Research Article |
Corresponding author: Geo Coppens d’Eeckenbrugge ( geo.coppens@cirad.fr ) Academic editor: Hanno Schaefer
© 2022 Maxime Rome, Geo Coppens d’Eeckenbrugge, John Ocampo Pérez, Mathew Rees.
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:
Rome M, d’Eeckenbrugge GC, Pérez JO, Rees M (2022) Resurrection of Passiflora acuminata DC. and synonymization of P. tolimana Harms, P. gleasonii Killip, P. metae M. Bonilla, C. Aguirre & Caetano (Passifloraceae) following a study of their morphology and ecogeography. PhytoKeys 201: 99-122. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.201.83316
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Within the very uniform series Laurifoliae, Passiflora acuminata (treated as a synonym of P. laurifolia in the Flora of China), P. tolimana, P. gleasonii and P. metae appear particularly similar. A review of their descriptions and the associated specimens confirms their lack of morphological differentiation and leads us to formally resurrect P. acuminata and place the three other taxa under its synonymy. This taxonomic move is also supported by a revision of 72 additional geolocalized specimens (for a grand total of 78) and an analysis of their distribution and habitats. In fact, the bioclimatic space corresponding to the specimens previously assigned to P. acuminata encompasses that of all specimens previously assigned to the three other taxa under study. The species range covers a wide region, comprising the lower Amazon and the north of its basin, mostly below 200 m, and, to the west, in the upper Amazon, the Orinoco basin, and along the Andean foothills and valleys, from Venezuela to Peru, at elevations between 100 and 2200 m. In the lowlands, the species appears associated with white sand savannas and water courses. A more complete description is proposed for the species, including its unusual fusiform and slightly ribbed fruit. Another rare trait in the series Laurifoliae is that the outer corona filaments tend to be longer than the corolla.
Laurifoliae, subgenus Passiflora, taxonomy
Passiflora acuminata DC., P. tolimana Harms, P. gleasonii Killip, and P. metae M. Bonilla, C. Aguirre & C.M. Caetano are very similar taxa that belong to series Laurifoliae Killip ex Cervi, 1997 (subgenus Passiflora, supersection Laurifoliae (Killip ex Cervi) Feuillet & J.M. MacDougal, 2003), which counted 29 species in the classification of
Laurifoliae species also share habitat preferences, in humid neotropical forests, at low to medium elevations in Central and South America. Furthermore, several species, like P. nitida Kunth, P. riparia Mart. ex Mast., P. ambigua Hemsl., show very extensive distributions (e.g. across the Amazonian basin and/or along the tropical Andes), which favors geographical differentiation and may lead to redundant descriptions in different countries.
Among these four taxa, the most ancient one is P. acuminata, described from Brazil by
In January 1886, in the municipality of Dolores (Tolima, Colombia), at elevations of 1400–1800 m, Lehmann collected a passionflower with greenish white flowers and a corona of purple filaments. He was careful to note that its glossy dark green leaves had a tough texture and, often, brown nervation. The fruit seemed to remain dark green at maturity with a pleasant and sweet taste. Lehmann drew it on the label as a relatively fusiform and ribbed fruit (Plate
Flowers and fruits of the four taxa under study A–C longitudinal sections of flowers of P. acuminata, respectively from Santarém, Pará, Brazil (photograph Luis Otávio Adão Teixeira), from Shushufindi, Sucumbíos (initially determined as P. tolimana), Ecuador (photograph David Scherberich); and from Guayabones, Mérida, Venezuela (initially determined as P. gleasonii, photograph Miguel Molinari D dried flower showing the innermost series of filaments, more or less fused, isotype of P. gleasonii, Gray herbarium, Harvard E, F dried flower with ensiform bracts and drawing of fruit, holotype of P. tolimana, Kew Garden herbarium (photograph Maxime Rome) G fruits of a specimen from Venezuela (initially determined as P. gleasonii, photograph Miguel Molinari) H fruit of P. acuminata from Santa Bárbara, Pará, Brazil (photograph Luis Otavio Adão Teixeira). Scale bar: 1 cm.
In 1924, Killip described Passiflora gleasonii from a herbarium specimen collected by J.S. De La Cruz in 1923, on the banks of the Pomeroon River in British Guyana. In the original description, he noted that the species had only three series of filaments, with two outer subequal series, capillary, 4–5 cm long, and an inner series, narrowly linear, 1 mm long. Finally, he mentioned that this species is close to Passiflora nitida Kunth, but differs from the latter by the outer filaments being narrower and bracts narrowed at both ends, resembling those of Passiflora vitifolia Kunth.
In 2016, Bonilla Morales et al. described P. metae from two very close sites (within 1 km) at Villavicencio in the Meta department of Colombia. Their description and diagnostic key to other Colombian species underline the glabrous ovary (vs. pubescent in P. tolimana and P. gleasonii); however, most characters remain the same.
In the present article, we compare the descriptions of P. acuminata with those of P. tolimana, P. metae and P. gleasonii and study the type specimens and other herbarium specimens cited in their descriptions. Field observations of flowers and fruits corresponding to P. gleasonii from Venezuela, P. acuminata from Pará (Brazil), and P. tolimana from Ecuador, are presented. We thus show that they cannot be distinguished on their morphology. Based on the examination of 78 geolocalized field observations and herbarium specimens, we analyze their distribution and habitat, using Ecological Niche Modeling tools and available label information. Finally, we resurrect formally P. acuminata, provide a complete and precise description of it, and place the names of P. tolimana, P. metae and P. gleasonii in its synonymy.
