j distribution records of Acanthaceae in Guatemala. Phytoneuron 2012-

NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORDS OF ACANTHACEAE IN GUATEMALA

Thomas F. Daniel

Department of Botany, California Academy of Sciences

Golden Gate Park

San Francisco, California 94118

tdaniel@calacademy.org

Mario Esteban Veliz P.

Herbano BIGU, Escuela de Biologia

Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas y Farmacia

Universidad de San 'Carlos de Guatemala

Zona 12, Guatemala

m ariov eliz@yahoo. com

RlCARDO KRIEBEL

The New York Botanical Garden

Bronx New York 10458

rkriebel@nybg.org

ABSTRACT

New occurrence records for 1 1 species of Acanthaceae are reported for Guatemala. Four
species, Justicia breedlovei, Justicia ensiflora, Louteridium mexicanum, and Stenostephanus gracilis
are newly reported for the country, and departmental records are noted for seven additional species.
One hundred twenty-eight native species of Acanthaceae have been documented from Guatemala to
date.

KEY WORDS: Acanthaceae, Guatemala, Justicia breedlovei, Justicia ensiflora, Louteridium
mexicanum, Stenostephanus gracilis

RESUMEN

Nuevos registros de ocurrencia de 1 1 especies de Acanthaceae se reportan en Guatemala. Se
registraron cuatro especies, Justicia breedlovei, Justicia ensiflora, Louteridium mexicanum y
Stenostephanus gracilis, en e! pais por primera vez, y se destacan nuevos registros departamentales
por siete especies adicionales. Ciento veintiocho especies nativas de Acanthaceae son conocidas
desde Guatemala hasta la actualidad.

PALABRAS CLAVES: Acanthaceae, Guatemala, Justicia breedlovei, Justicia ensiflora,
Louteridium mexicanum, Stenostephanus gracilis

Taxonomic, ecological, and conservation data of Guatemalan Acanthaceae were recently
reviewed and revised (Daniel 2010). Daniel (2010) documented 124 species of the family from
Guatemala. Ongoing collecting, primarily by local botanists, as well as continuing studies of
historical collections have resulted in 1 1 new occurrence records of species of Acanthaceae either for
the country or for departments within Guatemala. For example, recent collections made in the under-
collected departments of Jutiapa and Santa Rosa document the occurrences of six species new to
those departments and one species new to the country.

In this update of Guatemala's acanthaceous flora, four species are newly reported for the
country: Justicia breedlovei, Justicia ensiflora, Louteridium mexicanum, and Stenostephanus gracilis.
Thus, 128 native species of Acanthaceae are currently known from Guatemala. This is the highest

t records of Acanthaceae in Guatemala 2

number of native species for the family among the seven nations of Central America. Collections of
seven additional species represent new departmental records within Guatemala: Aphelandra speciosa
(Santa Rosa). Dicliptera unguiculata (Santa Rosa), Hypoestes phyllostachya (Jutiapa), Lepidagathis
guatemalensis (Jutiapa), Odontonema tubaeforme (Baja Verapaz and Jutiapa), Ruellia blechum
(Jutiapa), Spathacanthus hahnimnis (Quiche). Collections noted for Spathacanthus hahnianus,
previously known only from a single collection in Guatemala, are the first in more than 125 years and
confirm the persistence of that species in the country.

Descriptions of most Guatemalan Acanthaceae that incorporate taxonomic changes and
collections since Gibson's (1974) account of the family in the Flora of Guatemala can be found in
either Daniel (1995) or Daniel (2010). The following distribution records provide collection
information, geographic ranges, and pertinent taxonomic notes (where appropriate).

Aphelandra speciosa Brandegee

Santa Rosa: Pueblo Nuevo Vinas, Finca Santa Isabel, 14°12'17.7"N, 90°27'33.7"W, 1044 m,
cultivo de cafe, 22 II 2010 (fir), L. Velasquez & E. Morales 672 (BIGU, CAS).

This species is endemic to the mountains of southeastern Chiapas and southwestern
Guatemala, where it was previously known from Quezaltenango, San Marcos, and Suchitepequez
(Daniel 2010).

Dicliptera unguiculata Nees

Santa Rosa: Pueblo Nuevo Vinas, Finca Santa Isabel, 14°12'44.7"N, 90°26'46.8"W, 1055 m,
cultivo de cafe, 23 II 2010 (ft-, frt), L. Velasquez & E. Morales 732 (BIGU, CAS).

This widespread species occurs from southern Mexico to Peru. It has been documented
previously from seven departments in Guatemala: Alta Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Guatemala, Jalapa,
Quetzaltenango, Sacatq^equez, and Solola (Daniel 2010). Because the species often occurs in
disturbed habitats, if will likely be found in additional departments as well.

Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker

Jutiapa, Moyuta, Finca Los Ausoles, 14°03'07.32"N, 90°05'43.63"W, 1019 m, cultivo de
cafe, 6 IV 2010 (fir, frt). L. Velasquez &J. Garcia 870 (BIGU, CAS).

