Research Article |
Corresponding author: Ruth Kiew ( ruth@frim.gov.my ) Academic editor: Eric Roalson
© 2019 Ruth Kiew, Kah-Hoo Lau.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Kiew R, Lau K-H (2019) Senyumia granitica (Gesneriaceae) from Johor, Malaysia, the second species of Senyumia. PhytoKeys 117: 37-44. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.117.31560
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The genus Senyumia was previously known from a single species, S. minutiflora (Ridl.) Kiew, A.Weber & B.L.Burtt, from a limestone karst, Gunung Senyum, in Pahang, Malaysia. Senyumia granitica Kiew, here described and illustrated, is the second species of the genus. It differs from S. minutiflora, not only in its habitat, but also in its shorter leaves, larger, non-resupinate or only partially resupinate flowers and smaller seeds. It is known from a small, fragmented population from a low range of hills. Therefore, under the IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria, it is assessed as Critically Endangered.
New species, Senyumia granitica , Senyumia minutiflora , ecology, conservation
While investigating the granite cliffs of Bukit Belading in Johor State, the site at which the new species of cycad, Cycas cantafolia Jutta, K.L.Chew & Saw, has recently been discovered (
Morphologically, the genus Senyumia Kiew, A.Weber & B.L.Burtt most resembles another Malaysian monotypic genus, Spelaeanthus Kiew, A.Weber & B.L.Burtt, that is restricted to karst limestone (
The absence of a nectary and the short corolla tube with large protruding anthers are characters of a pollen flower (
Senyumia granitica Kiew, sp. nov. A habit B Inflorescence showing partially resupinate flower C front view of a flower from Bukit Tukau population D front view of a flower from Bukit Reban Kambing population E side view of D; Senyumia minutiflora (Ridl.) Kiew et al. F resupinate flower G side view of flower (upside down for comparison with E) H fruit of S. granitica J Trigona laeviceps on S. minutiflora, note full pollen baskets. (photographs by PT Ong).
Materials used for the description of the new species are based on living collections grown in the Herbarium Nursery at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia. However, measurements were made on dried herbarium specimens. Characters of the new species were compared with those of herbarium specimens of similar species in BM, E, K, KEP, KLU, SING and UKMB (herbarium codes from Index Herbariorum at http://sweetgum.nybg.org/ih) and living specimens of the new species, Senyumia minutiflora and Spelaeanthus chinii. The conservation status of the new species is assessed by the Malaysian regional evaluator, LSL Chua, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, using the standard IUCN Categories and Criteria (
Senyumia Kiew, A. Weber & B.L. Burtt. Beitr. Biol. Pflanzen 70 (1998 [1997]) 400; Weber, Fam. & Gen. Vasc. Pl. 7 (2004) 148.
Senyumia minutiflora (Ridl.) Kiew, A. Weber & B.L. Burtt.
Short herb. Stem wiry, woody, to 20 cm long, 4–5 mm diameter, with a terminal rosette of many leaves. Indumentum pilose, of dense, long uniseriate hairs, intermingled with glandular hairs that make the lamina sticky to touch. Leaves opposite; petiole long, slender; lamina very thin, membranous, soft, pale green, broadly lanceolate to elliptic, 4–15 × 4–7.5 cm, margin toothed, teeth blunt, base not cordate, often unequal; veins 6–8 pairs. Inflorescences axillary, pair-flowered dichasial cymes, 9–17 cm long; pedicels very fine, 9–11 mm long. Flowers small; calyx divided to base into five narrowly lanceolate lobes, 1.5–2 mm long,; corolla white, sometimes tinged pink, tube very short, straight-sided, slightly dilating, 1.2–3 mm long, limb bilabiate, lobes in upper position densely studded with short glandular hairs internally, in non- or partially resupinate flowers, two lobes of the upper lip are strongly reflexed, in resupinate flowers, the lower three lobes held in the upper position are strongly reflexed; stamens 2, anthers large, 1.5–2 mm long, ellipsoid, cohering, yellow, exserted; nectary absent; ovary small, 2–3 mm long, ovoid; style 2–5 mm long, protruding; stigma punctiform. Capsules orthocarpic, 4–10 mm long, glabrous, strongly twisted, opening on the dorsal and ventral sides, valves becoming spiral after dehiscence. Seeds numerous, minute, 104–117 × 29–31 µm or 350 × 210 µm.
Two species, both endemic in Peninsular Malaysia.
Lithophytic, growing in cracks and crevices in light shade either on quartz derived from granite or on limestone rocks.
This new taxon resembles Senyumia minutiflora in its wiry, woody stem; tufted leaves with an elliptic lamina with a non-cordate base; small, white flowers and orthocarpic, strongly twisted capsule. However, the new species differs from Senyumia minutiflora in its shorter leaves that are less than 1.5 times longer than wide, flowers that are not resupinate or are partially resupinate, have a longer corolla tube and lobes of the lower lip that are flat and not reflexed and the much smaller seeds (Table
Character state | S. granitica | S. minutiflora |
---|---|---|
Leaf lamina size (cm) | 4–6(–10) × (3–)7–7.5 | 9–13 × 4–7 |
Ratio leaf lamina width: length | 0.9-1.3 | 1.9-2.2 |
Flower position | partially or not resupinate | resupinate |
Dimensions of corolla tube (mm) | 2–3 × 2.5–4 | 1.2 × 1 |
Length of lower lip (mm) | 4–9 | 2.5–3 |
Position of lobes of lower lip | flat (not recurved) | strongly reflexed |
Length of filaments (mm) | 2–3 | 1.5 |
Length of anthers (mm) | 1.5–2 | 1.5 |
Capsule length (mm) | 4–7.5(–10) | 4–6 |
Seed dimensions (µm) | 80–117 × 29–31 | 350 × 210 |
Peninsular Malaysia. Johor, Ledang District, Bukit Tukau, 10 Dec 2009, Lau KH et al. FRI 68518 (holotype KEP!; iso.: K!, L!).
