Search

1. Viola ornata P.Gonzáles, Montesinos & J.M.Watson, sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2, 3). Type:— PERU. Dept. Moquegua: Prov. Sánchez Cerro, District of Ichuña, Sora, ladera con suelo crioturbado, franco-arcilloso, hierba escasa, tallos parcialmente subterraneo, hojas de coloración créptica entre marrón claro y anaranjado, flores liláceas. 16°13’26.91’’S, 70°32’23.70’’W, 4710–4790 m, 22 October 2010, Cano et al. 19929 (holotype: USM 329556!). Diagnosis:— It differs uniquely from all others species of Viola sect. Rosulatae by densely adpressed-imbricate foliage, widely flabellate leaf blade with obtuse-depressed apices, exceptionally broad (ca. 3 mm wide) pseudopetioles, long (ca. 9 mm) bracteoles, and naviculate inferior petal with retrorse spur. The most morphologically similar species to V. ornata is V. congesta by the flabellate, 11-crenate, glabrous leaf blades, with finely short-ciliate margins. The new species differs from V. congesta mainly by its eglandular (vs. glandular) leaf blades, absent (vs. present) stipules, 3-winged (vs. plane) bracteoles, and trilobed (vs. entire) style crest. Description:— Perennial, evergreen, dwarf, acaulous, imbricate-rosulate herb, habitually forming solitary rosettes, but occasionally up to six. Rootstock axial, medium-thick, prolonged, giving rise to short, usually unbranched caudex, this ca. 1.5 mm wide at junction with rosette. Rosette ca. 2 × 2.5 cm, approximately hemispherical. Foliage spirally arranged, dense, light brown. Mature leaf ca. 1.5 cm long, stipules absent, pseudopetiolate, spathulate-flabellate; pseudopetiole 8 × 3 mm, glabrous, thickish-succulent longitudinally along centre, thin at margins; leaf blade ca. 4 × 8 mm, somewhat thick-succulent, subtriangular-flabellate, 11-crenate along entire outer margin, that narrowly glossy-thickened and regularly short-ciliate; upper surface of leaf blade glabrous, raised reticulate-alveolate veined; undersurface of leaf blade glabrous except apically, where it is sometimes densely covered with minute, translucent white papillae. Flower ca. 5 × 7–8 mm, solitary, axillary, corolla flush with outer circumference of rosette, anthesis successive. Pedicel ca. 1 cm long, glabrous, expanding towards apex. Bracteoles inserted ca. 4 mm above base of pedicel, 9 × 1.5 mm, linear oblanceolate, hyaline, 3-winged in section, with central wing situated on abaxial face, apex rounded, all three margins ciliate in apical half, Calyx ca. 3.5 mm long; sepals unequal, broadly sublinear with rounded apex, hyaline, regularly short-ciliate. Corolla glabrous, white; superior petal ca. 7 × 2 mm, linear-subspathulate, slightly upcurved laterally, somewhat truncate; lateral petal ca. 6 × 2.5 mm, spathulate, rounded apically; inferior petal (including spur) ca. 7 × 2.5 mm, sublinear, strongly navicular with curved, rounded keel, stained yellow longitudinally along centre, apex emarginate. Spur ca. 3.5 × 1 mm, flattened dorsally, strongly retrorse, somewhat upcurved towards keel of lowermost petal, apically subretuse. Stamens ca. 1.8 mm long, winged filament ca. 0.5 × 0.5 mm, anthers ca. 0.7 × 0.8 mm, outer surface glabrous, inferior pair of anthers with nectar spurs, these very slender, ca. 1 × 0.1 mm; connective scales ca. 1 × 0.9 mm, broadly deltoid, glabrous, margin entire, apex obtuse, bright brownish-red; Ovary glabrous, distinctively ribbed. Style bigeniculate (‘S’ form), markedly clavate at apex. Style crest as vertical lateral lobes ca. 0.35 × 0.5 mm, triangular, apically rounded. Stigma frontal, elevated. Fruit and seeds unknown. Etymology:— An outstanding feature of the new species is the formally geometrical and intricately patterned nature of its leaves and rosette.The epithet ornata was chosen in reference to the neat and attractive aesthetic appearence of these plants. Distribution and habitat:— Viola ornata is a narrow endemic to the Moquegua Region in Peru, at elevations of 4650–4970 m on the peaks of the eastern mountain summits of the