Phytotaxa 175 (3): 141–147 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)

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Article PHYTOTAXA
Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)

http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.175.3.3

A new tree species of Schinopsis (Anacardiaceae) from Paraguay and Bolivia

VIRGINIA Y. MOGNI1, 2*, LUIS J. OAKLEY1, MARÍA VERA JIMÉNEZ3 & DARIÉN E. PRADO1, 2
1
Cátedra de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Campo Experimental Villarino, S2125ZAA
Zavalla, Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina.
2
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET).
3
Laboratorio de Análisis de Recursos Vegetales. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Para-
guay.
*Corresponding author: virginia.mogni@unr.edu.ar

Abstract

The new tree species Schinopsis boqueronensis, endemic to the Bolivian-Paraguayan Chaco, is described, illustrated and
compared to the related Schinopsis heterophylla. A distribution map and photographs of the new species are also provided.

Key words: Boquerón, Chaco, South America, taxonomy

Introduction

The genus Schinopsis Engl. (1876: 403) (Subfamily Anacardioideae, Family Anacardiaceae, Order Sapindales; Judd
et al., 1999; Pell, 2004) has a restricted geographical distribution in the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTF, sensu
Prado, 2000), but is also found in the subtropical Chaco forests (Prado 1993a, b) of South America. It is a small genus
of very important cultural and economic influence in the continent, characterized by its timber of extreme durability
and toughness (Barberis et al., 2012). The species of Schinopsis are also of ecological importance because are usually
dominant or co-dominant in the environments where they grow.
Meyer & Barkley (1973) included seven species in Schinopsis and placed S. heterophylla Ragonese & J. A.
Castigl. (1947: 98) as a synonym of S. quebracho-colorado (Schltdl., 1861: 139) F.A. Barkley & T. Mey. (1950: 156),
which in turn has been placed as a synonym of S. lorentzii (Griseb., 1874: 115) Engl. (1881: 46). S. heterophylla was
originally described from the Argentinean Chaco. Recently, Muñoz (1990) reinstated S. heterophylla as a distinct
species, and indicated the presence of newly collected specimens in Bolivia and Paraguay.
During the preparation of a revision of Schinopsis, the authors of the present contribution found a number of
herbarium specimens collected in Bolivia and Paraguay that were identified as S. heterophylla, but have morphological
characters that do not correspond to Ragonese & Castiglioni’s (1947) original description of the species. A thorough
morphological analysis of the specimens, together with the collection of fresh material in the field in the Paraguayan
Chaco in 2011, led us to propose here a new arboreal species, Schinopsis boqueronensis. A key to distinguish the new
species from S. heterophylla, together with illustrations, photographs and a distribution map of S. boqueronensis are
provided.

Materials and methods

Herbarium specimens at CTES, FCQ, LIL, PY and SI (Index Herbariorum, Holmgren et al., 1990) were studied.
Additionally, new material collected in central-western Paraguayan Chaco in December 2011 (deposited in FCQ,
Asunción) was also included in the analysis.
At present, the proper administrative processes are being followed in order to formally distribute duplicates of
specimens from FCQ herbarium in the near future.
Morphological characters were studied using digital calliper and a stereoscopic microscope, and are here described using
the terminology used by Ragonese & Castiglioni (1947), Barkley (1962), Meyer & Barkley (1973), and Muñoz (1990).

Accepted by Zhi-Qiang Zhang: 19 Jun. 2014; published: 8 Aug. 2014 141

Taxonomy

Schinopsis boqueronensis V. Mogni & L. Oakley, sp. nov. (Fig. 1 & Fig. 2)

Species S. heterophylla similis sed foliis simplicibus oblongatis vel ovatis, rara oblongo-lanceolatis, nervis lateralibus foliorum numerosis
atque densis, sub angulo 60–90º patentibus, parallelis, petala 5, interdum 6, samara breviter tricornuta, differt.
Type:—PARAGUAY. Presidente Hayes: Ruta trans-chaco, entre Pioneros y 25 Leguas, a la derecha del camino en dirección oeste-este,
22,73º S, 59,69º W, 16 December 2011, M. Vera, V. Mogni & L. Oakley 4240 (holotype FCQ!).

