Content uploaded by Thorsten Krömer
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Thorsten Krömer
Content may be subject to copyright.
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 81: 225- 228, 2010
Recibido: 03 abril 2009; aceptado: 30 octubre 2009
Monstera fl orescanoana (Araceae), a new species from central Veracruz, Mexico
Monstera fl orescanoana (Araceae), una especie nueva de la región central de Veracruz,
México
Thomas B. Croat1, Thorsten Krömer2* and Amparo Acebey2
1Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
2Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana, Interior de la Ex-hacienda Lucas Martín, Privada de Araucarias s/n, Col. 21 de
Marzo, 91019 Xalapa, Veracruz, México.
*Correspondent: tkromer@uv.mx
Abstract. Monstera fl orescanoana (Araceae), a new species in section Monstera, endemic to central Veracruz, Mexico, is
described and illustrated. This species appears to be most closely related to Monstera siltepecana Matuda and Monstera
dubia (Kunth) Engl. et K. Krause.
Key words: Araceae, aroids, humid montane forest, Mexico, Monstera, Veracruz.
Resumen. Se describe e ilustra Monstera fl orescanoana (Araceae), una nueva especie de la sección Monstera, endémica
de la región central del estado de Veracruz, México. Esta especie parece estar más cercanamente relacionada a los taxones
Monstera siltepecana Matuda y Monstera dubia (Kunth) Engl. et K. Krause.
Palabras clave: Araceae, aráceas, bosque húmedo montano, México, Monstera, Veracruz.
Introduction
The family of plants Araceae is mainly tropical with its
highest diversity of species in Asia and tropical America
(Croat, 1998). In Mexico 109 species and 13 genera have
been recorded, with Anthurium, Philodendron and Monstera
being the most speciose genera (Croat and Carlsen, 2003).
The majority of the species are concentrated in the tropical
zones of the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz, the
latter harboring about 50% of the total Mexican species,
of which about 65% occur in the southeastern region of
Los Tuxtlas (Sosa and Gómez-Pompa, 1994; Acebey and
Krömer, 2008). Veracruz still presents several botanically
little explored areas, especially at the southern border with
the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, and therefore it was
expected that its number of aroid species will increase.
Monstera is a genus of about 40 species of climbing
hemiepiphytes ranging from Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia,
where these occur in tropical moist and humid forest, as well
as in cloud forest (Mayo et al., 1997). Leaf development is
heteroblastic with markedly different leaf forms, depending
on the stage of development. The genus is divided into
four sections: Tornelia and Echinospadix, each with a
single species; and Monstera and Marcgraviopsis, the
former having juvenile leaves free and exerted, and tightly
appressed in the latter (Madison, 1977, Mayo et al., 1997).
The Latin word monstrum (monster) refers to the peculiar
perforations (fenestrae) of the leaves of many species.
During fi eld work for a project involving investigation
and education on endemic and notable plants of
Veracruz, T. Krömer and collaborators from the Centro
de Investigaciones Tropicales (CITRO), Universidad
Veracruzana in Xalapa, state of Veracruz, Mexico made
a collection of Monstera in a cloud forest fragment in
the Atzalan municipio, located in the central region of
Veracruz. This material could not be assigned to any
known species.
Description
Monstera fl orescanoana Croat, T. Krömer et A. Acebey,
sp. nov. Type: MEXICO. Veracruz: Comunidad Cruz
Gorda, Congregación San Salvador, 990 m, 19°52’30”N,
97°12’43”W, 17 June, 2008, T. Krömer, J. Viccon-Esquivel,
N. Martínez-Correa and J. R. Fernández-Contreras 3334
(holotype, MO-6065968; isotypes B, K, MEXU, US,
XAL). Figs. 1-2, table 1.
Planta hemiepiphytica; internodia 1.8–3(6) cm longa,
(4)5–10 mm diametro in sicco, laevia; petiolus 17–24
226 Croat et al.- A new species of Monstera (Araceae) from Veracruz
Figure 1. Monstera fl orescanoana. A, habit, showing the disposition of leaf blades and a single infl orescence; B. leaf blade showing
the distribution of the fenestrae; C, close-up of a portion of stem showing a single spadix in post-anthesis condition. Drawn by S. E.
Ramos-Castro from T. Krömer et al. 3334.
cm longus, subteres; lamina 14.3–34 cm longa, 5.2–20.5
cm lata, infra glauca; utroque costae latere 3-6 nervis
primariis, 2–4(6) fenestris in serie unica, raro biseriatis in
laminis adultis majoribus; pedunculus 2–5.7 cm longus;
spadix sessilis vel stipitata ad 10 mm, 6.7–9.5 cm longa,
ad 6.2 cm diametro, 2.3–3 cm lata in sicco.
