Phytoneuron

Turner, B.L 2011. A new species of /l/e^/dbc///7e(Asteraceae: Heliantheae) from Oaxaca, Mexico. Phytoneuron 2011-44: 1-
4. Published 6 Sep 2011. ISSN 2153 733X

A NEW SPECIES OF ALEPIDOCLINE (ASTERACEAE: HELIANTHEAE)
FROM OAXACA, MEXICO

Billie L. Turner
Plant Resources Center
The University of Texas

Austin, Texas 78712

ABSTRACT
Alepidocline pochutlana B.L. Turner is described as a new species from Oaxaca, Mexico,
and Alepidocline macrocephala (H. Rob.) B.L. Turner, comb, nov., is brought into the genus from
Galinsoga. A key and distribution maps for the six species of the genus is provided.
KEY WORDS: Alepidocline, Galinsoga. Heliantheae

The present treatment adds two species to the genus Alepidocline S.F. Blake, which now
comprises six species, four of these occurring in Mexico and Central America, one in South America
(Venezuela). Turner (1990) provided an overview of the genus in which four species were
recognized, one of these {A. macdonaldii) described as new. The genus is typified by A. trifida, a
relatively common species of Guatemala. Panero (2007) treated Alepidocline along with eight other
genera as belonging to the subtribe Galinsoginae.

Alepidocline pochutlana B.L. Turner, sp. nov. Figs. 1, 2. TYPE: MEXICO. Oaxaca. Distrito
Pochutla, Mpio San Miquel del Puerto, El Vijia, selva mediana subperennifolia. suelo
Colorado, ca 1541 m, 16° 00' 17.7" N, 96° 06' 13.7" W, 5 Dec 2009, J. Pascual 2305
(holotype: TEX).

Alepidocline breedlovei similis sed differt receptaculis ca. 2 mm aitis glabris (vs ca. 3 mm
aitis valde pubescentibus), involucris ca. 12 mm latis (vs ca 6 mm), et ilosculis radii 8 ligulis 5-6 mm
longis (vs 11, ligulis 10-20 mm longis).

Annual herbs, 20-30 cm high. Mid stems sparsely pubescent with both glandular and non-
glandular hairs. Leaves 3-6 cm long, 1.5-3.0 cm wide; petioles 1-10 mm long; blades ovate, 3-
nervate from near the base, sparsely pubescent, mainly along the veins, the margins serrulate.
Ultimate peduncles pubescent like the stems, 4-10 cm long. Heads 1-5, both axillary and terminal.
Involucres hemispheric, 4-5 mm high, 6-8 mm across; bracts obovate, imbricate in 2-4 series, their
apices broadly rounded, the innermost often 3-fid. Receptacles conical, ca 2 mm high, 1 mm across,
glabrous or nearly so; pjlea linear-lanceolate, 1-2 mm long, readily deciduous, markedly ciliate. Ray
florets 8. pistillate, fertile (rarely not); tubes ca 3 mm long, pubescent; ligules white, 4-5 mm long.
Disc florets 40-50 pel' head; corollas yellow, ca 3 mm long; tube ca 1.5 mm long, pubescent; throat
ca 1.5 mm long, 5-lobed. Achenes black, glabrous, ca 1 mm long, 0.6 mm wide; pappus of ca 10,
readily deciduous ciliate bristles, 1,0-1.2 mm long.

The present novelty is very distinctive, easily recognized by its relatively small heads and
small, glabrous receptacles with decidedly deciduous, linear-lanceolate pales. It is named for the
Distrito Pochutla, where first collected.

Turner: new species of Alepidocline 2

Figure 1 . Alepidocline macrocephala, holotype at TEX.

Alepidocline macrocephala (H. Rob.) B.L. Turner, comb. nov. Galinsoga macrocephala H. Rob.,
Phytologia 44: 429. 1979. TYPE: VENEZUELA. Merida. El Delgadito ad El Portochuelo,

2700 m, 18 Nov 1976, A. Charpin et al. 13531 (holotype: US).

According to Harold Robinson (pers. comin.) this taxon is known only by the type collection
at US. Nor have I been able to locate specimens elsewhere. In my treatment of the genus for Mexico,
I treated Galinsoga macrocephala as a synonym of A. annua, largely on the basis of its reduced
ligules and the fact that at was known only by a single collection. Comparing the characters anew,
with the descriptive parameters of Robinson in his original description. I now think the taxon worthy
of recognition, at least until additional collections are assembled, hence its elevation here.

The following key should facilitate recognition of the taxa concerned, their distributions
shown in Figure 2.

1. Ultimate peduncles of heads 1 cm long or less; subalpine meadows, south-central Oaxaca

Alepidocline macdonaldii

1. Ultimate peduncles of heads 1-10 cm long; mostly non-alpine sites.

2. Ligules of ray florets 1-2 mm long.

3. Achenes ca 2.7 mm long; disc florets ca 25; plants of South America (Venezuela)

Alepidocline macrocephala

3. Achenes ca 1.5 mm long; disc florets numerous; plants of North America (Mexico and
Guatemala) Alepidocline annua

2. Ligules of ray florets 5-20 mm long.

4. Involucres hemispheric, the bracts subequal; leaves lanceolate, widest near the middle;
Oaxaca Alepidocline trifida

4. Involucres campanulate, the bracts markedly gradate; leaves ovate, widest near the base

5. Involucres 10-15 mm across; receptacles 3-4 mm high, densely pubescent; palea trifid or

incised; Chiapas Alepidocline breedlovei

5. Involucres 5-9 mm across; receptacles ca 2 mm high, glabrous or nearly' so; palea linear-
lanceolate; Oaxaca Alepidocline pochutlana

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Dr. Guy Nesom provided the Latin diagnosis and reviewed and edited the manuscript.
Distribution maps are based upon specimens on file at LL-T'EX. Special thanks are extended to
Harold Robinson for discussion (by phone) of the possible validity of A. macrocephala.

LITERATURE CITED

Panero, J.L. 2007. Galinsoginae. In J.W. Kadereit and C. Jeffrey (eds.). The Families and Genera

of Vascular Plants 8: 483^186.
Strother, J.L. 1999. Alepidocline. Pp. 17-18, in Flora of Chiapas, Part 5: Compositae- Heliantheae

s.l. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco.
Turner, B.L. 1990. A reevaluation of Utie gams Alepidocline (Asteraceae, Heliantheae,

Galinsoginae) and description of a new species from Oaxaca. Mexico. Phytologia 69: 387-

392.

Turner: new species of Alepidocline 4

Figure 2. Maps of the six species of Alepidocline .