Ennealophus tucumanensis Huaylla

Huaylla, H. 2015. Ennealophus tucumanensis (Tigridieae: Iridaceae), a new species from Argentina. Kew Bulletin 70: 41. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-015-9591-8

Type

Type: Argentina, Tucuman, Tafi, Huaylla, H. 3681 (holotype LIL!; isotypes K!, LPB!).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb to 30 cm

Vegetative Multiplication Bulbs

Bulb globose to ovoid, 0.9 – 1.4 × 1.3 – 1 cm; tunics membranous, 4.8 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 cm furrowed, dark reddish-brown, the neck c. 2 – 3.5 cm long, enclosed by narrowly linear projections of the tunics

Morphology Leaves

Basal and cauline leaves plicate when mature; basal leaf 1, 21.5 × 0.5 cm; stem leaf 1, 7.5 – 46 × 0.5 – 1.8 cm, the basal sheath 4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of 1 – 3-flowered rhipidia; flowering stem 12 – 26 cm long; spathes unequal, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic with translucent margins, acute, inner 2.5 × 0.4 cm, outer 2.4 – 3.6 × 0.6 – 1.7 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2.5 cm long, filiform, smooth

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth 3 cm diam., blue; tepals free, ephemeral, curved to form a bowl; outer tepals 4.8 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 cm, oblong-lanceolate, apex rounded, blue, with or without a dark blue patch in the centre, abaxial surface pale blue, base yellow; inner tepals 1.4 × 1 cm, glandular, oblong, apex rounded, blue with a dark blue patch at the base and another in the centre, base cuneate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with filaments 0.6 cm long, united to form a bottle-like structure, base globose, dark blue, apex white; anthers 0.3 cm long, oblong, blue, held underneath the style arms, united for 1 mm by a membrane

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 0.5 – 0.7 × 0.2 – 0.3 cm, ovoid; style 8 mm long, the arms 0.2 – 0.4 cm long, sinuate with lateral crests

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 1.4 – 1.8 × 0.3 – 0.6 cm, oblong-globose, dark brown; seeds 6 – 7 per locule, globose with rugose margins, dark brown

Distribution

Ennealophus tucumanensis is recorded from the Valle de Tafi in Tucuman, Argentina, and Postrevalle, Vallegrande in Bolivia, between 1800 and 2300 m. Map 1.

Conservation

Until now, this species is only known from three locations; in Bolivia it may be threatened by the expansion of agriculture but in Argentina it grows in rock crevices both on cliffs and on rock slabs. About 15 plants were found dispersed over this location, obviously subject to grazing by cattle. Although clearly uncommon, in the absence of more information, this species should be classified as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2001).

Note

Flowers during the rainy season in January and February, the flowers lasting only a single day. The epithet tucumanensis is chosen for the semi-humid Tucuman-Bolivian montane forest formation, which is found along the eastern side of the Andean cordillera from the north of Argentina to the elbow of the Andes in Bolivia. This species is endemic to this formation. Ennealophus tucumanensis bears only 1 – 3 flowers and so is assigned to subgen. Ennealophus (subgen. Actine has multiple flowers). It is distinguished from its nearest relative, E. boliviensis, by having the style arms joined to the anthers in the form of a crest and by the glandular inner tepals. E. boliviensis differs by the flattened style arms which extend laterally in the apical part with two linear, falcate appendices and by the eglandular inner tepals and so is assigned to subgen. Ennealophus. It is distinguished from its nearest relative, E. boliviensis, by having the style arms joined to the anthers in the form of a crest and by the glandular inner tepals. E. boliviensis differs by the flattened style arms which extend laterally in the apical part with two linear, falcate appendices and by the eglandular inner tepals.