Tree 12 to 15 m tall, dark bark fracturing into irregularly quadrangular plates. Reproductive short-shoots puberulent
and spineless. Spines usually present in long-shoots, 0.37–7.35 × 0.14–0.63 cm. Leaves subcoriaceous, simple to
imparipinnately compound; petioles sparsely puberulent on margins and sometimes narrowly winged, frequently
longer in pinnate leaves (0.45–4.03 cm) than in simple ones (0.25–1.81 cm). Blades glabrate or sparsely puberulent
on the margins and principal vein; margin entire to undulate; abundant secondary veins, considerably lighter coloured
and almost parallel, with a divergence of 60° to 90° from the principal vein; upper surface shiny, with epicuticular
wax-forming punctations, mainly concentrated on the main vein; lower surface grey to pale green, densely wax-dotted
except for the veins. Simple leaves oblong, ovate, oblong-lanceolate, sometimes reniform, 1.20–6.26 × 0.63–2.20
cm; apex obtuse, to emarginate or obcordate, less commonly sub-acute, sometimes mucronate; base rounded, obtuse
to gradually cuneate. Compound leaves imparipinnate, rarely paripinnate, 2.98–29.51 × 2.45–10.14 cm, 1–9 pairs of
pinnae; rachis subquadrangular, pubescent; leaflets asymmetric, sessile to subsessile, generally oblong-lanceolate to
lanceolate, ovate, at times obovate or reniform, 0.54–7.29 × 0.48–5.89 cm, the terminal leaflet frequently larger than
the rest; apex subacute, obtuse, to emarginate, usually mucronulate; base cuneate to obtuse or rounded, very rarely
lobate. Inflorescence a pubescent terminal panicle, very short-pedunculate; bracteoles lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate,
concave, ciliate and caducous. Imperfect flowers, subsessile; sepals 5, imbricate, ovate to suborbiculate with obtuse to
rounded apex, ciliate on the margins, 1.28–1.41 × 0.84–1.02 mm; petals 5, but occasionally 6, 1.89–2.29 × 0.77–1.20
mm, greenish-white to cream-coloured, concave, ovate-elliptic, apex rounded, principal vein prominent, exceptionally
2 principal veins and consequently a dentate apex. Pistilate flowers not seen. Staminate flowers with 5 stamens,
approx. 3 mm long, anthers half the length of to equalling the filaments. Fruit a lustrous and cultriform samara, 2.5–
3.25 cm long, with persistent calyx; seminiferous portion sub-ovoid to rhomboid, 1–1.33 × 0.8–1 cm, with evident and
prominent lignified styles, persistent on the pericarp, wing 1–1.6 × 0.83–1 cm, apex obtuse; dorsal margin straight or
slightly concave, the opposite margin convex.
Distribution and habitat:—Endemic to the Bolivian-Paraguayan Chaco; up to now it has been found only
in central-west Paraguay in Presidente Hayes, Boquerón and Alto Paraguay departments, and in the south-east of
Bolivia in the Santa Cruz department (Fig. 3). The species grows between 130–900 m a.s.l. in the drier Western Chaco
phytogeographical region (sensu Prado, 1991; Prado 1993a), and it is also found in transitional areas with the more
humid Eastern Chaco. It is often associated with sand dunes, and in savannas dominated by the grasses Elionurus
muticus (Spreng., 1827: 32) Kuntze (1898: 350) and Aristida mendocina Phil. (1870: 205), where it coexists with other
species of the genus such as S. cornuta Loes. (in Loesener & Herzog, 1915: 86) and S. lorentzii. It is also associated
with other arboreal elements (Spichiger et al. 2005), such as Astronium fraxinifolium Schott (1827: 404), Jacaranda
cuspidifolia Mart. (1841: 51), Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. (1824: 60), Tabebuia aurea (Silva Manso, 1836: 40)
Benth. & Hook. f. ex S. Moore (1895: 423) and Pterogyne nitens Tul. (1843: 140).
Schinopsis boqueronensis also grows in open forests together with the species of Schinopsis mentioned above
and Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco Schltdl. (1861: 137), Ziziphus mistol Griseb. (1874: 99), Celtis ehrenbergiana
(Klotzch, 1847: 538) Liebm. (1851: 339) var. discolor (Hunz. & Dottori, 1976: 130) L. Oakley & D. Prado (2013:
127), Chloroleucon chacoense (Burkart, 1947: 513) Barneby & Grimes (1996: 140), Salta triflora (Griseb., 1879: 89)
Adr. Sánchez (2011: 708), Mimosa castanoclada Barneby & Fortunato (1987: 167), Senegalia emilioana (Fortunato &
Ciald., 1996: 217) Seigler & Ebinger (2006: 51) and Vachellia aroma (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn., 1833: 206) Seigler &
Ebinger (2005: 143).
Etymology:—The species epithet derives from ‘Boquerón’, a department of Paraguay where the species is
particularly frequent.

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FIGURE 1. Schinopsis boqueronensis. A. Brachyblast with compound leaves and inflorescence. B. Macroblast fragment usually found in
lower positions in the tree crown, showing leaf polymorphism and spines. C. Staminate flower. D. Samara.

Schinopsis (Anacardiaceae) Phytotaxa 175 (3) © 2014 Magnolia Press • 143

FIGURE 2. A. Individual of S. boqueronensis. B. Bark in detail. C, D, E. Leaf polymorphism. D. Inflorescence. F. Staminate flower. G.
Samara.

