Philodendron verapazense Croat, sp

Philodendron verapazense Croat, sp. nov.

TYPE: Guatemala. Alta Verapaz: 7 mi. on road to Oxec, along road turning N off Hwy. 7E between Tucurú and El Estor, ca. 6 km NE of Panzós, 700 m, ca. 15E28'N, 89E04'W, Croat 41656 (holotype, MO-- 2743518; isotypes, GUAT, US). Figures 433--435.

Planta hemiepiphytica; internodia longio quam lata, conspicue multisulcata; cataphylla 14--17 cm longa, acute 2-costata, decidua; petiolus acute D-formatus complanatus adaxialiter, 29--44 longus, in sicco 2--5 mm diam.; lamina anguste ovato-triangulari-cordata, longe acuminata apice, longe cordata vel sagittata basi, 26--34 cm longa, 11.5--14 cm lata; nervis lateralibus I 3--4 utroque; inflorescentia 1; pedunculus 3--14 cm longus, 4--5 mm diam.; spatha 10--18 cm longa, extus rubri2violacea; tubo spathae intus carmesino; pistilla 4--6-loculari; loculi 2-ovulati.

Hemiepiphytic; stem appressed-climbing or sometimes scandent; preadult internodes to 20 cm long, 1.5--3 cm long; adult internodes green becoming tinged purple, finally tan, conspicuously many-sulcate except above each petiole, longer than broad; roots few per node, 10--30 cm long, drying dark brown, weakly glossy, 2.3 mm diam.; cataphylls 14--17 cm long, sharply 2-ribbed, green tinged red, deciduous; petioles 29--44 cm long, drying 2--5 mm diam., sharply D-shaped, flattened adaxially, with adaxial margins sharp; blades narrowly ovate-triangular-cordate, subcoriaceous, long-acuminate at apex (the acumen sometimes apiculate), long-cordate to sagittate at base, 26--34 cm long, 11.5--14 cm wide (2--3 times longer than wide), (0.7--1.1 times longer than petiole); anterior lobe (13)21--26 cm long, (5.4)13--14 cm wide (2.9--4.3 times longer than posterior lobes); posterior lobes 6--7.5 cm long, (2.3)6--7.1 cm wide; sinus hippocrepiform, sometimes spathulate, 7--7.5 cm deep; midrib broadly convex and paler above, convex and darker below, drying somewhat acute; basal veins 3(4) per side, with 0(1) free to base, the remainder coalesced 2--2.5 cm; posterior rib naked for most or all of its length; primary lateral veins 3--4 per side, departing midrib at a 55--65E angle, more or less straight to weakly arcuate to the margins; minor veins arising from the midrib only.

INFLORESCENCES 1 per axil; peduncle 3--14 cm long, 4--5 mm diam., green or tinged with reddish violet; spathe 10--18 cm long, ((0.7)2--3.7 times longer than peduncle), reddish violet outside; spathe blade acuminate; spathe tube cylindrical, 8--9 cm long, 1--1.5 cm diam., crimson-red inside; spadix stipitate to 3.5 cm long; acute at apex, 15--16.5 cm long, constricted ca. 4 cm above base of sterile staminate portion; pistillate portion cream, 3.2 cm long in front, 1.7 cm long in back, 1.5--2.6 cm wide at base; staminate portion 8.3--9 cm long; fertile staminate portion cream, tapered to apex, 7--10 mm diam. at base and midway, 3--4 mm diam. ca. 1 cm from apex; sterile staminate portion 1.8--2.2 mm diam.; pistils 1.9--2.3 mm long; ovary 4--6-locular, 1 mm diam., with sub-basal placentation; locules 0.9 mm long, ca. 0.3 mm diam.; ovule sac 0.4--1 mm long; ovules 2 per locule, contained within transparent, gelatinous ovule sac, longer than funicle; funicle 0.2--0.3 mm long, (can be pulled free to base), style 0.8 mm diam., similar to style type D; style apex somewhat rounded to flat, depressions surrounding stylar canal exits, style boss broad, very shallow; the androecium truncate, prismatic, more or less oblong, margins irregularly 5--6-sided, 0.8--1.1 mm long; thecae oblong, 0.4--0.5 mm wide, more or less parallel to one another, very nearly contiguous; sterile staminate flowers prismatic to weakly clavate, irregularly 4--6-sided, mostly 5-sided, 1.3--1.9 mm long.

Flowering in Philodendron verapazense occurs in April and May, with a single, post-anthesis collection known from July.

Philodendron verapazense ranges from southern Mexico (Chiapas) to Guatemala (Alta Verapaz), at 700 to 1525 m elevation in "Bosque Pino-Encino" in Mexico and Tropical moist forest in Guatemala.

Philodendron verapazense is a member of P. sect. Calostigma subsect. Macrobelium ser. Macrobelium. This species is recognized by its scandent habit with the internodes longer than broad and conspicuously pluri-sulcate, as well as by its sharply two-ribbed, deciduous cataphylls, sharply D-shaped petioles, narrowly ovate-triangular-cordate blades, solitary inflorescences red to reddish violet spathe tubes, and greenish spathe blades.

Philodendron verapazense is probably most similar to P. sagittifolium especially in the shape and coloration of the blades, the sharply two-ribbed, deciduous cataphylls, and the D-shaped petioles. It differs from the latter species principally in its deeply sulcate stems, sharply D-shaped, shorter (less than 50 cm long) petioles, and leaf blades with 3--4 pairs of primary lateral veins (versus subterete, longer petioles which are greater than 50 cm long, and 4--8 pairs of primary lateral veins for P. sagittifolium).

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Additional specimens examined.

GUATEMALA. Alta Verapaz: near Chirriacté, on the Petén Highway, ca. 900 m, Standley 91978 (F). Izabal: vic. EXMIBAL camp 2, NW of Lake Izabal, 400--500 m, Jones & Facey 3354 (NY). MEXICO. Chiapas: Los Lagos, 3 mi. NW of Rancho San José, 5000 ft., Carlson 1846 (F).