A new Mexican Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae) species with notes on reproductive phenology

Abstract

Ceratozamia, a genus of Zamiaceae, is one of the most species rich genera of gymnosperms in Mexico with a high level of species endemism. Over the last two decades, their known diversity has increased considerably because of extensive field work. Recently, 16 new species were described as a result of revision of species complexes and new explorations in southern Mexico. Here, we describe a new species from Oaxaca (Mexico) which inhabits an evergreen tropical forest. We collected this species during fieldwork in a little studied area located in the karst region of northern Oaxaca. The new species, C. martinezii sp. nov., is described and illustrated, and its phenological pattern is characterized. The species is compared with geographically close and morphologically similar species. Additionally, we present notes on the reproductive phenology of the new species and a taxonomic key for diagnosability.

Monograph of Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae, Cycadales): an endangered genus

“…People use the leaves of Ceratozamia aurantiaca to make flower arrangements in wreaths ( Martínez-Domínguez et al 2022a ).…”

“…Criteria to delimit species. The taxonomic treatment presented here is partly based on our previously published work on species complexes, considered from an integrative taxonomy perspective for corroboration or refutation of taxonomic hypotheses and employing the “taxonomic circle” sensu DeSalle et al (2005) , in which multiple data sources are analyzed independently for hypotheses testing ( Martínez-Domínguez et al 2016 ; 2017a , b , 2018a , 2020 , 2022a , b ). For taxa we have not treated previously, species were recognized by a unique combination of morphological characters evaluated at the population level, considering their biogeographic distribution patterns as an additional source of evidence.…”

“…Nevertheless, the taxonomy of Ceratozamia has been mainly characterized by rearrangements of infrageneric taxa, treatments in floristic works and species-level treatments of species complexes ( Vovides et al 1983 ; Stevenson et al 1986 ; Pérez-Farrera et al 1999 ; Avendaño et al 2003 ; Pérez-Farrera et al 2009 ; Vovides et al 2012 ; Martínez-Domínguez et al 2016 , 2017c ). Recent taxonomic efforts based on analyses of quantitative and qualitative morphological variation, phenology as well as DNA sequences of nuclear, plastid and mitochondrial genomes have produced new insights on the circumscription of species complexes and the most comprehensive taxonomic reviews of Ceratozamia to date ( Martínez-Domínguez et al 2016 , 2017a , b , 2018a , 2022a ). In addition, work focusing on the morphometric variation of vegetative characters and anatomical features have contributed to the clarification of some species ( Pérez-Farrera et al 2014 ; Vovides et al 2016 ; Medina-Villarreal et al 2019 ; Gutiérrez-Ortega et al 2021 ).…”

“…The reproductive phenology of Ceratozamia is annual ( Stevenson 1981 ). To date, our knowledge of the phenological phases for ovulate and pollen strobili indicates four phases in each ( Martínez-Domínguez et al 2022a ). In both pollen and ovulate strobili the cycle starts with emergence, which is characterized by emergence from among the cataphylls.…”

Temporal shifts in reproductive phenology of cycads: a comparative study in Ceratozamia

“…Considering the high extinction risk for cycad species, a better understanding of their phenological patterns would allow for a more refined evaluation of the anthropogenic activity-driven factors --such as habitat fragmentation and (or) size reduction of natural populations--that affect reproductive population dynamics (Morellato et al 2016;Martínez-Domínguez et al 2021). Ultimately, these data would be valuable to propose conservation strategies.…”