A New Species of Marsdenia (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from the Pochutla Region in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico

Verónica Juárez Jaimes; Alfredo Saynes

Verónica Juárez Jaimes Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Alfredo Saynes Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Keywords: Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, IUCN Red List, Marsdenia, Mexico, Oaxaca, Pochutla, tropical semi-evergreen forest

Abstract

A new species, Marsdenia ludani Juárez-Jaimes & Saynes (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), is described and illustrated. The species occurs in the tropical semi-evergreen forest of Pochutla, a region in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, best known for botanical explorations and collecting activities by the Sociedad para el Estudio de los Recursos Bióticos de Oaxaca (SERBO A.C.). The distinctive characteristics of this taxon are the leaf blades with strigose hairs on the adaxial surface, subglobose corolla, 5-sulcate, tri-lobed corona lobes, and membranes of the anthers completely adnate to the anther body. This new taxon can only be confused with M. coulteri Hemsl. In its vegetative state, with which it is compared.