Biology:Maianthemum comaltepecense

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Short description: Species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family

Maianthemum comaltepecense
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Maianthemum
Species:
M. comaltepecense
Binomial name
Maianthemum comaltepecense
Espejo, López-Ferr. & Ceja

Maianthemum comaltepecense is a rare perennial, terrestrial herb found as an understory species in moist forests[1] and endemic[2] to southwest Mexico.[3]

Description

Plants grow 10–30 cm (4–12 in) tall[1] tall from branching rhizomes with roots only at the nodes. Stems are hairless, recurved and flexuous.

Leaves

Plants have 4 or 5 (sometimes 6) leaves that are sessile or short stalked. Leaf blades are 3–8.5 cm (1–3 in) long by 1–3 cm (0–1 in) wide and lance- to egg-shaped with pointed tips and rounded bases.

Flowering clusters

4 to 12 flowers are set on a compound raceme with 1 or 2 flowers per node. The raceme is 1.5 to 4.5 cm long and flexuous.

Flowers and fruits

Information on flower size and color not available. Fruits are 3-lobed, 6–9 mm across, ripening to purple with white spots.[1]

Distribution

Maianthemum comaltepecense is known only from one population in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Habitat and ecology

Found growing in moist, shaded oak forests at 2900 m. Mosses, lichens and ferns abundant.

Similar species

The complex raceme of Maianthemum comaltepecense, with 2 flowers at some nodes, is similar to that of Maianthemum canadense and Maianthemum dilatatum, however the leaves are quite different and the distributions are well separated. Maianthemum scilloideum is similar and also found in Mexico, but plants are more robust, generally have 8 to 12 leaves per stem and the fruits are usually spherical and red at maturity.

References

Bibliography

Wikidata ☰ Q15522459 entry