This commonly cultivated species is native to Madagascar. Daniel (2010) noted that it has
become naturalized in at least six departments of Guatemala: Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Escuintla,
Guatemala, Sacatepequez, and San Marcos. The species, which sometimes forms an extensive
ground cover, continues to increase its range in the American tropics.

Justicia breedlovei T.F. Daniel

Huehuetenango: Nenton, orillas del Rio Salchila, 15°59'05"N, 91°33'34.3"W, 1588 m, 7 II
2011 (fir, frt), L. Velasquez &M. Veliz 1656 (BIGU, CAS), M. Veliz & L. Velasquez 22572 (BIGU,
CAS), 22576 (BIGU, CAS), 22603 (BIGU, CAS).

The collections cited above from northern Huehuetenango, near the Chiapan border, are the
first from Guatemala. The species was previously known from a nearby region of Chiapas in
southern Mexico (Daniel 1995). These collections extend its known flowering and fruiting season
from December to February, elevational range from 1170 to 1588 m, height of the shrubs from 1.2 to
2.5 m, petiole length from 25 to 30 mm, capsules length from 9.5 to 11 mm, stipe length from 3 to 4
mm, seed length from 2.5 to 3 mm, and seed width from 2 to 2.3 mm. Seeds of the Guatemalan
plants appear to lack the superficial and inconspicuous trichomes evident on those from Chiapas;

el, Veliz P., and Kriebel: New distribution records of Acanthaa

however, sparse eglandular trichomes less than 0.05 mm are evident on portions of their margin.
Figure 1 shows the striking inflorescences, with maroon bracts and orange flowers, of this species.

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Izabal: Morales, Sierra Caral, hacia la c
(fir), ft Kriebel et at 5596 (CAS, NY, USCG).

Justicia ensiflora was previously known from Belize and Honduras (Gibson 1974; Daniel
2005, 2010: 373). It is distinctive among Guatemalan Acanthaceae by the long (12-18.5 cm)
peduncles of the inflorescence, purplish rachis, bright orange calyx and corollas, corollas 56-65 mm
long, and anther th.ecae 4-5 mm long (Figure 1 ). Capsules and seeds, which aire not present on the
single known Guatemalan collection, have not been described previously for the species. Based on
collections from Honduras (cited in Daniel 2005), they can be described as follows: capsules 14-16
mm long, pubescent with flexuose eglandular trichomes 0.1-0.3 mm long, stipe 5-7 mm long, head
suhellipsoid, 9 mm long; seeds lenticular, 3 mm long, 2.2 mm wide, rugose.

Lepidagathis guatemalensis (Donn Sin ) Kameyama

Jutiapa Moyuta, Finca Los Ausoles, 14°02'46.13"N, 9O°05 , 34.20"W, 1180 m, lade de un
arroyo, 1 4 IV 201 (fir), L. Velasquez & J. Garcia 919 (BIGU, CAS).

This species, previously known as Lophostachys guatemalensis Donn. Sm., has been
recorded from El Salvador; southern Mexico {Chiapas and Oaxaca), and the following departments of
Guatemala: Escuintla, Guatemala, and Santa Rosa (Daniel 201 0).

Louteridium mexkarmm (Baill.) Standi.

Alta Verapaz: Mpio. Rubeltem, Montana Sacranix, Wegstrecke zwischen der Finca Xalcata
(= Saqmoc) und der Filnca Sacte, S des Rio Sachichaj (W der Strasse Coban-Chisec), ca. 500 m,
Kalkkarst, Reste von halbrmmergrunen Wald, 25 III 2001 (fir, frt), H. Foerther et al. 10940 (BM).

This is the first record of this species from Guatemala. It can be distinguished from
Louteridium donnell-smithii, which also occurs in Alta Verapaz, by the pubescence of young stems,
rachis, dichasial peduncles, and pedicels. In I,, mexicanum., these are glabrous

t records of Acanthaceae in Guatemala

or pubescent with eglandular trichomes to 0.8 (-1) mm long; in L. donnell-smtthtt they are pubescent
with glandular and eglandular trichomes up to 2.8 mm long), Louteridium mexicanum was previously
known only from southern Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Veracruz; Daniel 1995), As noted by
Daniel (2010), plants from Guatemala previously attributed to L. mexicanum are L. purpustt
Brandegee. Label data of Foerther el al. 10940 note that Guatemalan plants glow on karst limestone
in semievergreen forest remnants and that they had brownish violet corollas.

Odontonema tubaeforme (Bertol.) Kuntze

Baja Verapaz: Pauzal, 1200 m, H. von Tuerckheim II 1752 (BP). Jutiapa, Moyuta, Finca
Los Ausoles, 14°03'07.32"N, 90°05'43.63"W, 1019 m, cultivo de cafe, 6 IV 2010 (fir), L. Velasquez
& J. Garcia 867 (BIGU, CAS).