We first compare the descriptions of P. acuminata by
A second comparison bears on 15 of the 17 vouchers associated with the above-mentioned descriptions, focusing on the following traits: petiolar gland position, plant pubescence, bract size, and perianth parts, as observable or mentioned on the voucher label. The specimen Ducke 10528, cited in Killip’s description of P. acuminata, could not be obtained for examination. The specimen Bonilla 197 (paratype of P. metae) had not been deposited at CUVC. No voucher was associated to Tillett’s description of P. gleasonii.
We further include our own observations on living material from Ecuador (Sucumbíos), Colombia (Meta, Santander), Venezuela (Mérida, Táchira, Zulia), and Pará (Brazil), other vouchers (newly determined), as well as good and precisely geolocalized photographs from several botanists and/or passionflowers enthusiasts.
The following list consists of specimens that were previously assigned either to one of the four taxa under study (P. acuminata, P. tolimana, P. gleasonii, and P. metae), or to other Passiflora species, and now re-assigned to or kept as P. acuminata by the authors.
Brazil: Amazonas: unknown collector s.n. (holotype, P). Lago de Tefé, Manua, 13 Jul 1973, Lleras 16644 (NY). Manaus, along road to Caracaraí, 16 Aug 1986, Croat 62222 (MO). Pará: Pará, Ilha de Marajó, Salvaterra, 2 Mar 2012, Costa 534 (MG). 27 Oct–7 Nov 1929, Killip 30272 (US). Obidos, 19–20 Jul 1934, Swallen 5095 (US). Ilha do Mosqueiro, 3–9 Nov 1929, Killip 30572 (US). Santarém, Alter do Chão, between 1998 and 2005, Knowles 1555 (MG). Belém, near Instituto Agronômico do Norte, 28 Oct 1959, Kuhlmann 386 (SPF). Rodovia Belém-Brasília, Km 93, 14 Sept 1959, Kuhlmann 361 (SPF). Santarém, 16 Sept 1999, Cordeiro 4089 (MG). Belém, Parque Estadual do Utinga, 19 Sept 2010, Silva 10 (MG). Belém, Reserva do Mocambo, 23 Nov 2009, Kerpel 8 (MG). Município Almeirim, Mount Dourado, 23 Dec 1986, Pires 1560 (UPCB). South of Instituto Agronômico do Norte, Belém, 25 Nov 1942, Archer 7864 (K). Road from Belém to Viguié, 6 Apr 1961, Aubréville 198 (P). Município de Oriximiná, Rio Trombetas, 22 Apr 2007, Salomão 902 (MG). Belém, Parque Estadual do Utinga, 19 Nov 210, Silva 06 (MG). Belém, on lands of IAN, 20 Jun 1944, Silva 243 (IAN). Santarém, shore of Amazon, 15 Mar 1857, Spruce 760 (K). Belém, Fazenda Murutucú, 22–23 May 1924, Zerny s.n. (W). Porto Trombetas, 26 Apr 1987, Knowles s.n. (INPA). South of Belém near mouth of Rio Guama, 14 Aug 1986, Croat 62142 (MO). Cachoeira Porteira, 17 Jan 1991, Knowles 1696 (INPA). Oriximiná, 23 Jan 2013, Koch 528 (RB). Roraima: Amazonas (now Roraima), Caracarai. estrada Manaus, 10 Mar 1978, Silva 4557 (NY). Colombia: Antioquia: Municipio San Carlos, Corregimiento Norte del Samaná, 12 Nov 1989, Escobar 8835 (HUA). Meta: Municipio de Restrepo, Sector Mirador, 23 Jan 2018, Ocampo 48 (CUVC). French Guiana: Monts Tumuc Humac, 30 Aug 1972, Degranville 1430 (CAY). Guyana: Demarara-Mahaica region: Along Linden-Soesdyke Highway, 7 Dec 1986, Pipoly 9142 (US). Berbice savanna near Takama Army Base, 14 Aug 1993, Henkel 2520 (NY). Cuyuni-Mazaruni; Kako River, 12 May 12 2009, Wurdack 4954 (NY). Upper Demerara-Berbice region: Linden-Soesdyke Highway, between Dora and Maibia Creek, 21 Jan 1987, Pipoly 9707 (US).
Colombia: El Valle: La Cumbre, 2000 meters, 14–19 May 1922, Pennell 5754 (N), Killip 5594 (N), 1 Oct 1922, Killip 11679 (N). Guaviare: 1844, Goudot 10 (P). Santander: Municipio de Zapatoca, vereda La Cacica, Reserva La Montaña Mágica “El Poleo”, parte alta, 28 Jul 2014, Díaz 829 (MEDEL). Tolima: Dolores, 23 Jan 1886, Lehmann 6060 (K). Ecuador: Sucumbíos: Shushufundi, 4 Dec 2014, Rome 538 (LYJB).
Brazil: Acre: Municipality of Rio Branco, road to Xapurí, 24 Oct 1980, Cid 3035 (NY). Colombia: Guaviare: Municipality of San José del Guaviare, Inspección de Puerto Arturo, 25 Aug 1995, Cárdenas 6533 (COL). Guainía: Maimachi, Serranía del Naquén, 11 Apr 1993, Madriñán 1014 (MO). Guyana: Pomeroon district, Pomeroon River, 14 Jan 1923, De La Cruz 2963 (GH). Essequibo River: Moraballi Creek, 14 Sept 1929, Sandwith 254 (K). Peru: Pasco: Oxapampa, 7 Jul 2003, Werff 18100 (MO). Venezuela: Amazonas: Department of Río Negro, 9 Mar 1984, Liesner 16501 (MO). Táchira: East of Ayarí, 7 Nov 1979, Steyermark 119472 (MO), Cerro de Cuite, along Quebrada La Colorada, 8 Nov 1979, Steyermark 119657 (MO), Cerro of Cuchilla, La Pabellana, 6 Nov 1979, Steyermark 119423 (MO). Zulia: 6 km east north-east of Río de Oro, 28 Mar 1982, Liesner 13280 (MO).
