Two new endemic species of Ophiorrhiza L. (Rubiaceae: Ophiorrhizeae) from Davao Oriental, Philippines

Abstract

Two new species of Ophiorrhiza collected from Mt Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, Philippines, are herein described and illustrated. Ophiorrhiza erythropilosa is the third Philippine species possessing involucral bracts and is further characterized by its predominantly villose stems that appear red due to strikingly red‐violet trichomes, subpersistent bifid stipules, linear involucral bracts without prominent midrib, and 4 mm long urceolate corolla that is villose outside and lightly puberulous inside. Ophiorrhiza hamiguitanensis is characterized by its coriaceous, lanceolate leaves with attenuate apex and base, brochidodromous venation, subpersistent bilobed stipules with slightly recurved acute tips, presence of 1.5–2.5 mm long linear ensiform bracts, heterostylous flowers, clavate calyces and broadly obcordate capsules.

Ophiorrhiza ravifolia (Rubiaceae), a new endemic species discovered in Naga‐Kabasalan Protected Landscape (NKPL), Zamboanga Peninsula, southwestern Philippines

“…It is characterized by being annual to perennial suffrutescent herbs and small shrubs, up to 1 m tall, with cymose inflorescences, and flattened, dry, papery and loculicidally dehiscent capsules that are broadly obcordate (Chen and Taylor 2011). In the Philippines, the genus is represented by approximately 32 species, 30 of which are known to be endemic (Pelser et al 2011, Alfeche et al 2020). In the last three years, only two species have been described anew (Alfeche et al 2020): O. erythropilosa Alfeche & Alejandro and O. hamiguitanensis Alfeche and Alejandro.…”

“…In the Philippines, the genus is represented by approximately 32 species, 30 of which are known to be endemic (Pelser et al 2011, Alfeche et al 2020). In the last three years, only two species have been described anew (Alfeche et al 2020): O. erythropilosa Alfeche & Alejandro and O. hamiguitanensis Alfeche and Alejandro. Alejandro (2009) and Alfeche et al (2020) emphasized the need for a comprehensive revision of the genus Ophiorrhiza in the Philippines and more extensive fieldwork will probably result in the discovery of more species that are either endemic or new records of species known from neighbouring countries.…”

Inventory of Rubiaceae species in Mt. Pao Range, Ilocos Norte, Northwestern Luzon, Philippines

“…Uy and Alejandro 2012;Obico and Alejandro 2013;Banag and Alejandro 2014;Villanueva et al 2016;Banag et al 2017;Chavez et al 2021;Ordas et al 2021). In addition, the recollection and discovery of new species Salamanes et al 2015;Alejandro and Meve 2016;Arriola et al 2016;Ordas et al 2017;Alfeche et al 2020;Biag and Alejandro 2020;Batuyong et al 2021b). Tantamount to these studies is an understanding of the distribution, ecology and biology of species within the family, in various ecosystems, which still remain largely limited and incomplete.…”