De Leon pothos (Pothos deleonii), new species (Araceae, Potheae, Pothoideae) from Mindanao, Philippines

NEWS - De Leon pothos (Pothos deleonii sp. nov.), Araceae: Potheae: Pothoideae, closely resembles Pothos philippinensis in sheath and leaf morphology, but differs in inflorescence and flowers. The new species is closely related to Pothos kingii in dark purple inflorescences.

The new species is morphologically similar to P. philippinensis in vegetative characters but differs in purple peduncles, dark burgundy to purplish black sheaths and pendulous petioles and acuminate to caudate leaf tips (vs. acuminate to apiculate).

P. deleonii is most closely related to R. kingii and P. atropurpurascens M. Hotta in having purple cylindrical peduncles, but differs by having much longer, purplish green to dark purple peduncles, 16-18 cm long (vs. 5 cm in P. kingii and 8 cm in P. atropurpurascens), broad ovate spathes, subsessile peduncles and 7/10 of the total spathe length, larger flower diameter (2 mm) and flower orientation.

P. deleonii is only known from a very limited area at two sites in degraded, open-canopy secondary dipterocarp forest in a 500-hectare bird conservation site located in the northern foothills of Mount Kitanglad at elevations of 1150 and 1270 m.

It grows on the ground or at the base of Shorea sp. trees and Alsophila sp. trunks, dbh 12-20 cm. Attached to host plants from the ground up to 4-6 meters, where the plant branches and grows freely, either hanging or supported by vines or branches of adjacent trees.

No specific relationship with plants other than the host plant is known. However, the habitat supports other aroids such as Alocasia sanderiana, A. zebrina and Rhaphidophora sp.

The specific epithet is given in honor of Dr. Miguel David De Leon, a vitreoretinal surgeon and wildlife conservationist who first photographed this new species and advocated the conservation of wild flora, especially orchids and hoyas, fauna especially birds of prey in Mindanao.

Extensive surveys in an area of 500 hectares found only 12 adults. This plant is in a bird conservation area and is continuously monitored by the Robert S. Kennedy Bird Conservancy. Currently there are no threats, but the small population and distribution of less than 2 hectares, the researchers proposed Critically Endangered based on IUCN criteria (2024).

Original research

Medecilo-Guiang MMP, Cabactulan D (2024) Pothos deleonii (Araceae, Potheae, Pothoideae), a new species from Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines. PhytoKeys 247: 183-190, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.247.130721

Dlium theDlium

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Pohpohan (Pilea melastomoides)

Pohpohan clearweed ( Pilea melastomoides ) is a species of plant in the Urticaceae, herbaceous perennial, erect stems, up to 100 cm tall, succulent, square or cylindrical, enlarged in the middle of the internodes, bright green in color and forming colonies in the shade. P. melastomoides has stipules that are immediately deciduous or subpersistent, green or brownish and oblong. The stalk is 2-9 cm long. The leaf blade is ovate or ovate-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate. The surface is wavy, pale green on the underside, dark green on the top. The three main veins are central and linear. Rounded base, tapered ends and serrated edges. The inflorescences are paired, the male is a dense cyme paniculata. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Urticaceae Genus: Pilea Species: Pilea melastomoides

Golden-armed mantis (Hierodula venosa)

Golden-armed mantis ( Hierodula venosa ) is an animal species in the Mantidae, winged praying mantis with females 65-75 mm long and males 45-65 mm, large but not the largest in the genus Hierodula and generally bright yellow with green and chocolate variations. H. venosa has a fully rotating head. The head is dominated by a pair of very large and brownish yellow eyes. The jaw forms a triangle. The back is very wide with thickened margins. A pair of long antennas. Wide wings with rounded tips, striped surface, thick margins, two small white plots on the right and left. The belly is large and jointed, curved downward, the upper part is completely covered by the wings, but partially visible from the side. The pair of forelegs are large and have three segments. The upper segment has rows of spikes on the front and back. The middle segment has a row of many spines on the back and a black tip. The third segment has a row of many spines, long, black and tipped with a long palm. The middle ...

Dlium