Odontonema tubaeforme occurs from southern Mexico to Panama. Daniel (2010) noted its
occurrence in thirteen departments of Guatemala. Von Tuerckheim's locality "Pauzal" in Baja
Verapaz has not been located with certainty. However, ca. 12-13 (air) km to the northeast of Purulha
(15°14'7.62"N, 90°14'6.07"W) there is a "Pansal" (Hoa and Hong 2005) with elevations in the nearby
the mountains up to 2000 m. Von Tuerckheim also collected other plants "between Purulka and
Pauzal" (e.g., Diplazium prominulum Maxon).

Ruellia blechum L.

Jutiapa: Moyuta, Finca Los Ausoles, 14°03'07.32"N, 90°05'43.63"W, 1019 m, cultivo de
cafe, 6 IV 20 10 (fir), L. Velasquez & J. Garcia 869 (BIGU, CAS).

This widely distributed and weedy species, previously known as Blechum pyramidatum
(Lam.) Urb., occurs from Mexico to Peru. It has been introduced and become naturalized in the
t United States (Florida) and the Paleotropics (e.g., Papua New Guinea). Daniel (2010) noted
14 of Guatemala's 22 departments, and it will likely be found in most of the

Spathacanthus hahnianus Baill.

Quiche: Chajul, bosque de Finca la Perla, 15.6083724°N, 91.1041225°W, 1400 m, bosque de

Vochysia, Gordonia, Magnolia, e Hieronyma, 15 XI 2009 (fir, fit). E. Tribouillier & I. Pedro 409
(BIGU); Chajul, bosque de Finca la Perla, 15°36'19.22"N, 91°6'12.09"W, 1500 m, bosque mesofilo
con Magnolia mexicana y Pseudolmedia, 28 XI 2009 (frt), E Tribouillier & I. Pedro 436 (BIGU);
Chajul, bosque de aldea Chel, 15.6157966°N, 91.0439035°W, 1800 m, bosque deBillia, Hedyosmum,
Ocotea, Oreopanax, y Elaeagla, 7 XI 20 10 (fir), E. Tribouillier & I. Pedro 469 (BIGU).

This species was previously known from Mexico, Honduras, and Alta Verapaz, Guatemala
(Daniel 2005, 2010). Because the sole collection from Guatemala, von Tuerckheim 1030 — the type of
Spathacanthus stmpltctfoltus (Donn. Sm.) Lindau, was collected more than 125 years ago, Daniel
(2010) indicated that the species was likely rare or possibly extirpated in Guatemala. The collections
noted above from Quiche reveal that the species persists in mesophytic montane forests and extend its
known fruiting period to November.

Stenostephanus gracilis (Oerst.) T.F. Daniel.

Santa Rosa: Pueblo Nuevo Vinas, Finca Santa Isabel, 14°12'44.7"N, 90°26'46.9"W, 1061 m,
24 II 20 10 (fir), L. Velasquez & E. Morales 804 (BIGU, CAS).

Tills is the first record of the species for Guatemala and for any species of Stenostephanus in
the department of Santa Rosa. Although known only from plants bearing flowers, this collection has
all of the characteristics of S. gracilis in Chiapas and Costa Rica (Daniel 1999). Indeed, the

t records of Acanthaceae in Guatemala 5

i southeastern Guatemala provides a geographic link from the previously known
i southern Mexico to those in southern Central America.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For loans and other courtesies, we are grateful to the curators of the following herbaria:
BIGU, BM, BP, and CAS. We thank the collectors noted above, especially Luis Velasquez and Erick
Triboullier, for making their collections available to us. We are grateful to Jorge Jimenez, Rosario
Rodas, and Monica Barrientos for planning the trip and figuring out the logistics to visit Sierra Caral.
Funding for Daniel's studies of Guatemalan Acanthaceae was provided by the National Geographic
Society (Research Award 8570-08) and the National Science Foundation (DEB-0743273).

LITERATURE CITED

Daniel, T.F. 1995. Acanthaceae. Pp. 1-158 in D.E. Breedlove (ed). Flora of Chiapas, pt. 4.

California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco.
Daniel, T.F. 1999. Revision of Stenostephanus (Acanthaceae) in Mexico. Contr. Univ. Mchigan

Herb. 22: 47-93.
Daniel, T.F. 2005. Catalog of Honduran Acanthaceae with taxonomic and phvtogeographic notes.

Contr. Univ. Mchigan Herb. 24: 5 1-108.
Daniel, T.F. 2010. Catalog of Guatemalan Acanthaceae: taxonomy, ecology, and conservation.

Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 61: 291-379.
Gibson, D.N. 1974. Acanthaceae. Pp. 328^61 in P.C. Standley et al. (eds.). Flora of Guatemala,

Fieldiana, Bot. 24, pt. 10. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
Hoa, P.V. and P.V. Hong. 2005. International Travel Maps, Guatemala [map]. ITBM Publishing,

Vancouver.