Jorge Brito hanging flower (Ceratostema jorgebritoi) and Siete Iglesias hanging flower (Ceratostema sieteiglesiana)

Jorge Brito hanging flower (Ceratostema jorgebritoi) dan Siete Iglesias hanging flower (Ceratostema sieteiglesiana)

NEWS - Ceratostema jorgebritoi has unique spirally arranged leaves and is the second species in the genus with tetrameric flowers. Ceratostema sieteiglesiana is distinguished by its spirally arranged leaves and distinctive five-winged hypanthium, further enhanced by conspicuous calyx branches. Both are new species.

Jorge Brito hanging flower (C. jorgebritoi) is similar to C. flexuosum (A.C. Sm.) J.F. Macbr., but has tetrameric flowers with oblong (vs. lanceolate) petal lobes, 5-9 acuminate (vs. 3-5 acuminate) and spirally arranged (vs. distichous).

Terminal inflorescence (vs. axillary), larger floral bracts (26.0×9.5 mm vs. 4.0-5.0×2.0 mm), longer hypanthium (3.4-10.1 mm vs. 3.0-4.0 mm), lanceolate-deltaic calyx lobes (vs. oblong) with a pointed apex (vs. acuminate) and narrow triangular corolla lobes (vs. lanceolate).

The species is found in Gualaquiza, Morona-Santiago, southeastern Ecuador. It grows in the eastern Andean foothills at elevations of 1600-1800 meters in primary forest and disturbed secondary areas. The researchers propose a conservation status of EN (Endangered). The name is dedicated to Jorge Brito-Molina, a biologist who has made significant contributions to terrestrial amphibians and micromammals.

Siete Iglesias hanging flower (C. sieteiglesiana) is similar to C. zamorana M.M.Jiménez & Vélez-abarca, but leaves are smaller (1.7-5.5×0.6-2.5 cm vs. 7.7-12.7×3.7-6.5 cm), inflorescences are short to very short-stalked (vs. long-stalked), flower parts are pubescent (vs. pruinose), flower stalks are shorter (1.92.7 cm vs. 2.2-4.1 cm) and subterete (vs. subquadrangular).

Bracteoles subulate (vs. ovate), calyx lobes longer (12.7-19.1 mm vs. 11.3-12.5 mm), sinus and apex pointed (vs. acuminate), corolla lobes longer (28-30 mm vs. 15-16 mm), outer black (vs. magenta) and filaments longer (9.5-13.1 mm vs. 4.5 mm).

C. sieteiglesiana is endemic to the forests around the city of San Juan Bosco, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador. The new species was found at 1500-1700 m elevation in a layered forest containing trees and saplings covered with moss. Conservation status EN (threatened). Named after the type location of this rare species, the Municipal Conservation ecological area Siete Iglesias.

Original research

Marco M. Jiménez, Gabriel A. Iturralde, J.R. Kuethe, Leisberth Vélez-Abarca & Henry X. Garzón-Suárez (2024). New species of Ceratostema (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae) from the southeast Andes of Ecuador-I. Phytotaxa 663 (3): 111-126, DOI:10.11646/phytotaxa.663.3.1

Dlium theDlium

Porang (Amorphophallus muelleri)

Porang or iles-iles ( Amorphophallus muelleri ) is a plant species in Araceae, the petiole is a pseudo stem with a height of 40-180 cm, 1-5 cm in diameter, round, green or purple with irregular white spots, each branching point grows brown bulbil and yellow bulb. A. muelleri has all leaves or stems or stems that are light green to dark green or gray and has greenish-white patches, smooth or smooth surface. The leaves are elliptical in shape with pointed leaf tips, smooth and wavy surface. When flushing has 3, 4-5, 5-6 and finally 6 minor leaves branching with 3 minor petioles. Young leaves have light purple or green edges and will end in yellow and 0.3-0.5 mm wide. The whole canopy is 50-150 cm wide. The stems grow above the tubers with a diameter of 25-50 mm and a height of 75-175 cm. Tubers have a brownish yellow or gray color on the outer surface and brownish yellow on the inside, are slightly oval in shape, fibrous roots, weigh 450-3350 grams, smooth tissue, 4-5 months of dormanc...

Cockspur coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli)

Velvet coral tree or cockspur coral tree ( Erythrina crista-galli ) is a species of plant in the Fabaceae family. It is a small tree, 5-8 meters tall, with a trunk circumference of about 50 cm, irregular branches, light wood, and fissured, soft, and light brown bark. The taproot is white. The leaves are ovate, with three strands, dark green and glossy on the upper surface, and pale green on the underside. The central lobe is up to 17 cm long and up to 11 cm wide. The left and right lobes are up to 15 cm long and up to 10 cm wide. The flowers are red, arranged in racemes, at the apex, pentameric, complete, and bilaterally symmetrical. The flowers are up to 6 cm long and 4 cm wide. The pods are long, containing about 8 seeds, green when young and turning brown as they mature. The seeds are ovate, flat, and brown. It grows well in lowlands up to an elevation of 1,500 meters, with an annual rainfall of 800-1,500 mm/year, and a temperature of 20-32°C. It thrives in well-drained soils, but...

Serrated pimpernel (Lindernia glandulifera)

Serrated pimpernel ( Lindernia glandulifera ) is a species of plant in the Linderniaceae family, erect, 8-9 cm long.and white roots. The stems are cylindrical or angular or curved inward. The stems green or dark red or reddish brown. The leaves are opposite, green or dark red or brown, oval or oblong, up to 3 cm long, up to 1 cm wide and serrated margins. The flowers are white and blue, 0.6-0.7 cm wide. This plant grows in colonies in karst areas, clay soils, and areas that are sometimes flooded. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Linderniaceae Genus: Lindernia All. in Auct. Syn. Meth. Stirp. Hort. Regii Taur. 3: 178 (1766) Species: Lindernia glandulifera (Blume) Backer in Onkruidfl. Jav. Suikerrietgr.: 616 (1930) VERNACULAR NAME English: Serrated pimpernel Indonesia: Tapak gergaji Java: Tapak graji Aryo Bandoro Dlium TheDlium Web: https://www.dlium.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium

Dlium