P h y t o t a x a 1 7 7 ( 3 ) : 1 4 6 – 1 5 4
Three New Species from Gunung Kanthan, a Limestone Tower Karst in Perak,
Malaysia
TAN, J.P.C., KIEW, R., SAW, L.G. & UMMUL-NAZRAH, A.R.
Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
Three new species, Gymnostachyum kanthanense Kiew (Acanthaceae), Meiogyne kanthanensis Ummul-Nazrah & J.P.C. Tan (Annonaceae) and Vatica kanthanensis Saw (Dipterocarpaceae), from Gunung Kanthan, Perak, are described and illustrated. All three are Critically Endangered CR B2ab (iii, iv), D1 being known from very small, restricted populations at the type locality. Gunung Kanthan is currently being quarried for cement on a large scale, which if it continues threatened all three species with extinction.
Key words: Gymnostachyum kanthanense, Meiogyne kanthanensis, Vatica kanthanensis, Gunung Kanthan, limestone, new species.
Introduction
At present, limestone hills are not legally protected in Peninsular Malaysia, except the few located within National, State or Geo-Parks. Most lie on state land and can be exploited for the commercial value of the limestone or, more recently, for the ecotourism value of their caves, cave temples or for rock climbing. Despite the vast limestone bedrock that underlies areas with tower karst limestone formations, quarry companies prefer to irreversibly blast away the iconic limestone hills. The fact that below-ground mining is commercially viable is shown by an internationally well known cement group operating such a quarry in the southern state of Selangor.
Gunung Kanthan near Chemor, Perak, 04°45’50.0”N, 101°07’21.2”E, is a limestone massif on the verge of irreversibly losing its priceless geological, biological, cultural, tourist and recreational values to quarrying for cement (Kiew et al. 2013). Since the 1960s a cement quarry has operated at the northern part of Gunung Kanthan (Fig. 1A). However, recently the quarry company plans to extend its activities to the more extensive pristine southern part (Fig. 1B–C). This is of grave conservation concern because Gunung Kanthan has already been identified as one of the outstanding tower karst hills in Perak. Out of 45 hills surveyed (MNS 1991), 14 were identified as needing conservation protection for their sensitive fauna and flora and their geological formations. Gunung Kanthan was one of the four that topped the list of hills with the greatest conservation important. In May 2012, the Mayor of Ipoh, Perak, announced that 16 prominent limestone hills with Gunung Kanthan heading the list were important areas for their unique biodiversity and should be protected for tourism, research and recreation instead of being destroyed by mining or quarrying (NST 2012). He said that the Ipoh City Council in the Ipoh Local Draft Plan 2020 would be recommending to the Perak State Government that no new approval licenses for new quarry sites be issued. In response to the threat of extending quarrying to the southern part of the Gunung Kanthan that would eventually level the hill to the ground, botanists from the Kepong Herbarium, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, undertook several field surveys to completely inventory the flora. One of the results of the survey was the discovery of three new species, all named for the locality, that are described here. All three species, using the IUCN Categories and Criteria version 3.1, fall within the Critically Endangered category because of their small population size and Area of Occupancy being less than 10 km2.
FIGURE 1. Gunung Kanthan, Perak. A. Original quarry at the northern end. B. Aerial view showing the quarry at the northern end (above) and the pristine southern end (below) (Photo P.T. Ong). C. Sheer cliffs of the tower karst (‘Area C’ of Lafarge’s Kanthan Quarry Plant).
1. Gymnostachyum kanthanense Kiew, sp. nov., Fig. 2
Type:—MALAYSIA. Perak: Kuala Kangsar District, Chemor, Gunung Kanthan, 04°46’06.9”N, 101°07’26.1”E, 179 m, 22 May 2013,
Tan J.P.C., Kiew R.& Kueh H.L. FRI 78060 (holotype KEP! (flower), isotypes K!, KEP! (fruit), SING!).
Gymnostachyum (Acanthaceae), characterized by a combination of its two stamens and many seeds (Hansen 1985), is represented in Peninsular Malaysia by 13 species (Ridley 1923) two of which, Gymnostachyum decurrens Stapf with two varieties and Gymnostachyum diversifolium C.B.Clarke, occur on limestone. Both are low creeping plants compared with the non-limestone species that are erect and rather robust. G. diversifolium is distinct in its longer leaves (7–13 × 3.5–4 cm), longer inflorescences (11–24 cm long), and larger flowers (ca. 2.5 cm). The new species is more similar to G. decurrens in its shorter inflorescence (ca. 8 cm long) and smaller flowers (1–1.5 cm long) but is distinguished from it by leaf and inflorescence characters.