Colombia: Meta: Municipality of Villavicencio: road Caño Pendejo, 541 m, 23 Dec 2013, (fl), M. Bonilla, J. Mosquera, K. Pulido & A. Cajar 167 (Holotype CUVC!).
Colombia: Santander: entre Duitama y Virolín, 6 Nov 1979, Escobar 3056 (HUA).
Brazil: Amazonas: Manaus; reserva campina - BR174 km 45, Benson 8282 (NY). Igarapé Ipiranga, 4 Jul 1993, Ribeiro 997 (INPA). Estrada para Igarapé do Tinga, 7 Aug 1996, Sothers 883 (INPA). Pará: Cachoeira Porteira, 16 Jan 1991, Knowles 1687 (INPA). Mineração Rio do Norte, Porto Trombetas, Mina Saracá, 6 Jun 1999, Miranda 397 (NY). Colombia: Caquetá: Orillas del Río Caguán, 12 Apr 1953, Romero-Castañeda 3963 (COL). Cundinamarca: Ubala B. Inspección de Policía San Pedro de Jagua, Vereda Soya, 5 Jul 1998, Fernández 16513 (RB). Meta: Cordillera de la Macarena, 30 Dec 1950, Idrobo 868 (COL).
Brazil: Pará: Município de Oriximiná, Rio Trombetas, 11 Jul 1980, Cid 1461 (INPA). Colombia: Antioquia: San Carlos, corregimiento El Jordán, 29 Sept 1989, Velásquez 241 (HUA). San Carlos, Vereda Patio Bonito, Alto El Cerrón, 17 Feb 1998, Correa 85 (HUA). Caquetá: Municipio de Doncello, vereda de Buena Vista, 21 May 2003, Castaño 1649 (COL). Santander: Barbosa, bosque en BellaVista, 24 Nov 1940, Pérez Arbeláez 8124 (COL).
Ecuador: Morona Santiago: ca. 32.5 km S of Gualaquiza on road to Zamora, 4 Feb 1984, Knapp 6242 (QCNE). Napo: Archidona, 27 Jun 1968, Holm-Nielsen 1040 (AAU).
Colombia: Boyacá: Municipio Pajarito, corregimiento de Corinto, 16 Oct 1967, Lozano 935 (COL).
Peru: Madre de Dios: Manu, Aguas Calientes, 13 May 1984, Knapp 6441 (K).
Brazil: Acre: Porto Acre (D. S. Menezes, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41238406). Amazonas: BR174, 1.5 km N of Presidente Figueiredo (A. Adair). AM-240, 1 km S of Vila de Balbina (A. Adair). 5 km N of Oriximina (A. Adair). 1 km NE of Obidos along road (A. Adair). Rodovia Eng. Fernando Guilhon, Santarém (A. Adair). Pará: Santa Bárbara do Pará (B. Ferreira, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34108563 / L. F. Matos (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80518762). Colombia: Antioquia: Municipio de Remedios, corregimiento La Fragua (J. Restrepo, https://www.flickr.com/photos/22012266@N02/9906490006/in/photostream/). Meta: Villavicencio, Reserva Forestal Vanguardia (J. Ocampo P.). Putumayo: Puerto Leguízamo (M. Molinari & M. Wettges). Ecuador: Zamora-Chinchipe: Yantzatza (A. M. Hualpa Erazo, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62721105). Venezuela: Bolívar: La Escalera (M. L. Watson, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41457638). Mérida: La Blanca (M. Molinari). Guayabones (M. Molinari). Táchira: Santo Domingo airport (M. Molinari). Colón-San Felix road (M. Molinari).
Colombia: Cundinamarca: (N. B. Uribe, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65638815).
Colombia: Cundinamarca: El Colegio (geolocalization from the photographer, H. Svoboda) https://uk.inaturalist.org/photos/). Meta: Buenavista, E of Villavicencio (G. S. Castro, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7356149).
After the analyses of descriptions and reference materials showed that the four species under study could not be distinguished on a morphological basis, a geographical database was constituted, including the localizations of 78 herbarium specimens, photographs and observations listed above. These sites were mapped and a global distribution model was developed, using the MAXENT 3.4.1 software and 19 bioclimatic variable layers from the Worldclim 2.1 database at a 2’30” grid resolution (corresponding roughly to 4.4 × 4.6 km at Equator; https://www.worldclim.org/data/worldclim21.html;
Three environmental parameters were extracted from specimen labels and/or observed from Google Earth (when highly precise geographical coordinates, from direct GPS measures, were available): proximity of water courses, white sands, and degree of perturbation.
The comparison between the descriptions of P. acuminata and the other three taxa is presented in Table
Comparison of published descriptions of P. acuminata, P. gleasonii, P. metae, and P. tolimana.
