Philodendron jefense Croat, sp. nov.
TYPE: Panama. Panamá: Cerro Jefe, along road short of summit, 550--800 m, 9E15'04"N, 79E30'04W, McPherson 10038 (holotype, MO--3475849; isotypes, K, PMA, US). Figures 238--239.
Planta hemiepiphytica; internodia brevia, in sicco usque 3 cm diam.; cataphylla 20--24 cm longa, acute 2-costata, mox decomposita et persistentia ut fibrae pallide brunneae; petiolus teres, 38--76 cm longus, 4 mm diam.; lamina late ovata, 39--54 cm longa, (22.5)34--49 cm lata, cordata basi, in sicco canoviridis; inflorescentia 1; pedunculus 10--13 cm longus, 4--5 mm diam.; spatha 9.5--14 cm longa, omnino viridis, in sicco cum magnis maculis albis; pistilla (6)7--8-locularia; locules cum 6 seminibus; baccae albae.
Hemiepiphytic; stem appressed-climbing; internodes short, to 3 cm diam.; roots moderately few per node, drying to 3 mm diam., sharply ridged, brown; cataphylls 20--24 cm long, sharply 2-ribbed, persisting, promptly weathering to light brown, semi-organized fibers with small, thin fragments of epidermis persisting; petioles 38--76 cm long, 4 mm diam., terete, drying black; blades broadly ovate, short acuminate at base, cordate at base, 39--54 cm long, (22.5)34--49 cm wide (0.8--1.4 times longer than wide), (0.5--0.6 times the petiole length), about one-half as long as the petiole, margins sinuate, upper surface glossy, drying gray-green, drying semiglossy, lower surface glossy, drying minutely granular; anterior lobe 22--25 cm long, 24.5--29.7 cm wide (1.8--2 times longer than posterior lobes); posterior lobes 12--14 cm long, 12.2--13.2 cm wide, obtuse; midrib drying darker than surface above; basal veins 5 pairs per side, first and second free to base, the remainder coalesced 3--6 cm; posterior rib naked to 3--3.5 cm long; primary lateral veins 5--6 per side, departing midrib at a 35--45E angle; minor veins frequently branched, arising from both the midrib and primary lateral veins, minute pustules visible between veins on both surfaces; "cross-veins" many.
INFLORESCENCES 1 per axil; peduncle 10--13 cm long, 4--5 mm diam., terete, black-drying; spathe 9.5--14 cm long, (ca. 1 time longer than peduncle), green throughout, drying with large white flecks; spathe blade 6 cm long; spathe tube 6 cm long; pistillate portion 5 cm long; spadix to 11 cm long; staminate portion 5.5--6 cm long, 7--10 mm diam.; fertile staminate portion to 1 cm diam.; sterile staminate portion 7 mm diam.; pistils 3.9 mm long; ovary (6)7--8-locular, locules 3.2 mm long, 0.4--0.5 mm diam., with axile placentation; ovules 2-seriate; funicle 0.3--0.4 mm long, adnate to lower part of partition, style similar to style type D; style apex flat; style boss small.
INFRUCTESCENCE with berries white (immature); seeds 6 per locule, 1--1.1 mm long, 0.2--0.3 mm diam., translucent.
Flowering in Philodendron jefense is documented by a single collection with immature fruits collected in December. Flowering apparently occurs during the wet season.
Philodendron jefense is endemic to Panama on Cerro Jefe in Premontane rain forest at about 800 m elevation.
Philodendron jefense is a member of P. sect. Calostigma subsect. Macrobelium ser. Reticulata. This species is distinguished by its appressed-climbing habit, short, thick internodes, sharply two-ribbed cataphylls promptly weathering to light brown, semi-organized fibers with small, thin fragments of epidermis persisting, terete petioles (about twice as long as the blades), broadly ovate, gray-green-drying blades, and solitary long-pedunculate inflorescences with the spathes green outside.
Philodendron jefense is probably closest to P. lazorii Croat, which shares broadly ovate, gray-green-drying leaf blades and semi-organized, brownish masses of persistent cataphyll fibers. The latter species differs in having matte-drying blades with the lower surface smooth and minutely brownish- or whitish-speckled, with the minor veins drying darker than the surface and weakly puckered without any sign of branching or cross-veins. In contrast, P. jefense has blades semiglossy on drying with the lower surface sparsely granular with frequently branched minor veins and with cross-veins not drying darker than the surface. The upper surface lacks any signs of raphide cells.
The species name refers to the type locality, Cerro Jefe, which has proven to be one of the most endemic-rich areas for its size of any site in Panama.
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