Didymopanax ruschianus (Fiaschi & Pirani) Fiaschi & G.M.Plunkett

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163490497/169298087

Conservation

CR - critically endangered

Fiaschi, P., & Pirani, J. (2005). Four New Species of Schefflera (Araliaceae) from Espirito Santo State, Brazil. Kew Bulletin, 60(1), 77-85. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4110886

Type

Brazil, Espírito Santo, Santa Teresa, Estação Biológica de Santa Lucia, c. 19°57'S, 40°32'W, c. 660 m, 30 Jan. 2002, Fiaschi, Marcato, Pirani & Groppo Jr 956 (holotypus SPF; isotypus K, MBML, NY).

Morphology General Habit

Trees 9 - 10 m high

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Branchlets whitish to slightly ochre-yellow-sericeous Median leaflet: petiolule 6.5 - 7.5 cm long, laterally compressed, slightly canaliculate on adaxial surface; blade 14 - 16.5 x 4.8 - 5.7 cm, narrowly elliptic to obovate, symmetric, apex acute to acuminate, mucronate, rarely obtuse or rounded, base cuneate, margin entire, slightly revolute Leaflets horizontal, smooth, chartaceous, adaxially glabrescent, abaxially persistently rusty, becoming greyish-sericeous at maturity Basal leaflets: petiolule 3.2 - 4.2 cm long, blade 9.0 - 11.7 x 2.7 - 4.5 cm, similar to median one; venation brochidodromous; main vein prominent on both surfaces, more intensely abaxially; secondary veins 8 - 12, prominent only abaxially; intersecondary veins sometimes present

Morphology Leaves

Leaves grouped together at the end of the branchlets or internodes up to 1 cm long, with (9 -)10 - 11 leaflets

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules 8 mm long, whitish to ochre-yellow-sericeous abaxially, glabrous adaxially, apex entire or slightly bifid; petiole 30 - 42 cm long, cylindrical, longitudinally striate, glabrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence pseudolateral, pendulous, rusty-sericeous to glabrescent; peduncle up to 2 cm long, rachis absent; primary branches 3, 23 - 24 cm long; secondary branches 21, of which 9 - 10 are terminal, 3 - 6.5 cm long, bracts 3 mm long; tertiary branches 6 - 8, up to 3 cm long, bracts c. 1 mm long; partial inflorescences umbellate, 10 - 15-flowered; floral bracts up to 1 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 0.5 - 1 cm long; calyx rusty-sericeous, lacinia reduced, barely noticeable; petals 4.6 x 2.2 - 2.5 mm, ovate, apex acute, sericeous abaxially, glabrous adaxially; filaments 1 mm long; anthers yellow, 3.1 - 3.2 x 1.6 mm, oblong; styles 2, free, reflexed in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits drupaceous, laterally compressed, oblate, 11 x 13 mm, glabrescent; pedicels 0.8 - 1.2 cm long; pyrenes 2, dimidiate, 8.2 x 5.7 - 5.8 mm.

Distribution

Vicinity of Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo state

Ecology

Endemic to the rainforests.

Note

Schefflera ruschiana is very similar to S. grandigemma Fiaschi, from which it can be distinguished by vegetative and reproductive features. It is characterised by the presence of leaves with (9) 10 - 11 horizontal leaflets with the apex usually acute to acuminate (sometimes obtuse to rounded). Distinctive reproductive features include its pendent inflorescences with tertiary branches, its smaller and longer-pedicelled flowers, and the fruits not as fleshy as those found in S. grandigemma. The specific epithet ruschiana was chosen to honour the naturalist Augusto Ruschi, for his valuable work towards the conservation of the forests inhabited by this and two of the other species described here, near the municipality of Santa Teresa, in the mountainous region of Espírito Santo state.

Phenology

It has been collected with flowers in February and with fruits in April.