh (but sunken with a conical persistent style when dry), the sepals not persistent, the mesocarp light-green, 6-9 mm thick. Seeds 80-100 x ca. 40 mm.
Common names: None recorded.
Distribution: Grias theobromicarpa is known only from the type locality, a fragmented secondary forest located on a small piece of private property, outside of the Ecuadorean national system of protected areas (SNAP, in Spanish), in the Province of Pichincha, northwestern Ecuador. The type locality is between the private forests of the Maquipucuna Biological Station and the upper Santa Lucía Reserve.
Ecology: This species is an infrequent, small understory tree of montane wet forests, where it has been observed to trap litter within its terminal rosette of leaves.
Phenology: Flowers and mature fruits have been collected in January. This suggests that the population where the type was collected was probably also in flower two to three months earlier in October or November. The rainy season at the type locality occurs from the end of December to May and the dry season is from June through December.
Pollination: It has been suggested that at least some species of Grias are pollinated by beetles because the floral aroma chemistry is similar to that of flowers known to be beetle-pollinated (Knudsen & Mori, 1996). Mori et al. (2010) suggest that the morphologically similar G. purpuripetala S. A. Mori & J. D. García-González might be pollinated by either beetles or bats and that G. neuberthii might be pollinated by bees because of its diurnal yellow flowers. However, as far as we know there are no detailed studies of the pollination biology of any species of this genus.
Dispersal: As in all species of Grias, it is most likely that the seeds of this species, once the fruits have fallen to the ground, are dispersed by rodents. Judging by their size, it is also possible that the fruits of Grias theobromicarpa were eaten and the seeds dispersed in the past by animals of an extinct megafauna (Janzen & Martin, 1982).
Predation: Based on our observation that a fruit was partially eaten while still attached to the trunk, we conclude that mammals may be involved in the predation of this species.
Field characters: The pachycaulous, unbranched or once-branched growth form; large leaves grouped at the end of stout branches; creamish-colored, erect petals that hide a well-developed androecial tube; reflexed stamens; filaments gradually tapered (not abruptly constricted) at anther connection; anthers with thecae mostly covered by flaps; and prominently longitudinally 8-ridged variegated fruits, when fresh, make this species easy to recognize in the field.
Taxonomic notes: Because of the developed androecial tube and the stamens with developed connectives with lateral flaps covering most of the smaller thecae, this species is morphologically related to G. purpuripetala. Although all fruits of species of Grias have longitudinally oriented ridges on the endocarp, this species has them extraordinarily prominent in fresh fruits. The ridges of other species only become markedly apparent when the fruits are dry.
Conservation: Because of its apparent rarity and narrow distribution, we suggest including Grias theobromicarpa in the programs of conservation and restoration of the forests around the Maquipucuna Biological Station. We also suggest that this new species be assigned the IUCN conservation status of endangered, EN B1ab(iii) (IUCN, 2001).
Uses: One individual was observed growing as part of a living fence. Because of its large leaves and the attractive variegated cauline fruits, this species could be cultivated as an ornamental.
Etymology: The epithet refers to the resemblance of the longitudinally ridged fruits of this species when fresh to those of Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae).
Source: Cornejo, X. & S. A. Mori. 2010. Grias theobromicarpa (Lecythidaceae), a new species from northwestern Ecuador. Britonia 62: 99-104.
Author: Xavier Cornejo & Scott A. Mori
Type: Ecuador. Pichincha: Mr. Romero private property, adjacent to Santa Lucía Reserve along the trail from Maquipucuna Biological Reserve, secondary wet forest, 78° 37 ' 04" W 00° 07' 18" N, 1505 m, 18 Jan 2009 (fl, fr), X. Cornejo 8083 (holotype, GUAY; isotypes, AAU, COL, K, MO, NY, QCA, QCNE, UC, US).
