Research Paper

A new species of Sonerila (Melastomataceae) serendipitously discovered in Pasonanca Natural Park, Zamboanga City, Southwestern Philippines with notes on S. woodii

Mark Arcebal K. Naive, J. Peter Quakenbush

Published on: 23 August 2023

Page: 318 - 322

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2023.68.318

Abstract

A species new to science, Sonerila mapelo Naive, discovered in Pasonanca Natural Park, Zamboanga City, Western Mindanao, Philippines, is herewith described and illustrated. Color plates, notes on its distribution, habitat, phenology, and a comparison to its allied species are provided below. In addition, we took this opportunity to lectotypify the name S. woodii and its synonym S. lilacina. With the discovery of the new species, the Philippines now has a total of three Sonerila taxa, of which two are known to be endemic.

Keyword: Lectotypifications, Sonerila metallica, Sonerila heterophylla, Sonerileae, Tropical botany, Zamboanga Peninsula