Hemiepiphyte to 3-5 m. Juvenile plants: terrestrial creeper,
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 81: 225- 228, 2010 227
leaves free and exserted, lamina ovate to ovate-lanceolate,
cordate at the base, without or with few fenestrae. Adult
plants: internodes 1.8–3(6)cm long, drying (4)5–10 mm in
diameter dark brownish black, matte, appearing smooth to
the naked eye, fi nely and closely ridged on magnifi cation;
petioles smooth, 17–24 cm long, subterete, drying sharply
and narrowly sulcate throughout, especially toward
apex, sheathed to 2/3 or sometimes to within less than
1 cm from blade, the sheath inconspicuous, inrolled and
persistent intact; geniculum 1.5 cm long, slightly darker
than the remainder of the petiole; blades ovate 14.3–34
cm long, 5.2–20.5 cm wide, averaging 27.7 x 16 cm, 1.2–
1.5 times longer than wide, inequilateral, one side 0.7–2
cm wider, gradually long-acuminate on larger leaves,
abruptly acuminate on smaller, more rounded blades at
apex, rounded to weakly subcordate at base, dark green
and subcoriaceous, weakly bicolorous, semiglossy on
both surfaces, drying thinly coriaceous, grayish black,
matte above, matte to weakly glossy, glaucous below in
living plants, sometimes semiglossy on younger blades;
sinus arcuate, 0.5–1 cm deep; midrib obtusely sunken and
concolorous above, narrowly rounded and concolorous to
slightly darker on drying below; primary lateral veins
3–6 pairs, arising at a steep angle then spreading at 45–55°
angle; fenestrate usually on both sides, sometimes lacking
fenestrae on one side mostly on young or preadult leaves,
the fenestrae to within 0.5–1.1 mm from the midrib,
usually with 2–4 in 1 series per side, rarely on the largest
adult leaves in 2 series per side, (0)2–4 on the narrow
side, 2-4(6) on the broader side, 1.5-9.5 cm long, 0.7–4.8
cm wide, ellipsoid to ovate; reticulate veins moderately
obscure but moderately interconnected near the margins.
Infl orescence: peduncle 2–5.7 cm long; spadix sessile or
stipitate to 10 mm (stipe drying 3 mm in diameter), 6.7–9.5
cm long; 2.3–3 cm wide, stigma dark brown, matte, deeply
sunken medially on drying, drying black with a medium
brown margin.
Remarks
The species is a member of section Monstera because
its juvenile leaves are free and exserted (Fig. 2A), and
thus similar to the juveniles of Monstera egregia Schott, a
known species in section Monstera. The species is closely
related to Monstera siltepecana Matuda, from which
it differs in having smaller petioles and geniculum, and
blades that are glaucous below on living plants, fewer
perforations that are only in 1 (rarely 2) series of each side
and fewer primary lateral veins, a frequently persistent
petiole sheath and a smaller infl orescence (peduncle and
spadix) but shares with M. siltepecana the same drying
color and texture, even the same venation (Table 1).
Monstera fl orescanoana may also be confused with
Monstera dubia (Kunth) Engl. et K. Krause, and would
key to that species in Madison’s revision of Monstera
(Madison, 1977). That species ranges from Mexico
(Chiapas) to the Amazon basin in South America (Table
1). Monstera dubia differs from M. fl orescanoana in
having typically thicker stems which are usually densely
tuberculate, leaf blades thicker with more conspicuous
tertiary venation, larger petioles, geniculum and leaves, as
well as a larger infl orescence, and furthermore, it belongs
to section Marcgraviopsis.
Figure 2. A, habit of juvenile live plant (front) of Monstera fl orescanoana, the tightly appressed leaves on the trunk
belong to Monstera punctulata; B, habit of adult live plant in fertile condition; C, adult leaf blades showing their glaucous
underside; D, photograph of an herbarium specimen showing both upper and lower leaf blade surfaces and a single post-
anthesis infl orescence. Photographs by A. Acebey and T. Krömer.
228 Croat et al.- A new species of Monstera (Araceae) from Veracruz
Table 1. Comparison of morphology and distribution of Monstera fl orescanoana with similar species M. siltepecana and M. dubia.
Data taken from Madison (1977) and Tropicos.org (2009)
M. fl orescanoana Croat, T.
Krömer et A. Acebey
M. siltepecana Matuda M. dubia (Kunth) Engl. et K. Krause
Section Monstera Monstera Marcgraviopsis
Petioles 17-24 cm long 30-45 cm long 20-55 cm long
Geniculum 1.5 cm long 3-4.5 cm long 4-7 cm long
Juvenile leaves free and exserted free and exserted tightly appressed
Blades 14.3-34 cm long;
5.2-20.5 cm wide;
1.2-1.5 times longer than wide;
glaucous below on living plants
30-60 cm long;
20-35 cm wide;
1.3-2.4 times longer than wide;
dark green, not glaucous below
20-100 cm long;
13-50 cm wide;
1.5-2 times longer than wide;
pale green, not glaucous below
Primary lateral veins 3-6 pairs 8-12 pairs 9-18 pairs
Perforations usually few; in 1(-2) series on
each side of midvein, sometimes
lacking
mostly numerous;
in 2-4 series on each side of
midvein
absent or numerous;
in 1-3 series on each side of midvein
or pinnatifi d
Peduncle 2-5.7 cm long 5-12 cm long 5-9 cm long
Spadix 6.7-9.5 cm long 12-17 cm long 7-14 cm long
Distribution Mexico (Veracruz) Mexico (Chiapas, Hidalgo,
Oaxaca, Quintana Roo,
Veracruz) to Colombia
Mexico (Chiapas) to the Amazon
basin
Etymology. The species is named in honor of the
distinguished Mexican historian Dr. Enrique Florescano-
Mayet for his determined and enthusiastic support for the
research and education project on endemic, rare and notable
plant species of Veracruz in the light of the celebration
to honor Mexico’s 100-year anniversary of the revolution
and 200 years of independence. This project has promoted
a major plant exploration effort in the State of Veracruz in
search for endemic and rare taxa in the few sites known to
have vegetation patches with little disturbance and high
plant diversity.
