Deamia montalvoae
- Isotype: El Salvador, Santa Ana: Mpio. Metapán, Parque Nacional Montecristo, alt. 1590 m, 14°23'17"N, 89°22'4"E, 26 Mar 2014, Menjívar, Cerén & Magaña 3219 (MEXU)
- Holotype: El Salvador, Santa Ana: Mpio. Metapán, Parque Nacional Montecristo, alt. 1590 m, 14°23'17"N, 89°22'4"E, 26 Mar 2014, Menjívar, Cerén & Magaña 3219 (MHES: 15-6619)
Distribution (General)
El Salvador (Santa Ana), Guatemala (Huehuetenango), and Mexico (Chiapas), in some foothills of the Central American Range (Sierra Madre del Sur, Mexico, and Guatemala to Alotepeque-Metapán between Honduras and El Salvador).A
Diagnosis
Deamia montalvoae is similar to D. chontalensis and D. testudo. It differs from D. chontalensis by the higher number of ribs (7−8 vs. 5−7 in D. chontalensis) and spines (7−13 vs. 1−7) stem and longer flowers (23−30 cm vs. 6−9 cm), stigmas located above or at the same level of the anthers, and larger fruit (5−6 × 4−4.5 cm vs. 2−3 × 2−2.5 cm) completely covered by bristles and trichomes. D. montalvoae can be easily distinguished from D. testudo by the smaller diameter of its stem (1−2 cm vs. 3−10 cm) and less variable stem diameter; in addition, it does not adhere strongly to its support, has a greater number of ribs (7−8 vs. 6−9), and has a dense layer of bristles and trichomes covering its fruit.A
Habitat
Deamia montalvoae occurs in tropical deciduous forests and in transitional areas with cloud forests. It grows in cliffs, by climbing on different species of trees, including Sideroxylon tepicense and Ficus spp., and around rivers and creeks, from 1200−600 m a.s.l.A
Conservation
According to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (2017), and the criterion B1, a, Deamia montalvoae is assessed as endangered (EN). The species occurs in three know and isolated populations (Santa Ana, El Salvador; Huehuetenango, Guatemala; Chiapas, Mexico), in an area smaller than 5,000 km2. In Santa Ana it is located in a protected natural area.A
Description
Climbing or hemiepiphytic shrubs on rocks or trees. Stems numerous, cylindrical, and prolifically branching; new stems reddish or green-reddish, older stems lustrous green, pendent or sprawling, up to 1.5 m × 1−2 cm, with adventitious roots not strongly adhered to support, ribs 7−8, 1−1.5 cm high, acute margin; areolae 0.2−0.3 cm in diameter, 0.5−2.0 cm apart, spines 7−13, 0.4−2.6 cm long, some spines renewed, yellowish with reddish apex becoming grey to black when old; bristles 0.5−1.5 cm long, abundant, yellowish to whitish at maturity, and persistent. Flowers solitary, emerging from subapical areoles, (23−)27−30 cm long, infundibuliform; pericarpel 2.0−2.2 × 1.5−1.8 cm, with 8−10 series of podaria, bracts 1.0−1.5 × 0.5 mm, deltoids, green, fully covered by bristles and hairs (0.5−3.0 cm) long, golden brown, translucent; receptacular tube 9−15 cm, ca. 0.8 cm wide at the base of the tube, 1.0−1.2 cm wide in the throat, green with brown tone, reddish after anthesis, decurrent podaria, slightly conspicuous, bracts 2.5−13 × 1−2 mm, green with reddish apex, bristles and hairs 0.3−3.2 cm, brown to white-pale; perianth 11−12 cm long, outer tepals 5.0−10.5 × 0.4−1. cm, linear lanceolate, yellow-brown with apices acuminate, inner tepals 8.9−10.0 × 0.6−1.1 cm, linear oblong, white with apices acuminate; nectarial chamber in the lower part of tube, 4.0−5.5 cm; stamens 5.5−8.5 cm, white, emerging in the upper third of the tube, attached in one series, in an area of 2.5−3 cm long, anthers 3 × 1 mm, light yellow; style 21.7−21.9 × 0.2−0.3 cm, yellow-green, the stigma lobes ca. 15, 0.7−1.0 cm, light yellow, the stigmas located above (up to 1 cm) or at the same level of the anthers. Fruits 5−6 × 4−4.5 cm, globose to ovoid, pale red, oxidize when cut, without evident bracts; areolae ca. 1.5 mm in diameter, fruit fully covered by bristles and hairs, up to 50 per areolae, 4.5−30 mm, brownish with whitish apex, persistent areolae with ripening fruit, pulp white, fragrant and sweet; seeds 3.1−3.5 × 2.1−2.5 mm, ovate, dark brown, glossy, with flat cell and smooth microrelief.A
Etymology
The specific epithet is given in honour of Edy Albertina Montalvo for her legacy in the study of plants as the first Salvadoran woman dedicated to botany.A
Habitat
Deamia montalvoae occurs in tropical deciduous forests and in transitional areas with cloud forests. It grows in cliffs, by climbing on different species of trees, including Sideroxylon tepicense and Ficus spp., and around rivers and creeks, from 1200−600 m a.s.l.A
Phenology
Flowering time March−April; fruiting time April−August.A