Description: Pachycaulous, monocaulous or once-branched, understory trees, ca. 8 m x 9 cm, the trunk cylindrical, not buttressed. Bark smooth. Stems glabrous, the leaf-bearing ones to 40 mm diam. Leaves: petioles sessile or subsessile, to ca. 4 cm long, suborbicular and wavy in cross-section, glabrous; blades oblanceolate, 95-150 x 28-42 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, with abundant punctations abaxially, these sunken in fresh leaves, but sometimes inconspicuous after drying, the base attenuate and finally broadly cuneate to subtruncate, the margins entire, the apex narrowly- to broadly-obtuse and shortly acuminate; venation brochidodromous, the secondary veins in 42-46 pairs, the tertiary veins finely percurrent, the higher order venation difficult to see. Inflorescences cauline, short racemes, with 1 to 3 flowers, the rachises glabrous, 1-7 mm long; pedicel 3-7 mm long, glabrous, subtended by a triangular bract, 1.5-1.8 x 1.3-1.5 mm, bracteoles not apparent. Flower buds globose, enclosed by calyx; mature flowers 2.5-3.5 cm diam. at anthesis, when petals oriented upwards, ca. 7-8 cm when artificially spread horizontally; hypanthium, turbinate, ca. 4 x 4 mm (2-3 x 2-3 mm when dry), glabrous, greenish and abundantly white-verruculose abaxially; calyx splitting in 2 cucullate lobes at anthesis, the lobes ca. 7 x 12 mm, glabrous, light-green; petals ± ovate to ovate-orbicular, at anthesis, erect (i.e., not spreading), and adaxially concave (cucullate) at anthesis, rounded to obtuse and erect to reflexed inwards at apex, ca. 2.7-2.9 x 2.2 cm (slightly smaller, ca. 2.2-2.7 x 1.7 cm, when dry), pinkish-white in bud, pearl-white to somewhat greenish- or pinkish-cream at anthesis; androecium obloid, forming carnose tube, 9-11.5 x 14-17 mm (ca. 8 x 10 mm when dry), externally creamish-white, divided into 2 chambers, arching from base to apex abaxially, the lower chamber erect or nearly so adaxially, the upper chamber arching inward, with 34-40 stamens, inserted in two levels, one level at rim, the other just below rim, the filaments tapered (not abruptly constricted) at apex, the outermost ca. 3 mm long, the connectives expanded, cucullate, notched at apex, with lateral flaps covering most of the smaller thecae, the anthers oblongoid, ca. 3-4 mm long (2-3 mm when dry), laterally compressed, with introrse dehiscence, rounded at apices of thecae; ovary 4-locular, with 1-3 ovules per locule, glabrous and truncate at summit, with an intrastaminal disc, ca. 0.2-0.3 mm high, with a shallow depression between disc margin and style, the style linear, white, ca. 1 mm long. Fruits narrowly obovate, 9-10 x 4-5.2 cm, prominently longitudinally 8-ridged, irregularly green and brown variegated, and abundantly white-lenticellate when fresh, the base cuneate, the apex truncate, crowned by a disc with a prominent margin when fresh (but sunken with a conical persistent style when dry), the sepals not persistent, the mesocarp light-green, 6-9 mm thick. Seeds 80-100 x ca. 40 mm.
Common names: None recorded.
Distribution: Grias theobromicarpa is known only from the type locality, a fragmented secondary forest located on a small piece of private property, outside of the Ecuadorean national system of protected areas (SNAP, in Spanish), in the Province of Pichincha, northwestern Ecuador. The type locality is between the private forests of the Maquipucuna Biological Station and the upper Santa Lucía Reserve.
Ecology: This species is an infrequent, small understory tree of montane wet forests, where it has been observed to trap litter within its terminal rosette of leaves.
Phenology: Flowers and mature fruits have been collected in January. This suggests that the population where the type was collected was probably also in flower two to three months earlier in October or November. The rainy season at the type locality occurs from the end of December to May and the dry season is from June through December.
Pollination: It has been suggested that at least some species of Grias are pollinated by beetles because the floral aroma chemistry is similar to that of flowers known to be beetle-pollinated (Knudsen & Mori, 1996). Mori et al. (2010) suggest that the morphologically similar G. purpuripetala S. A. Mori & J. D. García-González might be pollinated by either beetles or bats and that G. neuberthii might be pollinated by bees because of its diurnal yellow flowers. However, as far as we know there are no detailed studies of the pollination biology of any species of this genus.
Dispersal: As in all species of Grias, it is most likely that the seeds of this species, once the fruits have fallen to the ground, are dispersed by rodents. Judging by their size, it is also possible that the fruits of Grias theobromicarpa were eaten and the seeds dispersed in the past by animals of an extinct megafauna (Janzen & Martin, 1982).
Predation: Based on our observation that a fruit was partially eaten while still attached to the trunk, we conclude that mammals may be involved in the predation of this species.
Field characters: The pachycaulous, unbranched or once-branched growth form; large leaves grouped at the end of stout branches; creamish-colored, erect petals that hide a well-developed androecial tube; reflexed stamens; filaments gradually tapered (not abruptly constricted) at anther connection; anthers with thecae mostly covered by flaps; and prominently longitudinally 8-ridged variegated fruits, when fresh, make this species easy to recognize in the field.
Taxonomic notes: Because of the developed androecial tube and the stamens with developed connectives with lateral flaps covering most of the smaller thecae, this species is morphologically related to G. purpuripetala. Although all fruits of species of Grias have longitudinally oriented ridges on the endocarp, this species has them extraordinarily prominent in fresh fruits. The ridges of other species only become markedly apparent when the fruits are dry.
Conservation: Because of its apparent rarity and narrow distribution, we suggest including Grias theobromicarpa in the programs of conservation and restoration of the forests around the Maquipucuna Biological Station. We also suggest that this new species be assigned the IUCN conservation status of endangered, EN B1ab(iii) (IUCN, 2001).
Uses: One individual was observed growing as part of a living fence. Because of its large leaves and the attractive variegated cauline fruits, this species could be cultivated as an ornamental.
Etymology: The epithet refers to the resemblance of the longitudinally ridged fruits of this species when fresh to those of Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae).
Source: Cornejo, X. & S. A. Mori. 2010. Grias theobromicarpa (Lecythidaceae), a new species from northwestern Ecuador. Britonia 62: 99-104.