Distribution and habitat. Monstera fl orescanoana is
endemic to Mexico, known only from the humid montane
forests (bosque mesófi lo de montaña, sensu Rzedowski,
1978) of the central region of Veracruz, a biogeographic
area that harbors several locally endemic species, as
e.g. Begonia multistaminea Burt-Utley (Begoniaceae),
Pitcairnia densifl ora Brongn. ex Lem. and Pitcairnia
schiedeana Baker (Bromeliaceae). These forests, however,
due to the ongoing conversion to plantations, pastures
and secondary vegetation are one of the most threatened
habitats in Mexico. In spite of their reduced surface
area, these areas are extremely rich in plant species and
represent ca. 10% of the fl ora of Mexico, making it the
most diverse vegetation type by area unit (Rzedowski,
1991). At Atzalan municipio the humid montane forests
are dominated by canopy trees of Matudaea trinervia
Lundell (Hamamelidaceae), as well as Clethra mexicana
DC. (Clethraceae), Quercus corrugata Hook. (Fagaceae)
and Liquidambar styracifl ua L. (Hamamelidaceae).
The new species is a locally common hemiepiphytic
herb in the shady understory of the humid montane forests
of the Atzalan municipio between 990 and 1430 m, where
it co-occurs with other aroids, such as Anthurium scandens
(Aubl.) Engl., Monstera egregia Schott, Philodendron
sagittifolium Liebm., and Syngonium neglectum Schott. In
this area, the natural forest vegetation in general is mostly
fragmented and highly threatened by the transformation
into pastures and plantations; thus, we believe that the
populations of Monstera fl orescanoana do suffer severe
anthropogenic pressures. However, the new species is
probably not in danger of extinction, as we have observed
some individuals growing in secondary vegetation close to
a bridge along a roadside. In any case, the discovery of this
new species demonstrates that more fl oristic inventories in
remote and inaccessible areas are badly needed to complete
our knowledge of the fl ora of Veracruz and along to take
the necessary conservation measures for the remaining
areas of high diversity and endemism.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Government of Veracruz state for
funding CITRO’s research and education project on
endemic, rare and notable plant species of Veracruz,
José Viccon-Esquivel, Nancy Martínez-Correa, José
Ramón Fernández-Contreras, and David Jimeno-Sevilla
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 81: 225- 228, 2010 229
for fi eldwork assistance, Sergio E. Ramos-Castro for
preparing the line drawing, Lilia Ruiz-Ruiz for preparing
the photo plate, and Arturo Gómez-Pompa, Fernando
Chiang-Cabrera, Miguel Ángel Pérez-Farrera, and an
anonymous reviewer for comments on the manuscript.
This study was partly supported by a PROMEP grant to TK
(PROMEP/103.5/07/2753), and a PROMEP scholarship to
JVE.
Literature cited
Acebey, A. and T. Krömer. 2008. Diversidad y distribución de las
aráceas de la Reserva de la Biosfera Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz,
México. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, Universidad
Autónoma de México 79:465-471.
Croat, T. B. 1998. Tropical Aroids: Taxonomy, Diversity and
Ecology. In Diversity and Taxonomy of Tropical Flowering
Plants, P. Mathew and M. Sivadasan (eds.). Mentor Books,
Calicut, USA. p. 235-286.
Croat, T. B. and M. Carlsen. 2003. Araceae. Flora del Bajío y
Regiones. Adyacentes. Fascículo 113. Instituto de Ecología,
A.C. Centro Regional Bajío. Pátzcuaro, Michoacán,
México.
Madison, M. 1977. A revision of Monstera (Araceae).
Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard
University 207:3-100.
Mayo, S. J., J. Bogner and P. C. Boyce. 1997. The genera of
Araceae. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 370 p.
Rzedowski, J. 1978. Vegetación de México. Limusa, México,
D.F. 432 p.
Rzedowski, J. 1991. Diversidad y orígenes de la fl ora fanerogámica
de México. Acta Botanica Mexicana, Instituto de Ecología,
A.C. 14:3-21.
Sosa, V. and A. Gómez-Pompa. 1994. Araceae. In Flora de
Veracruz - Lista Florística. Instituto de Ecología, A.C.,
Xalapa, Veracruz y University of California, Riverside. p.
27-29.
Tropicos.org. 2009. Missouri Botanical Garden. www.tropicos.
org; last access: 12.XX.2009.