ellipsoid, 1.75–2 mm long, thecae 2, equal. with two minute mucronate appendages at base, densely covered in very short glandular hairs with a thick band of white hairs along the longitudinal line of dehiscence, pollen white; staminodes absent. Nectary annular, dirty cream-coloured, 0.5–1 mm high, upper margin undulate. Ovary green, cylindric, 2–2.5 × 1 mm long, glandular hairs dense to sparse, ovules many per locule; style white, 13–18 mm long, densely to sparsely hairy, stigma hooked, 0.75–1 mm long, positioned between the anthers. Fruit subsessile, narrowly cylindric, ca. 12 × 1 mm, retinacula ca. 10 per locule, calyx patent and star-like and persisting after the fruit has fallen. Seeds up to 20, laterally compressed, ca. 1.5 × 0.75 mm, surface minutely pitted.
FIGURE 2. Gymnostachyum kanthanensis. A. Habitat on steep earth-covered slope up to the top of the cliff. B. Flowering plants. C. Front view of the flower. D. Side view of the spike and flowers. E. Split open fruit and seeds. Photo by P.T. Ong.
Distribution and habitat:―Known only from the type specimen, which was growing on what the Lafarge’s Kanthan Quarry Plant, had called ‘Area C’. It is apparently a rare species as only one clump was found during the survey. On limestone tower karst, growing in light shade on limestone-derived soil just below the crest of the ridge where it formed a clump about 3 m across.
Comparison:―Similar to Gymnostachyum decurrens in its creeping habit, spicate inflorescences, and white flowers 1–1.5 cm long with a purple lip but it is different in its leaves that are scarcely decurrent (not broadly winged to the base of the petiole as in G. decurrens), lamina that is less than twice as long as broad (not twice or more longer than wide) and in its shorter inflorescence (to 4.5 cm long not 8–17 cm long as in G. decurrens).
2. Meiogyne kanthanensis Ummul-Nazrah & J.P.C.Tan, sp. nov., Fig. 3 & 4
Type:—MALAYSIA. Perak: Kuala Kangsar District, Chemor, Gunung Kanthan, 04°45’43.65”N, 101°07’12.48”E, 104 m, 20 June 2013,
Tan J.P.C., Kiew R.& Kueh H.L.FRI 78110 (holotype KEP!).
In Peninsular Malaysia, Meiogyne (Annonaceae) is represented by two species, Meiogyne virgata (Blume) Miq. and Meiogyne monosperma (Hook. f. & Thomson) Heusden (Heusden 1994). During the botanical survey of Gunung Kanthan, a species of Annonaceae with a large showy flower was encountered. It is unmistakably a species of Meiogyne on account of the characteristic warted grooves at the base of the inner surface of the petals. Its leaves are similar to those of M. virgata, but the flowers are completely different both in size and in petal shape. M. monosperma is distinctly different because its leaves dry dark brown and the secondary veins are not prominent on the lower surface and its flowers are small.
Small tree, ca. 15 m tall, 7 cm diameter, twigs glabrous, greyish brown, minutely striate. Leaves 16.4–22.6 × 6.1–9 cm, membranous, elliptic-oblong, in life slightly glossy above, drying dull greyish-green, concolorous beneath, base rounded, apex acute, glabrous above, beneath midrib and veins minutely ferruginous, lateral veins (7–)8–10(–11) pairs on either side of the midrib, midrib and lateral veins impressed above and lamina slightly bullate, curving and ascending steeply to margin, prominent beneath, intercostal venation scalariform, visible on both surfaces; petiole 6–7 mm long, slightly thickened, drying dark brown, glabrous to slightly hairy. Flower axillary, inflorescence single flower, in life pale cream-coloured with a strong fruity scent, pedicel 9–18 mm long, pubescent; bracts 1–2, ca. 2 mm long, almost at the base of pedicel. Sepals 3, free, appressed to base of petals, broadly ovate, ca. 5–8 × 4–8 mm, silky outside, glabrous inside. Petals 6, outer petal pale yellow, obovate, 4.2 × 1.3–2.3 cm when dry, densely silky both inside and out; inner petal pale yellow except the base of the inner petal surface that has pinkish orange warted grooves, 3.7–4.1 × 1.5–1.7 cm, margin strongly recurved from base to apex, almost touching at the apex, apex acute to obtuse, tapered to base. Stamens ca. 75, 2–3 mm long, connectives of outer stamens short and truncate, of innermost stamens more elongate ca. 0.5 mm long. Gynaecium hemispherical, ca. 7 mm long, carpels 3–5, densely hairy, stigma globose, ca. 2–3 mm long, densely hairy. Fruit unknown.
