Rovaeanthus suffrutescens (Brandegee) Borhidi
Descripción
Shrubs, decumbent or scandent, 1–2 m tall. Stipules triangular, 1–3 × 2–3 mm, antrorse-strigose outside, persistent or deciduous. Leaves opposite, subequal or unequal, occasionally one leaf is half the size of the other at the same node, petiolate; petioles 2–5 mm long, sparsely antrorse-strigose, glabrescent; blades elliptic to ovate–elliptic, 4.3–9.7 × 1.5–3.5 cm, slightly cuneate to acute at base, with an acumen up to 1.5 cm long at apex, chartaceous, antrorse-strigose throughout, mainly on costa and secondary veins, margins plane, with 5–8 secondary veins on each side of midrib. Inflorescences dichasial cymes or uniflorous, terminal or terminal on axillary branches, 5–8 × 4–6 cm including corollas, pedunculate, peduncle 1–3 cm long, main axis glabrous to sparsely antrorse-strigose, soon glabrescent, bracts triangular to linear–lanceolate, 5–9 mm long. Bracteoles subtending flowers linear, 1–3 mm long. Flowers pedicellate or subsessile; pedicels 1–4 mm long, glabrous. Hypanthium subglobose, or turbinate to ovoid, 1–1.5 mm long, glabrous to sparsely antrorse-strigose, soon glabrescent. Calyx lobes equal or rarely subequal, the larger lobes 9–11 mm long, the smaller ones 4–9 mm long, lanceolate to linear–oblong, externally antrorse-strigose, or glabrous, internally glabrous. Corolla reddish to pinkish when fresh; tube 15–23 × 3–4 mm, externally glabrous, internally hirtellous medially; corolla mouth with a fleshy ring (occasionally not well developed) covered by a sparse yellow trichomes; lobes obovate to elliptic, 5–8 × 4 mm, glabrous throughout, margins undulated. Stamens inserted 4 mm below corolla mouth in long-styled flowers, or inserted 3 mm below corolla mouth in short-styled flowers; anthers 3–4 mm long. Style 15–21 mm long in long-styled flowers, or 8–12 mm long in short-styled flowers, style branches linear in long-styled flowers, or ovoid to linear in short-styled flowers, 2–3 mm long. Fruits subglobose, compressed at poles, 8–10 × 6–8 mm, glabrous. Seeds angulate or polygonal, not caudate, 1 mm long.A
Forma de crecimiento
ArbustoA
Forma de vida
TerrestreA
Fructificación
Nov–DecA
Floración
(May–)Aug–NovA
Ejemplares revisados
GUATEMALA. San Marcos: Tajomulco, 2300 m, 31 December 1964 (fr), L.O.
Williams, A. Molina, T.P. Williams, D.N. Gibson & C.W. Laskowski 26932 (F, MEXU, MO). A MEXICO. Chiapas:
Ovando Mountain, 1800 m, 14 November 1939 (fl, fr), E. Matuda s.n. (MEXU, MO)A MEXICO. Chiapas: entre Talquián y Toniná, 19 December 1987 (fr), E.M. Martínez 22189 (MEXU, TEX)A MEXICO. Chiapas: Unión Juárez, 1700–2300 m, 3 May 1987 (fl), J. Miller, J.K. Myers & E.M. Martinez 2674 (MO)A
Williams, A. Molina, T.P. Williams, D.N. Gibson & C.W. Laskowski 26932 (F, MEXU, MO). A MEXICO. Chiapas:
Ovando Mountain, 1800 m, 14 November 1939 (fl, fr), E. Matuda s.n. (MEXU, MO)A MEXICO. Chiapas: entre Talquián y Toniná, 19 December 1987 (fr), E.M. Martínez 22189 (MEXU, TEX)A MEXICO. Chiapas: Unión Juárez, 1700–2300 m, 3 May 1987 (fl), J. Miller, J.K. Myers & E.M. Martinez 2674 (MO)A
Elevación
1700 – 2700 mA
Tipo de vegetación
Bosque de neblina/mesófiloA
Conservación
Rovaeanthus suffrutescens is limited in distribution to cloud forests between southern Mexico (Chiapas) and Guatemala. Given its distribution area and the few specimens deposited in scientific collections, we considered this species as Critically Endangered (CR) under B1ab (iii) in accordance with the IUCN criteria (2017). The Extent of Occurrence (EOO) is calculated in 300 km2 and the Area of Occupancy (AOO) in 40 km2. In addition this species occurs in severely fragmented habitats, especially due to agricultural activities with high population pressure.A
Bibliografía
A. Torres-Montúfar, A. & Ochoterena, H. 2019: Taxonomic treatment of the Mesoamerican genus Rovaeanthus (Rondeletieae, Rubiaceae). – Phytotaxa, ser. 2, 403: 122-130. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.403.2.5