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\begin{document}

\title{Rediscovery of Thottea philippinensis (Aristolochiaceae) from
Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape, Zamboanga Sibugay including the
confirmation on the occurrence of Thottea tomentosa in the Philippines}



\author[1]{Mark Arcebal Naive}%
\author[2]{Donnafe Ancheta}%
\author[2]{Jannah Yongco}%
\author[2]{Bea Katrina Fulgencio}%
\affil[1]{University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences}%
\affil[2]{Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology}%


\vspace{-1em}



  
  \date{May 26, 2024}


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\selectlanguage{english}
\begin{abstract}
Collecting expeditions carried out in the Zamboanga Peninsula of western
Mindanao led to the rediscovery of Thottea philippinensis, previously
known only by a single collection made 93 years ago in the Philippines.
Thus, in this paper, we provide descriptions, comments on the affinities
among closely related species, an updated geographical distribution,
habitat information, conservation assessment, and the first-ever
published photos of living T. philippinensis in the wild. Additionally,
we include notes on confirming the occurrence of T. tomentosa in the
Philippine archipelago.%
\end{abstract}%



\sloppy


Collecting expeditions carried out in the Zamboanga Peninsula of western
Mindanao led to the rediscovery of \emph{Thottea philippinensis} ,
previously known only by a single collection made 93 years ago in the
Philippines. Thus, in this paper, we provide descriptions, comments on
the affinities among closely related species, an updated geographical
distribution, habitat information, conservation assessment, and the
first-ever published photos of living \emph{T. philippinensis} in the
wild. Additionally, we include notes on confirming the occurrence
of\emph{T. tomentosa} in the Philippine archipelago.

Keywords: Aristolochioideae, biodiversity, Plant Taxonomy, Western
Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula

\textbf{Introduction}

Family Aristolochiaceae also known as birthwort is represented by over
700 species belonging to 8 genera. They are primarily tropical plant
family extending to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere that
encompass a range of plant forms, including small to medium-sized vines
and lianas, geophytes that emerge from thickened rootstocks or tubers,
as well as shrubs or small trees (Neinhuis et al. 2005). In the
Philippines, Aristolochiaceae is poorly known represented by two
genera:\emph{Aristolochia} L. with 11 species and \emph{Thottea} Rottb.
with a single species (\emph{T. philippinensis} Quisumbing). We suspect
that future fieldwork focusing on collecting Aristolochiaceae species
will probably result in the discovery of more species, either endemic or
as new records from neighboring countries.

Fresh materials of unknown \emph{Thottea} species were collected in
Pasonanca Natural Park, Zamboanga City in April 2023, and in
Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape, Zamboanga Sibugay in June 2023 as
part of the authors' ongoing exploratory and conservation work on
flowering plants within the Zamboanga Peninsula. The specimen collected
from Zamboanga City has been identified as \emph{Thottea
tomentosa}(Blume) Ding Hou, using the key provided by Mustaqim \& Putra
(2020). This species is distributed in Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh,
Jawa, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand,
and Vietnam. In contrast, the specimen collected from Naga-Kabasalan
Protected Landscape, Zamboanga Sibugay was found matching with the long
lost and poorly known species \emph{T. philippinensis} Quisumbing.
Hence, this study prompted us to provide an extended description,
updated geographical distribution, habitat and a provisional IUCN
conservation assessment for \emph{T. philippinensis} and confirm the
occurrence of \emph{T} . \emph{tomentosa} in the Philippine archipelago.
With the inclusion of \emph{T} . \emph{tomentosa} , the Philippines now
holds a total of two \emph{Thottea} species.

\textbf{Materials and methods}

The measurements and descriptions were based on freshly collected
materials. Multiple photographs were taken using Canon EOS 800D and
coloured plates were prepared and edited in Affinity Photo software.
Flowers were preserved in 70\% ethanol and were subjected to
stereomicroscopy. The general plant descriptive terminology follows
Beentje (2016). Herbarium citations follow Index Herbariorum (Thiers
2023). Relevant specimens and literature of \emph{Thottea} species from
the Philippines and neighbouring countries were examined in different
herbaria through high-resolution images from Global Plants on JSTOR
accessed at https://plants.jstor.org/ or Global Biodiversity Information
Facility (GBIF) accessed from https://www.gbif.org. An assessment of the
conservation status was carried out following IUCN (2022), based on our
current knowledge and using their terminology on categories, criteria
and subcriteria.

