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

Sea almond (Terminalia catappa)

Ketapang or tropical almond or beach almond or talisay tree or umbrella tree or sea almond ( Terminalia catappa ) is a species of plant in the Combretaceae, a shady tree, fast growing, forming a multilevel canopy, often used as a shade tree in gardens and on roadsides. T. catappa grows large, up to 40 meters in height and up to 1.5 meters in trunk, shady canopy with branches that grow flat and terraced, young trees often look like pagodas while old and large trees often have aerial roots up to 3 meters. The leaves are scattered, mostly at the end of the twig, rounded egg upside down, 8-38 cm long, 5-19 cm wide, the tip is wide, the base is narrow, the upper surface is smooth, green but turns red if to fall out and short stalks. The flowers are small, collected near the tips of the twigs, 8-25 cm long and green-yellow in color. The flowers are not crowned, the petals have five taju, are plate or bell shaped, 4-8 mm long and are white or cream in color. Stamens in two circles and arra...

Asian foxtail (Uraria crinita)

Asian foxtail or cat's tail bean ( Uraria crinita ) is a species of plant in Fabaceae, a perennial, upright shrub with woody stems at least at the base, up to 2 meters high in forests, agricultural land, waterways, used as a medicinal herb, green manure and sometimes planted in the garden as an ornamental plant. U. crinita has elongated leaves, rounded base, pointed tip, a bone in the middle with several pinnate veins, rough surface, dark green with white spots. Petiole short or less than 0.5 cm and brownish red. Compound flower in spike shape, purple and white triangular crown. Long flower stalk, erect, 15-20 cm long and only at the end of the flower. The crown slowly falls off and leaves behind a stalk that is shaped like coir or light yellow pads. Asian foxtail grows in dry grasslands, open forests, trash cans, roadsides, sandy areas and sometimes in deciduous forests, elevations of 0-1500 meters and does not grow in waterlogged places. The different parts are often used in t...

Brazilian vervain (Verbena brasiliensis)

Brazilian vervain ( Verbena brasiliensis ) is a species of plant in the Verbenaceae, an annual shrub with erect stems, up to 1 meter high, triangular or semi-spherical in shape with sharp corners, green, white-haired, lower branches in an opposite arrangement, branches above grows in an irregular formation. V. brasiliensis has elongated leaves, up to 20 cm long, up to 4 cm wide, sharp tip, deeply serrated or flat margins, dark green in color, a main vein in the middle and whitish in color, several minor veins laterally, rough and stiff surface. Inflorescences in panicles at the end of a long stalk up to 5 cm long. The flower petals are 3 mm long, 5 lobed and tubular in shape. The corolla is formed from fused petals and spreads open at the tip, only slightly longer than the calyx. Flowers have reproductive organs of both sexes. Superior and bicarpellary ovaries. The fruit is a schizocarp or dried fruit that splits when ripe. Wrapped in petals. Nutlets are triangular in cross-sec...

Dlium