Upper Tambo River near Tassa Town (Fig. 6). A terrestrial plant of sandy volcanic soils and, more rarely, clayey rocky terrain, it forms an element of a dwarf Andean flora. Phenology:— The new species flowers in October. Additional material examined (paratypes):— PERU. Dept. Moquegua: Prov. General Sánchez Cerro, District of Ichuña, Sora, ladera con suelo crioturbado, franco-arcilloso, 16°13’26.91’’S, 70°32’23.70’’W, 4710–4790 m, 22 October 2010, Cano et al. 19930 (USM 329557!). District of Ubinas, terrestrial on bare clay soils in roadside verges to the east of Pillone town, 16°10’02”S, 70°49’56”W, 4584 m, 24 March 2013, Montesinos 4022 (HSP, USM). Ubinas, lower slopes of the Pirhuani Mountain close to Cochapata Lake, 5km S of Coalaque town, 4km N of Tassa town, 16°8’30.53”S, 70°42’52.86”W, 4700 m, 20 March 2014, Montesinos 4217b (HSP). District of Yunga, lower slopes of the Chocho-Choco Mountain, near Siliaca Alta, 5km NW of Matecocha Lake and 7km E of Yunga town, 16°13’12.16”S, 70°36’35.23”W, 4970 m, 16 August 2019, Montesinos 7706 (MOQ). Yunga, Pucapampa, between Siliaca Alta and Choco-Choco, 16°13’34.83”S, 70°36’18.85”W, 4854 m, 18 February 2021, Montesinos et al. 8518 (MOQ 1170!). Estimated Conservation status:— In accordance with IUCN criteria (IUCN 2012, 2019) it is proposed that Viola ornata be considered Endangered (EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)). The Extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are less than 104 km 2 and 20 km 2, respectively (Criterion B1 and B2), and the populations are severely fragmented (subcriterion a). Extensive mining exploration in the Ichuña district produces the risk of seriously endangering current and potential suitable mountain summit habitats, thus there is continuing decline in habitat quality (subcriterion b(iii)). Discussion Viola ornata is a distinct species of Viola subg. Neoandinium with few morphologically similar species. The reticulate, notorious veins and ciliate border of the leaf blade indicate that the new species belongs in the large, widespread and polymorphic Viola sect. Rosulatae, the general morphology of the rosette of the novelty is closely similar to a few others in that alliance. They are Viola volcanica Gilles ex Hooker & Arnott (1833: 145), Viola congesta Gilles ex Hooker & Arnott (1833: 144), and Viola llullaillacoensis W. Becker (1927: 109), all from northern Chile. Viola ornata is similar to V. llullaillacoensis and V. volcanica by its reticulate-veined leaf blades with ciliate margin, but it differs from V. llullaillacoensis by the glabrous (vs. pilose) upper leaf blade surface, and eglandular vs. glandular leaf blades. From V. volcanica it differs by eglandular vs. glandular leaf blades and ciliate vs. glabrous calyx. On the other hand, V. ornata is similar to V. congesta by its flabellate, 11-crenate, glabrous leaf blade, with the margin fine short-ciliate, but it differs by its eglandular vs. glandular leaf blade, absent vs. present stipules, bracteoles ca. 9 mm vs. ca. 3 mm long, 3-winged vs. plane, densely short-ciliate vs. glabrous sepals, glabrous vs. bearded lateral petals, and trilobed vs. entire style crest. There are 15 tropical Andean species of Viola subg. Neoandinium, most of which are found in Peru, where they encompass an exceptionally diverse morphology. Among these species, the most similar to V. ornata is Viola kermesina W. Becker (1909: 124), with which it shares rosettes with broad, strongly and tightly imbricate leaf blades with similar venation. However, while the new species has white corollas, and crenate and cryptic brown leaves, V. kermesina has red, crimson or orange corollas, and entire and superficially grey leaves. Other three taxa with similarly cryptic rosette coloration, Viola ferreyrae P. Gonzáles (Gonzáles & Cano 2016: 84), Viola tovarii P. Gonzáles & J. Molina Alor (2020: 248), and Viola granulosa Weddell (1864: 292) have leaf blades deeply incised along the margins, among other dissimilarities (see key).

