In February 2024, the description of a new tree species from the Philippines was published in the Nordic Journal of Botany.
๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐๐ช๐ข ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐๐ง๐ช๐ข
Distribution/habitat: Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Luzon (specimens collected in 2021)
Endemic: Unknown/unconfirmed; known only from two small populations in Nueva Ecija
Distinctive traits: The ๐. ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ tree grows up to 12 meters tall, with a diameter of up to 20 cm at breast height, a smooth bark, and red sapwood. In some ways, it is similar to another Philippine ๐๐บ๐ป๐บ๐จ๐ช๐ถ๐ฎ tree, ๐. ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ง๐ญ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ. They both sport leaves that grow directly from the stem (instead of on stalks or petioles) and have a heart-shaped (cordate) base, as well as large flowers and free perianth lobes. However, its leaves are leathery and firm, with a paperlike texture. It also has a shorter floral cup, as well as smaller calyx lobes. ๐. ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎโs most noteworthy characteristic, which makes it unique among all described ๐๐บ๐ป๐บ๐จ๐ช๐ถ๐ฎ species in the Philippines, is the abundance of whitish blisters on its leaves and flowers. This is said to be the result of oxalate crystal deposition. Its flowers bloom between April and May; from July to August, ๐. ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ bears red fruits that turn deep purple as they ripen.
Conservation status: Critically Endangered
Described by: Leonardo Udasco Jr., Abigail Garrino, Jamie Ann Aumentado, Mark Gregory Rule, and Jayson Mansibang
Etymology: ๐. ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ derives its genus name from ๐ด๐บ๐ป๐บ๐จ๐ช๐ข (โjoining together or conjunctionโ in Greek). Its species name, ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ, is a combination of two Latin wordsโ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฐ (crystal) and ๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ (to carry)โinspired by its โcrystal-carryingโ blisters.
Significance
๐. ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ marks the first new addition to the roster of known Philippine ๐๐บ๐ป๐บ๐จ๐ช๐ถ๐ฎ species since 1951. The description of ๐. ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ – made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, Mindanao State University, and the University of the Philippines – is particularly significant, as there are gaps in our knowledge about ๐๐บ๐ป๐บ๐จ๐ช๐ถ๐ฎ in the Philippines due to difficulties in conducting taxonomic studies. This is partly the result of different species evolving similar traits over time, despite not sharing a direct lineage (homoplasy). Crucially, ๐. ๐ค๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ highlights the need to curb slash-and-burn farming (kaingin), timber poaching, and other threats to the environment related to human activity, especially in the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve (PCWFR) where the tree was found.โMF
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Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