P. acuminata Killip’s description | P. acuminata Tillet’s description | P. tolimana Harms’ original description | P. tolimana Killip’s description | P. gleasonii Killip’s original description | P. gleasonii Tillett’s description | P. metae original description of Bonilla et al. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
stems | terete or subangular | - | rounded to subangular | stem purplish, 5-angled | - | - | terete, striate, glabrous | |
stipules | length (mm) | about 4 | 4-8 | 4-6 | 4-6 | 8 | 8 | 13 |
shape | linear-falcate | narrow-linear, falcate | linear, upper part slightly broader and irregularly glandular-serrate | linear, glandular-serrate toward apex | setaceous | - | linear, falcate, glandular | |
petiole | length (cm) | about 1 | 1-1.5 | 1.1-1.3 | 1-1.5 | up to 2 | 2 | 1.7-2 |
stipe of glands | - | - | - | - | sessile | sessile or sligthly stipitate | sessile | |
gland position | at apex | at apex | at apex | in upper half | below apex | 2-5 mm below apex | at apex | |
leaves | size (cm) | 7-14 x 2-5 | 7-16 x 2-8 | 10-12 x 3-4 | 10-20 x 3-10 | up to 16 x 9 | 9-16 x 4.4-9 | 6-19 × 2.2-5.5 |
apex | tapering gradually to an acute apex | - | acute or abruptly acuminate, mucronate | abruptly acuminate, mucronate | abruptly acuminate | obtuse, abruptly acuminate | cuspidate | |
base | rounded or acutish | acute, rounded, or subcordate | - | narrowed at base | truncate at base | truncate to shallowly cordate | cuneate | |
margin | - | - | entire or very finely denticulate-serrate | entire or remotely and obscurely denticulate | remotely and shallowly glandular-serrulate, or subentire | subentire to shallowly glandular-serrulate-dentate | glandular | |
shape | lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate | lanceolate-ovate or oblong-lanceolate | oblong-lanceolate | oblong-lanceolate | oblong | oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate | elliptic | |
peduncle | length (cm) | 3-4 | 1-5 | 2.5-3 | up to 3 | up to 5 | - | 3-3.5 |
bracts | size (mm) | 25-40 x 10-15 | 15-40 x 5-15 | - | 25-35 x 20 | about 20 x 4-5 | 20-35 x 4-14 | 15-20 × 4.5-5 |
shape | obtuse at apex | narrowly elliptic to oblong | spatulate-obovate to oblong with an acute apex | ovate | oblong-elliptic, cuspidate, acuminate | oblong-elliptic, base narrowed, apex rounded, abruptly cuspidate-acuminate | ensiform | |
margin | - | entire or glandular | crenate-serrate with 2-3 glands | glandular serrate | glandular-serrate at apex | basal half with large marginal glands, finely serrate | glandular | |
sepals | size (mm) | 20-25 x 6-7 | 20-30 x 6-10 | about 20 | 15-20 x 7 | 30-35 x 10 | 30-35 x 10 | 30-32 x 9-10 |
shape | lanceolate | narrow lanceolate | oblong | oblong | lanceolate, obtuse | lanceolate, obtuse | lanceolate, round at apex | |
color | - | whitish green with purple spots | - | greenish white without, light violet within | - | - | adaxially green, abaxially white | |
sub-apical awn | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | yes | |
petals | size (mm) | about 15 mm long | about 15 mm long | similar to sepals or narrower | similar to sepals, sligthly narrower | 20 x 5 | 20 x 5 | 30-32 × 7-8 |
color | - | white or lavender | - | light violet | - | - | white | |
series of filaments | number of series | 5 | 5 or 6 | - | 4 or 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
outer series length (mm) | 30-40 | 25-40 | slightly longer than petals | subequal; slighlty exceeding petals | 40-50 | 40-51 | 38-40 | |
inner series | 2 series with few filaments, setaceous, barely 1 mm long, innermost filaments subulate, 5-6 mm | 3 or 4 series, the 2 or 3 outer few, setaceous, less than 1-2 mm, innermost subulate, 5-7 mm | shorter than outer series, the innest sometimes fused | inner filaments much shorter, united at base | one series linear, 1 mm | linear, 1-2 mm | 3d series 2–3 mm, 4th series 0.8–1 mm, innermost series 7.2–7.5 mm, inclined towards androgynophore | |
oper-culum | length (mm) | 4-5 | 4-5 | - | - | 7-8 | 7-8 | 3 |
shape | membranous, slithtly incurved, minutely fimbriate | incurved, fimbriate | membranous, inflexed at base, margin erect, short-toothed | membranous, inflexed at base, margin erect, short-toothed | membranous, cleft to the base into linear segments nearly 3 mm wide | cleft to base in segments to 3 mm wide | membranous, strongly incurved, margin fimbriate, white at base, red at apex | |
limen | tubular, closely surrounding base of gynophore | - | thick base with two rings, the first above base of receptacle, the second 1.5 mm from the first | annular, closely surrounding the base of the gynophore, about 12 mm long, bearing a thickened, annular process about 1.5 mm above its base | borne close to base of gynophore, barely 2 mm high, denticulate | - | 6 mm long | |
ovary | ovoid, minutely puberulent | ovoid, minutely puberulent | tomentose, elliptic, about 5 mm long | ellipsoidal, short-tomentose | ovoid, finely ferruginous-tomentullous | ovoid, finely ferruginous-velutinous | ovary 5–6 × 3 mm, ellipsoid, glabrous, yellowish green | |
fruit | - | - | - | - | - | globose to ovoid, 7 x 3.5 cm | unknown |
As P. tolimana and P. gleasonii descriptions were based on herbarium materials, they lack information on perianth color. In the case of P. tolimana, the description underestimates the perianth size and lacks the size of the bracts and the operculum.