2. Viola longibracteolata P.Gonzáles, Ed.Navarro & J.M.Watson, sp. nov. (Figs. 4, 5). Type:— PERU. Dpto. Arequipa: Prov. Caylloma, District Madrigal, ladera pedregosa y rocosa, vegetación escasa, pendiente 35°, 15°28’14.15”S, 71°50’21.11”W, 5060 m, 28 April 2016, Navarro 3000 (holotype: USM 326318!). Diagnosis:— It differs from all other species of the section by the combination of linear-spathulate, 5-crenulate leaf blades with exceptionally broad pseudopetioles (1.7–1.9 mm wide), bracteoles 7–7.5 mm long (except with Viola ornata), sparsely fimbriate sepals, and naviculate inferior petal with an inconspicuous spur. Viola longibracteolata is morphologically similar to V. ornata by the leaf blades with alveolate-reticulate notorious veins and ciliate border, absent stipules and elongate bracteoles, but it differs from this species by linear-spathulate (vs. flabellate), 5-crenate (vs. 11-crenate) leaf blades, plane (vs. 3-winged) bracteoles, and sparsely fimbriate (vs. densely short-ciliate) sepals. Description:— Perennial acaulous rosulate herb. Rootstock axial, ca. 5 cm × 1.2–1.5 mm. Caudex 5–9 cm long, simple, covered by sclerified leaf scars. Rosette up to ca. 1.5 × 3 cm, densely imbricate-foliate, slightly depressed at centre. Leaves 10–13 mm long, including pseudopetiole, oblanceolate-spathulate, stipules absent. Pseudopetiole 7.4–10.5 × 1.7–1.9 mm, scarious, glabrous on both surfaces and along margin. leaf blade (2.5–)3–3.2 × (2–) 2.4–2.9 mm, obovate-cuneate, thick-succulent; adaxial face alveolate-reticulate, inconspicuously so on leaf blade at centre of rosette, markedly so at outer circumference, cryptic brown, with sparsely scattered white, pilose hairs on basal half, and very few of same towards apex; margin 5-crenate along entire outer margin, brown, scarious, spreading ciliate at margin with short and long, stout, white-hyaline indumentum, hairs ca. 0.2 mm long at apex to 0.7–0.9(–1.2) mm at base, abaxial face glabrescent, green-purple; apex obtuse to rounded. Flowers solitary, axillary, 4–4.8 × 3.1–3.5 mm. Pedicel 7–9 mm long, glabrous, hyaline to dark purple at apex. Bracteoles inserted 0.5(–0.8) mm above base, attached above to pedicel by membrane, free part 7–7.5 × 1–1.5 mm, oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse, hyaline, undersurface pubescent, upper surface glabrescent, margin entire, base glabrous upper half ciliate, with hair decreasing in size towards apex. Calyx green; sepals inconspicuously auriculate at base, auricles rounded, ca. 0.3 × 0.9 mm, glabrous; upper and lateral sepals subequal in size and shape, border slight scarious, 3-nerved, obtuse, inner side glabrous; upper sepal ovate, 1–1.2 × 1–1.1 mm; lateral sepals oblong, 1.5–1.6 × 0.7–0.8 mm; lower sepals oblong, 1.7–1.8 × 0.9–1.2 mm, fimbriate at apex. Corolla glabrous, adaxially white, abaxially dark purple with fine white margin; superior petals 2.9–3.3 × 1 mm, oblong spathulate, 3-nerved; lateral petals 4–4.2 × 1.1 mm, oblong spathulate, 3-nerved, apex rounded-emarginate; inferior petal including spur 4.2–4.5 × 1.4–1.6 mm, oblong spathulate limb, cymbiform, narrowed in middle, 3-nerved, central and basal areas yellow with purple points, apex deeply emarginate; spur ca. 0.7 × 0.7 mm. Stamens ca. 1.3 mm long, winged filament ca. 0.6 × 0.6 mm, anthers ca. 0.7 × 0.8 mm, outer surface glabrous, inferior pair of anthers with nectar spurs, these very slender, ca. 0.6 × 0.1 mm; connective scales ca. 0.4 × 0.6 mm, broadly deltoid, glabrous, margin entire, apex obtuse, color not seen but probably yellow. Ovary glabrous. Style ca. 1.3 mm long, geniculate, clavate. Style crest 0.5–0.7 × 1.1–1.2 mm, apical, subrotund to flabellate. Stigmatic orifice 0.6–0.7 mm diam., apicoventrally in a longitudinal furrow. Capsule 3.7–3.8 × 3.3–3.5 mm, ovoid, glabrous, 3-valved, valve thickened and elevated in middle part; 3 seeds per valve. Seed 1.8–1.9 × 1–1.1 mm, ovoid, dark beige, funiculus adnate to fruit for 0.1–0.2 mm. Etymology: —An outstanding feature of this new species are the bracteoles 7–7.5 mm long, suggested by specific epithet longibracteolata. Distribution and habitat:— Viola longibracteolata is endemic to Arequipa Department in Peru, and it is known only from the type location (Fig. 6). It inhabits rocky places and cryoturbated soils (soils that are subjected to a sequence of freezing and thawing throughout the day) above 5000 m. It has probably evaded discovery until now due to its very small size, cryptic appearance and general lack of intensive exploration in the high Andes. Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting in April. Conservation assessment:— In accordance with IUCN criteria (IUCN 2012, 2019) it is proposed that Viola longibracteolata be considered Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are less than 50 km 2 and 4 km 2, respectively (Criterion B1), and it is known from a single location (subcriterion a). Extensive mining exploration in the Madrigal district produces the risk of seriously endangering current and potential suitable mountain summit habitats.As a result, there is continuing reduction in habitat availability and decline in environmental quality (subcriterion b(iii)). Discussion:— Viola longibracteolata is a distinctive species of Viola subg. Neoandinium. The leaf blade with its alveolate-reticulate, notorious veins and ciliate border indicates that the new species belongs in the large, widespread and polymorphic V. sect. Rosulatae. The extended, plane, bracteoles with long cilia place V. longibracteolata closest to Viola evae W. Becker (1922: 182), Viola spegazzinii W. Becker (1925: 351), Viola lilloana W. Becker (1926: 225), and the other new species described herein, V. ornata. The latter two also share the distinctly small corollas with V. longibracteolata. However, Viola ornata differs from other V. sect. Rosulatae species by its 3-winged (vs. plane) bracteoles; V. spegazzinii and V. lilloana differ from this species group by its glandular (vs. eglandular) leaf blade undersurface, while V. longibracteolata differs from these species by the sparsely fimbriate sepals. On the other hand, V. longibracteolata differs from V. evae by its peduncle bracteoles 7–7.5 mm (vs. 4 mm) long. Viola longibracteolata and V. ornata very morphologically similar due to their glabrous or glabrescent leaf blades, elongated bracteoles, glabrous pedicels, eglandular sepals, and glabrous corolla, but the former is differentiated from the latter by its linear-spathulate (vs. flabellate), 5-crenate (vs. 11-crenate) leaf blades, long-ciliate (vs. fine short-ciliate) margins, plane (vs. 3-winged) bracteoles, sparsely fimbriate (vs. densely short-ciliate) sepals, corolla 3–4.8 mm vs. 6–7 mm long, inferior petal spur ca. 0.7 mm vs. 3.5 mm long, and style crest 0.5–0.7 mm vs. 0.35 mm long. Moreover, Viola longibracteolata and V. ornata are geographically separated by over 130 km in high Peruvian Andes., Published as part of Gonzáles, Paúl, Montesinos-Tubée, Daniel B., Watson, John M., Cano, Asunción, Trinidad, Huber, Navarro, Eduardo, Jans, Harry, Sheader, Martin, Ballard, Harvey E. & Flores, Ana R., 2022, Viola ornata and Viola longibracteolata (Violaceae, subgen. Neoandinium), two rare, new rosulate species from southern Peru, pp. 52-64 in Phytotaxa 571 (1) on pages 59-62, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.571.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/7270462, {"references":["IUCN. (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iv + 32 pp.","IUCN. (2019) Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, version 14. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Subcommittee. Available from: http: // www. iucnredlist. org / documents / RedListGuidelines. pdf (accessed 11 March 2022)","Becker, W. (1922) Violae novae Americae meridionalis. Repertorium novarum specierum regni vegetabilis 18: 180 - 186.","Becker, W. (1925) Beitrag zur Kenntnis der sudamerikanischen Violae. Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 21: 349 - 361. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / fedr. 19250212106","Becker, W. (1926) Beitrage zur zur Violenflora Argentiniens und Chiles. Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 23: 222 - 227. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / fedr. 19260231206"]}