\textbf{Taxonomic treatment}

\emph{Thottea philippinensis} \textbf{Quisumbing, Philip. J. Sci. 41:
322. 1930;} Ding Hou, Blumea 27: 306. 1981; Blumea 29: 242. 1983; Fl.
Males. Ser. 1, 10: 75. 1984. \textbf{(Figs. 1, 2)}

\textbf{Type:} PHILIPPINES. Mindanao, Lanao Province, Santo Cogon, in
dipterocarp forests, elev. 150 m, 22 April 1926, \emph{T.N. Roque
30249}(holotype: UC378498-image seen!).

Description

Erect, subshrub, up to 70 cm tall. \emph{Stem} arising from rhizome,
simple, terete, sulcate, 7--8 mm in diameter, ascending, puberolous,
olive green to green, non-leafy part quite straight, leafy part
flexuous. \emph{Leaves} up to 9 per stem, 15--25 cm long,
subsessile;\emph{petiole} short, 4--6 mm long, 3--4 mm in diameter,
densely pubescent, swollen, green; \emph{lamina} lanceolate to
oblanceolate,14.6--24.6 cm long by 4.3--8.5 cm wide, coriaceous,
adaxially green, glabrous, abaxially pale green, glabrous except the
veins, margin entire, inconspicuously revolute, base obtuse, apex short
acuminate; \emph{midveins} slightly prominent, glabrous adaxially,
distinctly raised, densely puberolous abaxially; \emph{lateral
veins}8--13 pairs. \emph{Inflorescence} at the basal part of the stem,
touching the ground, covered with dried leaves, 6--7 cm long, bearing
1--4 flowers; \emph{peduncle} terete, 4--5 cm long, spiciform,
pubescent, brownish cream to pale brown; \emph{bracts} dimorphic,
lanceolate to elliptic, 6.0--7.5 mm long by 4--5 mm wide, striate,
yellowish brown, densely pubescent, margin entire, apex acute to bifid,
lobules 3--4 mm long by 1.0--1.3 mm wide. \emph{Pedicel and
ovary}terete, bent, tapering, 15--18 mm long, 2--3 mm in diameter,
densely pubescent, sulcate, brownish red. \emph{Perianth} campanulate,
1.5--1.8 cm long, 1.8--2.1 cm in diameter, corrugated, burgundy, densely
pubescent outside, pale burgundy, with white hairs inside;
\emph{tube}1.8--1.9 cm long; \emph{lobes} broadly triangular, 1.0--1.1
cm long by 13--15 cm wide, concave, apex acute, revolute. \emph{Stamens}
in 2 whorls, upper whorl 8--10, lower whorl 12--14; \emph{filament}
1.0--1.5 mm long, glabrous; \emph{anthers} oblong, 1.1--1.3 mm long.
\emph{Style}column 5--7 mm long, \emph{lobes} 4--6, glabrous.
\emph{Capsule}fusiform, 2--3 cm long, pubescent; \emph{seeds} not seen.

Phenology

Observed flowering and fruiting in the months of May--June. According to
Quisumbing (1930) and Hou (1984), this species flowers and fruits in
March, April and September.

Distribution and habitat

Philippines (Lanao Province) and Borneo (4\textsuperscript{th} Div,
Lambir Nat. Park). At present, the species was recently found in
Barangay Tilubog, Municipality of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay province
extending its distribution range where it grows in deeply shaded broad
leaved forest near the trail and rubber plantation at elevation of
between 200 to 300 m a.s.l. In the type locality, the species was found
growing in the dipterocarp forest at 150 m a.s.l. (Quisumbing 1930). In
Sarawak, the species was found growing in dipterocarp forest and on
sheltered sandstone cliff at elevations between 150--459 m a.s.l. (Hou
1984).

Vernacular name

According to Quisumbing (1930), this species is locally known in Lanao
as `\emph{taguibunon} '.

Proposed conservation status

Following the IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2022), we propose
this species be provisionally treated as `Endangered' (CR D). So far,
the species only been found in three localities and is quite rare. In
Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape, this species was found usually
growing along the trail and near human settlement with less than 50
mature individuals. It is likely that other populations exist in
neighboring mountain ranges of the area, thus extensive survey should be
done to ascertain the population density of this endemic species.

Specimen examined

PHILIPPINES. Western Mindanao, Zamboanga Sibugay, Naga, Naga-Kabasalan
Protected Landscape, Barangay Tilubog, elev. 220, 7 June 2023, \emph{MAK
Naive 140} (HNUL).