144 • Phytotaxa 175 (3) © 2014 Magnolia Press MOGNI ET AL.

 Additional specimens examined (paratypes):—BOLIVIA. Santa Cruz: Prov. Cordillera, 27 de Noviembre
y Parapetí, Chaco Boreal, March 1935, T. Rojas 7252 (LIL!)—cited in Muñoz (1990) as S. heterophylla; Parque
Nacional Kaa Iya del Gran Chaco, Laguna Azul (puesto ganadero), 24 May 1998, A. Fuentes 2397 (CTES!, LPB, MO,
USZ).—PARAGUAY. Alto Paraguay: Capitán Mayor Pablo Lagerenza, 20º S, 60º 45’W, 16 April 1978, A. Schinini &
E. Bordas 15076 (CTES!); Boquerón: Filadelfia, 18 February 1987, I. Basualdo 840 (FCQ!, MO); 17 km al norte de
Filadelfia en dirección a Montanía, 10 March 2005, R. H. Fortunato 8640 (CTES!, SI!); Ruta Transchaco a la derecha
del camino dirección este-oeste, Parque Nacional Tte. Enciso, 20,92º S 61,83º W, 14 December 2011, M. Vera, V.
Mogni & L. Oakley 4227 (FCQ!); Ruta Transchaco a la izquierda del camino dirección este-oeste, Parque Nacional
Tte. Enciso, 20,90º S 61,84º W, 14 December 2011, M. Vera, V. Mogni & L. Oakley 4238 (FCQ!); a la derecha de
camino en dirección norte-sur, a 25 km de Neuland, 22,78º S 59,94º W, 15 December 2011, M. Vera, V. Mogni & L.
Oakley 4239 (FCQ!); Parque Enciso, Ruta Transchaco km 656, 600 km al noroeste de Asunción 21º 13’S 61º 30’W,
26 January 1984, E. L. Little Jr. 40070 (G, MO, PY!); km 412, ruta IX Carlos A. López, 2 km del cruce Loma Plata,
12 January 1990, T. Florentín Peña, L. de Molas, A. Aguayo & M. Quintana 650 (CTES!); Ruta Transchaco, 21º 26’ S
61º 25’ W, 7 March 1979, A. Schinini 16444 (BACP, CTES!, SI!) –cited in Muñoz (1990) as S. heterophylla.
There exists a chance that further specimens of this new species are stored in other herbaria, probably misidentified
under S. heterophylla (Navarro 2004, Mereles 2005, Navarro et al. 2006). For example, additional specimens from
Bolivia deposited in the LPB and HSB herbaria could potentially be attributed to S. boqueronensis.

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of S. boqueronensis in South America.

Discussion:—The newly described species, S. boqueronensis, closely resembles S. heterophylla which occurs
in the Argentinean central Chaco. The two species may be readily distinguished, however, on leaf venation and
morphology, staminate flowers and samara pericarp, as summarized below:

Schinopsis (Anacardiaceae) Phytotaxa 175 (3) © 2014 Magnolia Press • 145

Identification key to distinguish S. boqueronensis from S. heterophylla:

1. Simple leaves glaucous, generally oblong-lanceolate; apex acute to gradually emarginate; base sometimes lobate; secondary veins
prominent but inconspicuous in colour, with a divergence of 55° to 60° from the principal vein. Petals 5. Samara without lignified
styles..............................................................................................................................................................................S. heterophylla
— Simple leaves green and shiny on the upper surface, lighter and grey below, generally oblong-ovate; apex emarginate, obtuse to
sub-acute; base rarely lobate; secondary veins pallid, with a divergence of 60° to 90° from the principal vein. Petals 5, occasionally
6. Samara with noticeable lignified styles..................................................................................................................S. boqueronensis

Finally, it is worth noting that the new species described presents morphological characters intermediate between S.
cornuta and S. lorentzii, with which it coexists in the field. A similar situation has been observed for S. heterophylla,
considered a possible hybrid between S. balansae Engl. (1885: 286) and S. lorentzii (Ragonese & Castiglioni, 1947,
Anzótegui, 1971, and Del Pero de Martínez, 1972).

Acknowledgements

We thank the curators of the herbaria CTES, FCQ, LIL, PY and SI for providing material for this study, Roberto
Kiesling and Jefferson Prado for their invaluable help with the Latin diagnosis, Harumi Arakaki for English language
assessment and Gwilym Lewis for his critical reading of the manuscript. We also thank Luciana Delgado for the
botanical illustrations and Germán González and Christian Vogt for their assistance during fieldwork. The authors
thank two anonymous reviewers for their very helpful and constructive comments and CONICET-Consejo Nacional
de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP 0858) and National University of Rosario, Argentina, for funding and
facilities to perform this work.

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