Perennial herb. Stem wiry, woody, ca. 4–12 cm tall, erect, 3.5–5 mm diameter. Indumentum densely woolly with long soft uniseriate, whitish hairs, dense on petiole, on lamina on upper surface and veins on lower surface, ca. 2 mm long interspersed with glandular hairs, lamina sticky to touch. Leaves opposite pairs spaced up to 6.5–8 cm apart; petiole fleshy, densely hairy, hairs 2–6 mm long, pale green, ca. 2 cm long in upper leaves, lengthening in lower leaves to 10.5 cm long; lamina broadly lanceolate to ovate, 4–6(–10) × (3–)7–7.5 cm, in life soft, light green above with long hairs ca. 2 mm long interspersed with glandular hairs, making the lamina sticky to touch, whitish-green beneath, base rounded, slightly to strongly unequal, apex acute, margin deeply crenate or serrate, teeth ca. 3 × 4 mm, to rounded to acute, tipped by a hair; lateral veins 6–8 pairs, deeply impressed above, prominent beneath and covered in long hairs ca. 2 mm long interspersed with glandular hairs, intercostal veins scalariform, ascending. Inflorescences 5–12(–17) cm long, with wispy long glandular hairs, a pair-flowered dichasium three times branched with 6–10 to many flowers; peduncle 3–9 cm, lateral branches short 1–2 cm long; pedicels erect, very fine, 8–13 mm long. Flowers not resupinate or partially resupinate; sepals pale green, divided almost to base, narrowly lanceolate, ca. 2 × 0.75 mm, densely glandular hairy, hairs ca. 0.5 mm long; corolla pure white, scintillating, sometimes tinged pink, ca. 7-13 mm long, outside with minute glandular hairs, tube short, not pouched, 2–3 × 2.5–4 mm, upper lip 2-lobed, 2–4 × 2.5 mm, erect, margin strongly reflexed, inner surface densely studded with short glandular hairs; lower lip glabrous, flat (not recurved) with 3 more-or-less isomorphic lobes, either lip more-or-less longer than broad, 5–9 × 6–7 mm with oblong lobes (Bukit Reban Kambing population, Fig.
Peninsular Malaysia, Johor, Ledang District, endemic on Bukit Reban Kambing and Bukit Tukau, on an isolated low range of granite hills from 200–500 m elevation, west of the southern tip of Gunung Ledang (formerly known as Mt Ophir).
From its habitat, it grows in cracks in quartz rocks derived from the granite bedrock, in contrast to Senyumia minutiflora that is restricted to growing on limestone rocks.
Critically Endangered B2a,biii. The total population probably amounts to less than 250 fertile individuals and is vulnerable because of its small and fragmented population. It is severely threatened by habitat disturbance and degradation. The forested ridge lies outside the network of Totally Protected Areas and is surrounded by oil palm plantations. The Bukit Tukau area has been logged and is currently the site of an active quarry. The area is being considered as an extension to the Gunung Ledang State Park to protect the Critically Endangered Cycas cantafolia.
In hill dipterocarp forest on ridges at 320–505 m elevation, below the tree canopy in light shade, on low cliff faces or vertical rocky outcrops of sedimentary rocks with quartzite inter-bedded with slate that has eroded to leave horizontal cracks where this species grows. It is a rare species known only from about four small populations, each with a few to about 60 fertile plants. From the many seedlings, it is apparently regenerating freely from seed. Plants with flowers and fruits were collected in July and December but in March and October only fruiting plants with abundant fruit were found. In March 2016 after a drought, its leaves were completely wilted and dried. It is not known if these plants can recover or whether the population will regenerate from seed. The woody stem shows that they are perennial plants.
There is some variation between populations. The populations on Bukit Reban Kambing have flowers that are never resupinate, are pure white and are slightly larger, the lower lip measuring 5–9 × 6–7 mm (Fig.
Peninsular Malaysia. Johor: Ledang District, Bukit Tukau (2°20.04'N, 102°32.3'E), 30 Oct 2009, Lau et al. FRI 68516 (KEP!, SING!); ibidem, 27 July 2010, Lau et al. FRI 68524 (KEP!); Ledang District, Bukit Reban Kambing (2°20.04'N 102°32.46'E), 8 March 2016, Fakrul et al. FRI 85653 (KEP!); ibidem, 10 March 2016, Fakrul et al. FRI 85672 (KEP!).
We are grateful to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia (MOSTI) who funded this research under the ‘Flora of Peninsular Malaysia project’ (01-04-01-000 Khas) and ‘Documentation & Inventory Flora of Malaysia project’ based at Forest Research Institute Malaysia; to the curators of the BM, E, K, KEP, KLU, SING and UKMB herbaria for permission to examine specimens in their care; a special thank-you to PT Ong and Joanne PC Tan for their dedicated care in maintaining the endangered plant collection in the Herbarium Nursery at FRIM, to PT Ong for permission to use his photographs and for assembling Figure