Research Paper

Two new species of Psychotria (Rubiaceae, Psychotrieae) endemic to tropical subalpine ultramafic forest in the Philippines

Mary Ann C. Bautista, Maverick N. Tamayo, Jean Marie L. Diego, Peter W. Fritsch, Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante, Jiro T. Adorador

Published on: 13 July 2026

Page: 597 - 606

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2026.71.597

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    Abstract

    Two new species of Psychotria (Rubiaceae) endemic to tropical subalpine ultramafic forest in the Philippines, namely P. bermarii from Mt. Guiting-Guiting in Sibuyan Island and P. tagbanuarum from the Victoria–Anepahan Mountain Range and Mt. Mantalingahan on Palawan Island, are described and illustrated. Both species are morphologically similar to P. panayensis of the Gitingensis group but differ in having smaller coriaceous leaves with fewer secondary veins. Additionally, P. bermarii differs in its shorter inflorescence, sessile flowers, and ridged pyrenes, whereas P. tagbanuarum differs in its puberulent petioles and deltoid bracteoles. Both species also resemble P. macgregorii of the Subalpina group but differ in their monochotomous inflorescences. These discoveries raise the number of Psychotria species known in the Philippines to 117, highlighting the country’s unique floristic assemblage of tropical subalpine ultramafic forest and underscoring the urgent need to protect these habitats and preserve their ecological integrity.

    Keyword: endemic, Malesia, Mt. Guiting-Guiting, Mt. Victoria, Palawan, Psychotria bermarii, Psychotria tagbanuarum, Sibuyan

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