As shown in Table
Similarly, taking into account the effect of desiccation on herbarium descriptions, no taxa show a distinct range of variation for sepals, petals, and corona filaments. Killip’s description of P. gleasonii is unique in mentioning no awn on sepals, which would be exceptional for the whole subgenus Passiflora; and it is contradicted by Tillet’s description. In fact, minute awns can be seen on sepals of the isotypes conserved at the Gray herbarium and the Missouri Botanical Garden (897955). The respective lengths given for the corona elements clearly indicate that the two outer series of filaments are longer than sepals and petals, an observation that was reported only in Harm’s description of P. tolimana. The description of the innermost series of filaments, intermediate in size, is not explicit in the descriptions of Harms and Killip, however these authors mention their possible fusion at base, which implies that they are not as short as, and denser than, those intermediate series with few filaments 1–2 mm long. Indeed, the analysis of the P. gleasonii holotype shows that the operculum described by Killip is a fourth series of striped filaments, more or less fused. Apart from this confusion in Killip’s description, no significant variation has been reported for the operculum and limen. The mention of a 6 mm-long limen by
Table
Comparison of herbarium specimens cited in the descriptions of P. acuminata, P. tolimana, P. gleasonii and P. metae.
Specimen, Institution | Origin | Petiolar gland position | Bracts | Pubescence | Outer series of filaments | 4th series almost perpendicular to the androgynophore, closing the nectary chamber | Hypanthium | Limen | Observations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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Unknown collector s.n., P | Brazil | apex | 2.8 × 1 cm, oblong, margin glandular | bracts | two equal filiform, longer than perianth | – | – | – | Flower too damaged to examine the ovary and the inner series |
|
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Swallen 5095, US | Pará (Brazil) | below apex | 3 × 2 cm, ovate, margin glandular | ovary | two equal filiform, longer than perianth | yes | reduced to the nectary chamber | reduced to a ring on the trochlea | – |
Spruce 760, K | Pará (Brazil) | apex | 4.2 × 3.9 cm, ovate, margin glandular | ovary | two equal filiform, longer than perianth | yes, filaments more or less fused | reduced to the nectary chamber | reduced to a ring on the trochlea | – |
Burchell 9504, K | Pará (Brazil) | apex | 3 × 1.4 cm, ovate, margin glandular | – | two equal filiform, longer than perianth | yes | reduced to the nectary chamber | reduced to a ring on the trochlea | – |
Burchell 9988, K | Pará (Brazil) | apex | absent | – | – | – | – | – | sterile specimen |
Killip 30272, US | Pará (Brazil) | apex | – | not examined | – | – | – | – | specimen without flowers |
Killip 30572, US | Pará (Brazil) | apex | 2.5 × 0.8 cm, lanceolate, margin glandular | not examined | – | – | – | – | specimen without flowers |
Hoffmannsegg, BR | Pará (Brazil) | apex | more than 3 × 1 cm, lanceolate | – | – | – | – | – | wrinkled bracts, no flowers |
|
|||||||||
Lehmann 6060 (Type), K, B, F | Colombia | apex | 11 × 3 mm, ensiform to elliptic, glandular | bracts, ovary | two equal filiform, longer than perianth | yes | reduced to the nectary chamber | reduced to a ring on the trochlea | – |
|
|||||||||
Pennell & Killip 5754, US | Colombia | just above middle | – | – | – | – | – | – | P. cf. ambigua, sterile specimen |
Killip 5594, US | Colombia | just above middle | – | – | – | – | – | – | P. cf. ambigua, sterile specimen |
Killip 11679, US | Colombia | at middle | 4.5 × 2.5 cm, oblong, | not observable | not observable | not observable | – | not observable | P. ambigua |
|
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De La Cruz 2963 (Type), US, CM, GH, MO | Guyana | below apex | 2 × 0.7 cm, elliptic–lanceolate, margin glandular | bracts – ovary | two equal filiform, longer than perianth | yes, filaments more or less fused | reduced to the nectary chamber | reduced to a ring on the trochlea | – |
Sandwith 254, K | Guyana | below apex | elliptic, margin glandular | bracts – ovary | two equal filiform, longer than perianth | yes | reduced to the nectary chamber | reduced to a ring on the trochlea | – |
Bonilla & al. 2016, description of P. metae | |||||||||
Bonilla 167, CUVC | Colombia | apex | – | – | two equal, filiform | yes | – | reduced to a ring on the trochlea | damaged specimen |
The type of P. acuminata shows a very degraded flower. Thus, while we perceive the presence of two equal outer series of filiform filaments, as well as pubescent bracts with glands, it is impossible to observe the pubescence of the ovary and the presence of the inner series of filaments. From the seven specimens associated to P. acuminata in Killip’s description, only Swallen 5095, Spruce 760, and Burchell 9504 exhibit a set of traits sufficient to allow full confidence in their determination, given the common presence of P. laurifolia, also having two glands at the apex of the petiole, in the Pará state of Brazil.
Among the four specimens associated with Killip’s descriptions of P. tolimana, only the type Lehmann 6060 is representative. The three other specimens, Pennel 5754, Killip 5594, and Killip 11679, present no positive criteria to confirm their identification (and the flower buds on the latter could not be dissected). On the contrary, they present glands on the middle of the petiole, which indicates that they belong to P. ambigua, now known from the Cumbre region where these samples were collected. This confusion explains why Killip’s description diverges from the original one on the position of the petiolar glands.