Taxonomic notes

\emph{Thottea philippinensis} was originally described by Eduardo
Quisumbing in 1930 based on specimens collected by T.N. Roque from Lanao
Province in the island of Mindanao. Although it has been recollected
twice in Sarawak (Hou 1984), the species have never been rediscovered in
the Philippines since it was first discovered. Through our extensive
fieldwork in Zamboanga Peninsula, on the island of Mindanao, the species
has recently been rediscovered after a lapse of 93 years.

According to Hou (1984), \emph{Thottea philippinensis} closely
resembles\emph{T. celebica} of Sulawesi (previously known as Celebes).
However,\emph{T. philippinensis} differs significantly in having these
following characters: puberolous stem (vs. pubescent in \emph{T.
celebica} ); leaves lateral veins up to 13 (vs. leaves lateral veins up
to 10 in\emph{T. celebica} ); broadly triangular with acute apex
perianth lobes (vs. semi-orbicular with subrotund or slightly apiculate
apex perianth lobes in \emph{T. celebica} ); and 4--6 style lobes (vs.
\emph{c.} 12 style lobes in \emph{T. celebica} ).

Thottea tomentosa (Blume) Ding Hou, Blumea 27(2): 328, f. 48, 49 (1981);
Hou, Fl. Males., ser. 1, 10: 79 (1984); Yao, Fl. Pen. Malaysia 5: 43
(2015). -- \emph{Ceramium tomentosum} Blume, Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. 17:
1135 (1827). -- \emph{Bragantia tomentosa} (Blume) Blume, Enum. Pl.
Javae 1: 82 (1827); Ridley, J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 57: 89
(1910); Ridley, J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 59: 161 (1911). --
\emph{Apama tomentosa} (Blume) Engl. ex Soler., Naturl. Pflanzenfam.
3(1): 272 (1889); Backer \& Bakhuizen f., Fl. Java 1: 162 (1964).
\textbf{(Fig. 3)}

\textbf{Type:} INDONESIA. Java, \emph{Herb. Blume `1690'} (lectotype L
{[}L0038821{]}, designated by Hou (1981); isolectotype L
{[}L0038822{]}).

\emph{Thottea tomentosa} is one of the widest-ranging species of the
genus distributed from India (Assam: Manipur \& S. Andaman Is.),
Bangladesh (Sylhet), Burma (Moulmein), South Vietnam (Bien Ho\selectlanguage{ngerman}á),
Peninsular Thailand. In Malesia, it is found in the Malay Peninsula
(throughout), Sumatra, West \& Central Java, and the Philippines
(Jayabas, Alabat I., Panay, Mindanao), but it has not yet been found in
Borneo. Although it was reported to occur in the Philippines, this has
become doubtful due to the \emph{T. tomentosa} found having eight
stamens instead of six, as consistently mentioned in previous studies
(Hou 1981, 1984, Yao 2015, Mustaqim et al. 2022). Therefore, it is
treated as \emph{incertae sedis} in Co's Digital Flora of the
Philippines (Pelser et al. 2011 onwards). During our recent extensive
fieldwork conducted in Pasonanca Natural Park, Zamboanga City, we
successfully collected a \emph{Thottea} species that possesses six
stamens, perfectly matching the characteristics of \emph{T. tomentosa} .
Consequently, in this paper, we definitively affirm its presence in the
Philippine archipelago, currently restricted to Zamboanga City. However,
other specimens identified as \emph{T. tomentosa} present in other parts
of the archipelago warrant further investigation, as they may
potentially represent a new species.

Distribution and habitat

Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Jawa, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Nicobar
Is., the Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, and Vietnam. In the
Philippines, the species was so far only been found in Pasonanca Natural
Park, Zamboanga City, Western Mindanao where it grows in shaded broad
leaf forest associated with bamboo and other plants species along the
riverside at approximately 150--250 m a.s.l. and was assessed as locally
rare. Based on Hou (1984) observations, the species can be found in the
forest characterized by shade and moisture, and sometimes in bamboo or
teak forest. Occasionally, they can be also found in secondary forest,
rarely on limestone, locally sometimes common, from the lowland up to
1200 m (Hou 1984).

Proposed conservation status in the Philippines

At present, the species can only be found in a single locality in the
Philippines with less than 50 mature individuals observed. Following the
following the Red List Criteria of the IUCN Standards and Petitions
Subcommittee (2022), we herein proposed this species to be treated as
Critically Endangered (CR D) in the Philippines. Although the species is
widespread, it is relatively rare in the Philippines and is threatened
by various anthropogenic activities.

