Notopleura sallydavidsoniae

N.sallydavidsoniae
Rodolfo Flores

Notopleura sallydavidsoniae

N.sallydavidsoniae
Rodolfo Flores

Notopleura sallydavidsoniae

Although quite common in the higher areas of the Cerro Chucantí Private Nature Reserve, its restricted area of distribution has led the authors who first described this species to suggest it should be considered Critically Endangered [CR].

Identification

Growth form: Epiphytic climbing herb or small, branched shrub, with succulent stems and leaves.

Foliage: Leaves opposite, smooth, with a central red vein below. Pedicles (leaf stems) 5 - 15 mm long. Stipules (small, leaf-like structures located at the base of the leaf stem) smooth, combined around the pedicle to form a sheath with a fringed upper part (photo D).

Flowering structure: Inflorescence a branching structure that grows at the ends of the stems, although the stems rapidly grow beyond the structure. Smooth, with red stems. Main stem from 2.7 - 6 cm long, branched section approximately 2.5 - 4 cm x 6 cm (length x width). Three to nine small, white Flowers at the end of each branch.

Fruiting structure: Fruits replace flowers at the ends of the branches. They are smooth, more or less sphere-shaped (somewhat wider than long, 3 x 4 mm), maturing from red to black.

N.sallydavisoniae anatomía
Rodolfo Flores
Images of a branch (C), stipule (D), inflorescence (E), and fruiting structure (F) from Flores et al. (2018).

Distribution

To date, this species has only been encountered in Cerro Chucantí.

Biology and Natural History

Habitat: Lower montane rainforest from 1,300 - 1,439 m in elevation.

Phenology: Flowering observed in December and April, fruiting from April - October.

Etymology

This species received its name in honor of Sally Davidson of Washington, D.C., USA, a passionate conservationist, philanthropist, and member of the Rainforest Trust to recognize her contributions to conservation and her unwavering support for the Rainforest Trust and their efforts to conserve Cerro Chucantí.

References

iNat Observations
  • Flores, R., C.M. Taylor, G. McPherson & A. Ibáñez (2018). A new epiphytic species of Notopleura (Rubiaceae) from Chucantí Nature Reserve, eastern Panama. WEBBIA. 73(2): 195-201. (Link)