The description of P. metae cites the holotype and isotypes Bonilla et al. 187 (deposited at CUVC and at FAUC) and the paratype Bonilla et al. 197 (deposited at CUVC). However, the only specimen available is present at CUVC, where it is given as the holotype and referenced as Bonilla et al. 167. Its flower is in very poor condition and the androgynophore has been broken, which prevents from verification of the glabrousness of the ovary, i.e., the only potentially distinctive trait of this taxon.
Except for the three specimens associated to Killip’s description of P. tolimana, which are likely representatives of P. ambigua, all the examined specimens present leaves with two glands at the petiole apex (or just below), bracts with glandular margins, variable pubescence on the ovary and sometimes on other floral parts as well (bracts, peduncle and calyx), a hypanthium reduced to the length of the nectary chamber, two equal outer series of filaments, longer than the perianth, a fourth series of filaments almost perpendicular to the androgynophore closing the nectary chamber, and a limen reduced to a ring at the base of the trochlea. On the specimens De La Cruz 2963 and Spruce 760, the fourth, innermost, series shows filaments more or less fused together.
In total, we have analyzed 55 herbarium specimens and 23 photographed specimens of P. acuminata, including herbarium specimens that had been previously determined as representatives of P. laurifolia (eight cases), P. nitida (five cases), P. riparia (two cases), P. ambigua (one case), P. aff. guazumifolia Jussieu (one case), and two undetermined specimens. These redeterminations were mostly based on hypanthium length (reduced to the nectary chamber in P. acuminata), the inner series of filaments, about 1 cm, absent in P. laurifolia, P. riparia and P. ambigua, or parallel to the androgynophore in P. nitida (vs. perpendicular in P. acuminata), and the position of petiolar nectaries (in apical position vs. median position in P. ambigua and P. riparia).
Plate
As mentioned by Lehmann for P. tolimana (
More variation can be observed in bracts and perianth color. Thus, we find various forms, with limited geographic consistency: long and broad bracts north of the Amazon (from the Brazilian states of Pará and Amazonas to the south of Venezuela), small and elliptical bracts in the Brazilian Amazonas, Guyana, Colombia and Ecuador, ensiform to short and wide bracts in Colombia and Venezuela. This diversity, coupled with the under-sampling and poor knowledge of this species at the time of the original descriptions, partly explains the multiplication of taxa. In their study of P. riparia and its synonyms,
The color of the perianth is predominantly white. However, we found two specimens from Venezuela and Colombia with purplish petals and sepals and exhibiting all of the other characteristics of P. acuminata (Liesner 16501 and J. Restrepo’s photograph). There is also variation in the darkest color of the outer series of filaments, which can range from pink to dark purple, a variation that is also observed within P. nitida.
As observed in the specimens associated to the descriptions, there is some variation in the pubescence of the corolla elements and the ovary. While we could not verify the presence of a glabrous ovary on the type of P. metae, we could observe a weak pubescence on the ovary of specimens observed very close to the locus classicus in the Colombian department of Meta.
In contrast with several other species in the series Laurifoliae (e.g. P. riparia and P. ambigua), we have not observed flowers gathered in pseudoracemes in the analyzed materials.
As shown by the global list of examined specimens, P. acuminata has so far been documented essentially in Brazil, the country where it was first described. It appears particularly common around Belém, in northeastern Pará and northern Maranhão, but there may be a collecting bias related to the proximity of the Goeldi Museum located at Belém. It had not been collected south of the lower Amazon River (which is consistent with field observation by A. Adair, pers. com.). Elsewhere, in Colombia, Venezuela, and the Brazilian state of Acre, specimens identified as P. acuminata correspond to determinations of recent photographs in the framework of the present study, except for Liesner 13280, collected in the Venezuelan state of Zulia, close to Colombia.
A similar situation is observed for P. tolimana, described in the eastern Andes of Colombia, with observations and collections relatively concentrated around this same Tolima region and, to the south, in the Andes of Ecuador (including Holm-Nielsen1040 and Knapp 6242, as redetermined by
The name of P. gleasonii dispersed much further. Indeed, Killip described it from Guyanese specimens, however, all later collections are from Andean foothills, in Colombia and Peru, from Amazonian lowlands, in the southern Orinoco region of Venezuela and Colombia, and western Brazil (upper Amazon and Acre).
The case of P. metae is particular as the only geolocalized specimen authenticated by Bonilla Morales is the one photographed by Steven Castro very close to the locus classicus, and very close to specimens of P. acuminata with a pubescent ovary.
The analysis of the MAXENT model derived from our global dataset (all geolocalized specimens irrespective of their previous assignment) shows that the most determinant bioclimatic variables are the temperature diurnal and annual ranges, the maximum temperature of the warmest month, the mean temperature of the warmest quarter, the precipitation seasonality, with the precipitations of the driest month and those of the driest and coldest quarters. These variables were thence selected for the Principal Component Analysis. The principal plane, accounting for two thirds of the total variance, allowed a fairly good representation of the bioclimatic space of the geolocalized specimens (Fig.
Principal plane of the Principal Component Analysis on the eight bioclimatic variables that most contributed to the P. acuminata distribution model built from 78 geolocalized specimens. Factors 1 and 2 account for 39 and 29% of total variance respectively. The symbols indicate the initial assignation of specimens.
Fig.
Potential distribution model for P. acuminata; derived from the 78 geolocalized specimens of the present study (pink circles) and MAXENT bioclimatic modeling. Background colors indicate climate suitability: marginal (dark green), favorable (light green; above 10% training omission threshold), very favorable (yellow; above 33% omission threshold); excellent (orange; above 67% omission threshold).
