Justicia microcalyx J.R.I.Wood & P.Gallego, 2023

Justicia microcalyx J.R.I.Wood & P.Gallego View in CoL , sp. nov. Fig. 3 View Fig

A strongly anisophyllous species that resembles Justicia obliqua in the 4-lobed calyx which is only 3–4 mm long (not c. 9 mm), and differs also inter alia in the near glabrous leaves (not pilose) and smaller corolla 8–9 mm long (not 23–27 mm). The small calyx might suggest J. impar J.R.I.Wood & P. Gallego but in that species the calyx is 5-lobed and the corolla glabrous and 10–12 mm long whereas in J. microcalyx it is only 8–9 mm long and pubescent.

Type: ECUADOR, “In jugo centrali Andium, Equator,” 1800 m, 1876, E. André 4312 bis (holo K [K000994467!], sheet with rootstock, capsules and pencil drawing of anthers; iso K [K000994468!, K000994469!].

Anisophyllous perennial herbs reaching c. 5 cm high. Stems becoming woody, shortly bifariously scurfy, often appearing glabrous, often branched above, straight or somewhat zigzag. Leaves unequal, very shortly petiolate, narrowly oblong-elliptic, the larger 2.5–4 × 0.8–1 cm, the smaller 0.6–1.6 × 0.3–0.8 cm, narrowed to an obtuse apex and an oblique cuneate base, glabrous apart from a few hairs on the abaxial midrib, cystoliths prominent. Inflorescence of short, narrow, terminal spikes 1–2 cm long and c. 0.5 cm wide, the flowers mostly in opposite pairs c. 3 mm apart; rachis thinly pilose. Bracts 2 × 0.5 mm, linear, thinly pilose, cystoliths prominent. Bracteoles c. 2 × 0.25 mm, linear, thinly pilose. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes 3–4 × 0.5–1 mm, linear-lanceolate, thinly ciliate. Corolla 8–9 mm long, pink, pubescent on exterior, two lipped, tube 4–5 mm long, lips c. 3 mm long, upper lip entire, deltoid, lower lip shallowly 3-lobed, lobes c. 1 mm wide and long, broadly ovate. Filaments c. 2 mm long, pubescent below, glabrous above, anthers bithecous; thecae 1 × 0.5 mm, weakly superposed, puberulent. Style thinly pilose, ovary narrowly conical, c. 1.25 mm high, obscurely appressed puberulent. Capsule oblong, 7–9 × 1.5 mm, pubescent, 4-seeded. Seeds 0.75 mm diam., strongly rugose.

Flowering & fruiting: Unknown.

Habitat: “Primary forest”. Distribution: Northern Peru and Ecuador but not accurately known. The map ( Fig. 4 View Fig ) shows the only record we are able to localise from Peru near the border with Ecuador.

Etymology: The name microcalyx refers to the very small calyx of this species.

Specimens examined: PERU, Cajamarca, San Ignacio, Dist. Namballe. Bosque el Pacashal, margen derecho del Río Canchis , S 5°01’, W 79°01’, 650–800 m, 10.07.1997, E.Rodríguez & O. Pesantes 1662 (F, MO, GoogleMaps US, USM) GoogleMaps .

Conservation status: This species is only known from two collections, one unlocalised from about 150 years ago. There is no information on its habitat or frequency. It is small and inconspicuous and could easily be overlooked so it is hoped that it is more frequent than the scant records suggest. Therefore, it is provisionally assessed as Data Deficient ( DD).

Notes: Unfortunately, Rodríguez & Pesantes 1662 lacks corollas and capsules so is not suitable for selection as type.