Specimen examined

PHILIPPINES. Western Mindanao, Zamboanga City, Pasonanca Natural Park,
Dos Rio BMS, elev. 170 m, DATE, \emph{MAK Naive} \emph{139} (HNUL).

\textbf{Key to the \emph{Thottea} species in the Philippines}

1. Stem puberolous; leaves glabrous on both sides; stamens arranged in 2
whorls; style column 5--7 mm long, lobes
4--6\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}.\ldots{}\ldots{}.\emph{T.
philippinensis} Quisumb.

-- Stem tomentose; leaves glabrous above, densely pubescent beneath;
stamens arranged in 1 whorl; style column 2 mm long, lobes 3 (or
4)\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}\ldots{}..\emph{T.
tomentosa}(Blume) Ding Hou

\textbf{References}

Beentje, H. 2016. The Kew plant glossary: an illustrated dictionary of
plant terms. -- R. Bot. Gard. Kew.

Ding Hou. 1981. Florae Malesianae Praecursores LXII. On the
genus\emph{Thottea} (Aristolochiaceae). -- Blumea 27: 301--332.

Ding Hou. 1984. Aristolochiaceae. -- Flora Malesiana series 1, 10:
53--108.

Hou, D. 1981. Florae Malesianae Praecursores LXII On the
genus\emph{Thottea} (Aristolochiaceae). -- Blumea 27: 301--332.

Hou, D. 1984. Studies in Thai Flora: Aristolochiaceae. -- Flora
Malesiana, Ser. I, 10: 53--108.

IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee 2022. Guidelines for using the
IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Ver. 15.1. Available from:
https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/content/attachment\_files/RedListGuidelines.pdf,
(Accessed 20 June 2023).

Mustaqim, W.A. and Putra, H.F. 2020. \emph{Thottea
tapanuliensis}(Aristolochiaceae): A new species from Sumatra, Indonesia.
-- Telopea 23: 163--168.

Neinhuis, C., Wanke, S., Hilu, K., Mu\selectlanguage{english}ller, K. and Borsch, T. 2005.
Phylogeny of Aristolochiaceae based on parsimony, likelihood, and
Bayesian analyses of \emph{trnL-trnF} sequences. -- Pl. Syst. Evol. 250:
7--26.

Thiers, B. 2023 {[}continuously updated{]}. Index Herbariorum: A global
directory of public herbaria and associated staff. -- New York Botanical
Garden's Virtual Herbarium. Available from:
http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (Accessed June 2023).

Yao, T.L. 2015. Aristolochiaceae. -- In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw,
L.G. \& Soepadmo, E. (ed.) Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. II, seed
plants, vol. 5: 5--46. Kepong: Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

\textbf{Figure legends:}

\textbf{Figure 1.} \emph{Thottea philippinensis} Quisumb. A. Habit B.
Stem C. Leaves (upper: abaxial leaf, lower: adaxial leaf) D. Detail of
petiole E. Profile view of the inflorescence F. Front view of the
inflorescence. Scale bar: B and D = 5 mm, C and E = 5 cm. Photos and
prepared by: MAK Naive.

\textbf{Figure 2.} Reproductive parts of \emph{Thottea
philippinensis}Quisumb. A. Infolorescence, inset: bract B. Detail of
pedicel and ovary C. Detail of stamens and style (profile view) D.
Detail of stamens and style (top view). Scale bar: A--B = 5 mm. Photos
and prepared by: MAK Naive.

\textbf{Figure 3.} \emph{Thottea tomentosa} (Bl.) Ding Hou A. Habit B.
Detail of stem C. Inflorescence (flower profile view) D. Inflorescence
(flower front view). Scale bar: B, C and D = 5 mm. Photos and prepared
by: MAK Naive.\selectlanguage{english}
\begin{figure}[H]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=0.70\columnwidth]{figures/Thottea-philippinesnsis-Fig-1/Thottea-philippinesnsis-Fig-1}

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\end{figure}\selectlanguage{english}
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\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=0.70\columnwidth]{figures/Figure-2/Figure-2}

\end{center}
\end{figure}\selectlanguage{english}
\begin{figure}[H]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[width=0.70\columnwidth]{figures/Figure-3-T-tomentosa/Figure-3-T-tomentosa}

\end{center}
\end{figure}

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