On the other hand, several areas presenting favorable to excellent climates according to the MAXENT model, are not supported by effective observations of the species. In the eastern region, the absence of the species south of the lower Amazon, as observed by A. Adair (pers. com.) is not precisely explained by the model, as the climate appears favorable there. More strikingly, while several highly favorable areas are predicted along the shores of Suriname and French Guiana, the presence of P. acuminata has never been confirmed in northern French Guiana despite extensive collecting activity (
The MAXENT bioclimatic model also points to very favorable areas along the Central Andes, southward to Bolivia and southern Brazil, but they are not met by any observations beyond Peru.
The lack of observations of P. acuminata in several extensive areas that combine highly favorable climates and a relatively good level of botanical prospection suggests that the species distribution is significantly constrained by non-climatic factors, justifying further ecological analyses. Before such studies are carried out, our MAXENT distribution model can be considered as a guide for collecting more data.
The ecological information associated with herbarium specimens and the precise geolocalization associated with iNaturalist photograph databases allow inquiring on habitat parameters at a smaller scale, either from label information or from available geographic information (e.g. aerial views).
As for P. riparia (
This first ecogeographical approach has provided no evidence of differential climatic adaptation among specimens previously assigned to P. acuminata, P. tolimana, P. gleasonii or P. metae. The available herbarium information points to a common association with riparian habitats and/or white sand soils, particularly in lowland areas. Further studies, involving soil information, and more collections, are needed to identify non-climatic factors limiting the presence of P. acuminata in a few climatically favorable areas.
All previous observations confirm that it is not possible to differentiate several species among the four taxa under study on morphological and/or ecological bases. Thus, it is necessary not only to resurrect P. acuminata but also to place the other species as synonyms of the latter. Furthermore, as the type of this species is not sufficiently explanatory, we propose an epitype, Swallen 5095 (Plate
Passiflora tolimana Harms, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 18 (Beibl. 46): 9. 1894, syn. nov. Type: Colombia, Tolima: Dolores, 23 January 1886, F.C. Lehmann 6060 (holotype: K! [K000323465]; isotypes: B![B16561], F![V0066827F])
Passiflora gleasonii Killip, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 14: 112–113. 1924, syn. nov. Type: Guyana: Distr. Pomeroon. Along the Pomeroon River, 14–20 Jan 1923, J.S. de la Cruz 2963 (holotype: US! [US1123194]; isotypes: CM! [CM164669], GH! [GH3043413], MO! [MO3043413]).
Passiflora metae M. Bonilla, C. Aguirre & C. Caetano, Phytotaxa 267(2): 130, f. 1–5. 2016, syn. nov. Type: Colombia, Meta: Villavicencio Municipality: road Caño Pendejo, 541 m, 23 December 2013, M. Bonilla, J. Mosquera, K. Pulido & A. Cajar 167 (holotype: CUVC! [CUVC067410]).
Brazil. Anonymous, s.n. (holotype, P! [P00605761]). Brazil, Pará, Obidos, 19–20 July 1934, Swallen 5095 (epitype: US! [US1592049]) designated here.
Woody liana. Stems rounded to angular, glabrous and green. Tendrils conical, glabrous. Stipules linear, upper part slightly broader and irregularly glandular-serrate, glabrous, 4–18 mm long, about 1 mm wide, deciduous. Petiole 1–2 cm, green to reddish green, slightly canaliculate on the upper part, glabrous, with two sessile and ovate glands (young glands pyramidal) below the apex or at the apex of petiole. Leaves simple, 6–19 × 2.2–9 cm, glabrous throughout, green to dark green, upper surface lustrous, ovate lanceolate to elliptic, cuneate to cordate at base, mucronate and acuminate; margin entire to glandular-serrulate; nerves often reddish. Peduncle terete, green to reddish green, glabrous to slightly pubescent, about 1–2 mm in diameter, 25–50 mm long; pedicel 4–8 mm long. Bracts persistent (until complete ripeness of fruit), ovate to narrow elliptic, apex rounded to acuminate, base cuneate to rounded, glabrous to slightly pubescent, green to dark red, concave, 15–40 mm long, 4–15 mm wide, with a margin glandular to glandular-serrulate. Flowers, axillary, pendulous, about 3 cm long (from the nectary chamber to the ovary apex), solitary. Hypanthium (including the nectary chamber) slightly pubescent, green with red dots outside and white inside, about 5 mm long, with a diameter of about 10 mm at the sepal base. Sepals glabrous to slightly pubescent, oblong, 20–32 mm long, 6–10 mm wide, white (rarely lavender), slightly keel-shaped in distal half with a short to medium awn (1–5 mm long). Petals glabrous, oblong, 15–32 mm long, 5–8 mm wide, white (rarely lavender). Corona of filaments in five series, banded with white and red to purple or dark violet; two major outer series equal 38–51 mm long, the third series 2–3 mm long, the fourth series 0.8–1 mm long, the innermost series, about 10 mm long, with filaments sometimes fused at base, almost perpendicular to the other series, closing the hypanthium entrance. Staminal filaments 9–10 mm long, greenish white with red dots. Ovary pubescent, 5–6 × 3 mm, ellipsoid, yellowish green; three styles (their base can be pubescent), white with red dots, 14–15 mm long, stigmas light yellow. Androgynophore glabrous, greenish white, slightly to densely dotted with red, 20–23 mm long with an enlarged base, with two bulges about 10 mm in diameter. Limen annular, less than 1 mm long. Operculum membranous, translucid-whitish, 3–8 mm long, inflexed at base, the margin erect, short-toothed. Fruit ellipsoid with conical apex to fusiform, pubescent, 6–9 cm long, 3.6–6.5 cm in diameter, triangular to hexagonal in transversal section, slightly ribbed, pericarp 6–10 mm thick; unripe fruit green with minute white dots; ripe fruit yellowish green, minutely dotted, with a sweet translucent pulp. Seeds obovoid, flat, heart-shaped, about 10 mm long.
