86 AROIDEANA, Vol. 28 Montrichardia arborescens (L.) Schott () Newly Reported for Mexico

Thomas B. Croat Missouri Botanical Garden P.O. Box 299 St. Louis, MO 63166 E-mail: [email protected] German Carnevali Fernandez-Concha Herbarium CICY Centro de Investigaci6n Cientifica de Yucatan A.C. (CICY) Calle 43, no. 130 Col. Chuburmi de Hidalgo 97200 Merida, Yucatan Mexico E-mail: [email protected] Leon Ibarra Gonzalez Brigada de Educaci6n para el Desarrollo Rural NQ 3 (DGETA) E-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT placed by M. linifera in the Amazon basin. The latter species occurs primarily in the The Montrichardia, represented Amazon basin ranging from southern Ve­ by M. arborescens is reported for the first nezuela (Apure, Bolivar, Guarico, Mona­ time in Mexico. gas & Sucre) to , , and . KEYWORDS Montrichardia arborescens occurs pri­ Mexico, Montrichardia, new report, Ar­ marily on the Caribbean slope in Central aceae. America, but on both slopes of the conti­ nental divide in Costa Rica and . INTRODUCTION Montrichardia linifera may actually occur in Central America based on a single ob­ The genus Montrichardia, which has servation of seen by the senior au­ not been revised since Das Pjlanzenreich thor in the village of El Real in Darien (Engler, 1911), ranges from southern Mex­ Province in Panama. No collection was ico throughout Central America to the Am­ made, but that population needs to be ex­ azon basin. The genus has only two spe­ amined since the plants had all the fea­ cies. Montrichardia arborescens (L) Schott tures of M. linifera. occurs in Central America, the Lesser An­ Montrichardia is distinguished from tilles, and northern South America. In other aroids by its rooted aquatic habit South America, it is most common in with stems appearing woody with con­ northeast in the states of Mon­ spicuous leaf scars; by large, ovate-sagit­ agas, Sucre and Delta Amacuro, but also tate blades with posterior lobes longer occurs in Gu;lrico, and ranges through the than the anterior lobe; by convolute, Phil­ Orinoco River drainage into the Amazon odendron-like spathes; and the large clus­ basin occurring in Bolfvar, Amazonas and ter of green, buoyant fruits. Sucre. The species overlaps with M. lini­ The following key from Croat & Lambert jera (Arruda) Schott in Monagas and Gmi­ (986) defines the differences in the spe­ rico states, Venezuela, but is mostly re- cies. T. B. CROAT, G. C. FERNANDEZ-CONCHA, L. 1. GONZALEZ, 2005 87 la. Blades sagittate, generally conspicuously em long blades borne on petioles to 64 em longer than broad; sinus frequently open; long. cusp of the leaf sheath 0.5-1.5 cm long; stems usually moderately slender and Specimens examined-MEXICO. Quin­ armed with sharp spines (at least near base) ...... tana Roo: Municipio Oth6n P. Blanco, vic. . . . Montricbardia arborescens (L.) Schott Ignacio Allende, 6 m from the Rio Hondo, lb. Blades cordate, generally about as broad 40 m from the main rd.; 18°22'47.32"N, as long; sinus frequently closed; cusp of 88°32' 59.3"W, 29 May 2002, M. A. Campos the leaf sheath 3-7 cm long; stems usu­ ally thick and bamboo-like, smooth or at et al. LIG-165 (CICY, MO); 17 Jan. 2003, most with minute, blunt projections ... G. Carnevali et al. 6596 (CICY, MO). .. Montricbardia linifera (Arruda) Schott UTERATURE CITED This paper constitutes the first report for M. arborescens for Mexico collected by Croat, T. B. & N. Lambert. 1986. The Ara­ Leon Ibarra Gonzalez in the State of Quin­ ceae of Venezuela. Aroideana 9:3- tana Roo at Allende, Rio Hondo stream. 214. The was uncommon in the area, and Engler, A. 1911. Araceae-Lasioideae, pp. was growing in a flat flood plain near a 1-130 In A. Engler (ed.), Das Pflan­ river in partial shade. It stood 5 m in zenreich IV, 23C (Heft 48). W. Engel­ height with stems 5 em in diam., and 38 mann, Berlin.