Distribution and habitat:―Known only from the type locality, in limestone forest in the gully leading to the Kanthan Cave in what the Lafarge’s Kanthan Quarry Plant, had called ‘Area D’. It is apparently a rare species as only three trees were found. In limestone forest on a tower karst, growing in deep shade in a narrow gully, on limestone-derived soil among limestone rocks.
Comparison:―Similar in leaf shape, size and texture to Meiogyne virgata (Blume) Miq., it differs in its large scented flowers (not scentless in M. virgata) with a pedicel ca. 9 mm long (not subsessile), obovate petals tapered to base (not lanceolate and strongly tapered to a narrowed apex), cream-coloured and ca. 7.5 cm long in life, 3.5 cm on drying (not greenish-yellow or pink and 1.5–2.5 cm long in M. virgata).
Conservation status:―Critically Endangered CR B2ab (iii, iv), D1. Currently known from only three trees from the type locality.
Additional specimen examined:―MALAYSIA. Perak: Kinta, Chemor, Gunung Kanthan, 04°45’44.04”N,
101°07’13.96”E, 104 m, 26 April 2014, Tan J.P.C. et al. FRI 81800 (KEP).
Notes:―In life this new species has striking flowers with petals ca. 4.5–7.5 cm long. It is remarkable that the flowers shrink to almost half that size on drying, but even so they are still larger than those of either Meiogyne monosperma and Meiogyne virgata. The flower is also different in having a fruity aroma, a complex scent reminiscent of pomelo, citrus, lychee, plum and lemon grass.
3. Vatica kanthanensis Saw sp. nov., Fig. 5 & 6
Type:―MALAYSIA. Perak: Kuala Kangsar District, Chemor, Gunung Kanthan. 04°46.02’N, 101°07.39’E, 19 December 2013, Imin K., Kueh H.L. & Tan J.P.C. FRI 81354 (holotype KEP!, isotypes K!, L!, SING!).
Distribution and habitat:―Currently known only from the type locality, endemic to Gunung Kanthan, Perak, Malaysia. It is the dominant emergent tree on the ridge and summit area of ‘Area C’ on the limestone hill, where it overtops the undergrowth and vegetation. It becomes more common in gullies where there is build up of soil.
Comparison:―The species is similar to Vatica odorata (Griff.) Symington but is different in the following: its leaf blade is much larger (10–)15–29 × (3.5–)5–9.5 cm (vs. 8–16 × 2.7–5.5 cm) and the fruit is not adnate to calyx cup (in V. odorata the calyx forms a cup at the base that is partially adnate to the nut).
Conservation status:―Critically Endangered CR B2ab (iii, iv), D1. Currently known only from the type locality, we saw less than 50 adult trees with no seedlings or saplings around the ridge and summit where the mature trees are found.
Additional specimens examined:―MALAYSIA. Perak: Kinta, Chemor, Gunung Kanthan. 04°46.02’N, 101°07.39’E, 26 February 2014, Saw L.G.et al. FRI 48442 (KEP); 26 February 2014, Tan J.P.C. et al. FRI 81788 (KEP).
Notes:―In the revision of Symington’s Foresters’ Manual of Dipterocarps, Ashton & Appanah (2004) listed 23 Vatica species for Peninsular Malaysia. Since then six species have been added to the flora of Peninsular Malaysia either as new species or new records (El-Taguri & Latiff 2010, 2013). This new species belongs to section Sunaptea, species having a fruiting calyx with unequal lobes. The species falls within the group of Vatica which has free calyx lobes that do not fuse into a cup that is adnate to the nut. Vegetatively, the species has rather large leaves with a blade to 29 cm long, much larger than any species within this group. It can, however, be confused with Vatica odorata, see the diagnosis above for the differences.
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia (MOSTI) under the ‘Flora of Peninsular Malaysia project’ (01-04-01-000 Khas) and ‘Documentation & Inventory Flora of Malaysia project’ based at Forest Research Institute Malaysia. We thank Lafarge Malaysia Bhd for permission to access the area and carry out the plant survey. We are also grateful to Director General of Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Dato’ Dr. Abd. Latif Mohmod for his support and advice during the study. To the Kepong Herbarium field team, A. Angan, H. L. Kueh and K. Imin for their support, to the monks from the Malaysia Dhamma Sakyamuni Monastery for guiding the team up onto the ridge, to Liz Price for advice on collecting from an obscured cave mouth, to M. Aidil for the preparation of the Vatica botanical plate, to Dr. David Johnson for expert advice on the identity of Meiogyne, to P.T. Ong, for permission to use photographs, to S. Kamarudin and L.S.L. Chua for advice in identifying specimens and to the Curators of the Kew and Singapore Herbaria for permission to examine specimens in their care.
References
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