Following our morphological and ecogeographic analyses, the name of P. acuminata is resurrected and P. metae, P. gleasonii, and P. tolimana are placed as synonyms of this taxon, which reduces the current number of species belonging to series Laurifoliae to 18. Thus, this species is unique by its combination of characters: two nectar glands at the apex of petiole, two equal outer series of filaments, longer than petals and sepals, a hypanthium reduced to the nectar chamber, an innermost series of filaments closing the nectar chamber, a slightly pubescent ovary, and an elliptical to fusiform fruit, triangular to hexagonal in transverse section, with a thin pericarp. In the series Laurifoliae, its floral structure is similar to that of P. kapiriensis Rome & Coppens; however the latter has wider leaves, rounded fruits and two glands at the middle of the petiole.
Like several other species in the series, such as P. laurifolia, P. nitida or P. riparia, P. acuminata is widely distributed in the basins of the Amazon and the Orinoco and in Andean hillsides, and these four species probably show an appreciable level of sympatry. In the Andes, it might also share habitat with P. ambigua (
This research has been carried out with support from the Herbarium of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment. We especially thank Daniela Cevallos and Katya Romoleroux for their help during our expedition in Ecuador. The first author also thanks the Missouri Botanical Garden (MO), Jim Solomon, and John MacDougal for their help during the week he spent in the herbarium at St. Louis, Luiz Otavio Adão Teixeira, David Scherberich for their stunning pictures of P. acuminata, and the different herbaria with which we have collaborated for this work: Paris herbarium (P), Lyon Botanical Garden (LYBG, Frédéric Danet), Cayenne herbarium (CAY), New York Botanical Garden (NY), Kew Garden (K), Museu Goeldi (MG), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), the Smithsonian herbarium (US), the herbaria of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (COL, MEDEL and VALLE), the Medellín Botanical Garden (JAUM), the University of Antioquia (HUA), and the Universidad del Valle (CUVC). We also thank Andrew Adair, Miguel Molinari, Harlan Svoboda (U.S. National Arboretum), Luiz Otavio Adão Teixeira, Jorge Restrepo, Daniel Díaz, Martin Wettges and the contributors to the iNaturalist site for geolocalized photographs and data used in this study, and Rebecca Hilgenhof, Tamara Munkemuller and Frédéric Danet for their help in translating German and Latin texts.
Archer, W.A. 7864 (acuminata)
Aubréville, A. 198 (acuminata)
Bonilla, M. 167 (acuminata)
Cardenas, D. 6533 (acuminata)
Castaño, N. 1649 (acuminata)
Cid, C.A. 1461, 3035 (acuminata)
Cordeiro, M.R. 4089 (acuminata)
Correa, E. 85 (acuminata)
Costa, R. 534 (acuminata)
Croat, T. 62142, 62222 (acuminata)
De La Cruz, J. S. 2963 (acuminata)
Degranville, J. J. 1430 (acuminata)
Díaz-R., D. 829 (acuminata)
Escobar, L.A. 3056, 8835 (acuminata)
Fernández, J.L. 16513 (acuminata)
Goudot, J. 10 (acuminata)
Henkel, T.W. 2520 (acuminata)
Holm-Nielsen, L. 1040 (acuminata)
Idrobo, J.M. 868 (acuminata)
Kerpel, S.M. 8 (acuminata)
Killip, E.P. Killip 5594, 11679 (cf. ambigua), 30272, 30572 (acuminata)
Knapp, S. 1555, 6242, 6441 (acuminata)
Knowles s.n., 1687, 1696 (acuminata)
Koch, A.K. 528 (acuminata)
Kulhmann, J.G. 361, 386 (acuminata)
Lehmann, F.C. 6060 (acuminata)
Liesner, R. 13280, 16501 (acuminata)
Lleras, E. 16644 (acuminata)
Lozano, G. 935 (acuminata)
Madriñan, S. 1014 (acuminata)
Miranda, I.P. (acuminata)
Ocampo, J.A. 48 (acuminata)
Pennell, F.W. 5754 (cf. ambigua)
Pérez Arbeláez, E. 8124 (acuminata)
Pipoly, J.J. 9142, 9707 (acuminata)
Pires, M.J. 1560 (acuminata)
Ribeiro, J.E.L. S. 997 (acuminata)
Rome, M. 538 (acuminata)
Romero-Castañeda, R. 3963 (acuminata)
Salomão, R. de P. 902 (acuminata)
Sandwith, N.Y. 254 (acuminata)
Silva, E.O. 06, 10, 243, 4557 (acuminata)
Sothers, C.A. 883 (acuminata)
Spruce, R. 760 (acuminata)
Steyermark, J.A. 119423, 119472, 119657 (acuminata)
Swallen, J.R. 5095 (acuminata)
unknown collector s.n. (acuminata)
Velásquez, M.P. 241 (acuminata)
Werff (van der), H. 18100 (acuminata)
Wurdack, K.J. 4954 (acuminata)
Zerny, H. s.n. (acuminata)