Mastigostyla torotoroensis 

Found only in Torotoro National Park in Bolivia, Mastigostyla torotoroensis is a bulbous perennial herb with eye-catching blue flowers.

Mastigostyla torotoroensis (Image: Darwin Project 11-010)
Mastigostyla torotoroensis (Image: Darwin Project 11-010)

Species Information

  • Scientific Name: Mastigostyla torotoroensis Huaylla & Wilkin
  • Conservation Status: Considered to be of Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN Red List criteria.
  • Habitat: Locally frequent in grikes (fissures) between limestone rocks, and in calcareous clay between rocks on open stony ridges with scattered low vegetation.
  • Key Uses: None known.
  • Known hazards: None known.

Taxonomy

  • Class: Equisetopsida
  • Subclass: Magnoliidae
  • Superorder: Lilianae
  • Order: Asparagales
  • Family: Iridaceae
  • Genus: Mastigostyla

About this species

Mastigostyla torotoroensis is an attractive and newly discovered member of the iris family (Iridaceae) from Bolivia. It flowers very briefly towards the end of the rainy season, especially in March. The shapes of both the outer and inner tepals are rather variable, so much so that it was initially thought there were two different species. The generic name is derived from the Greek words mastigos, meaning ‘whip’, and stylos, meaning ‘style’.

Geography & Distribution

Restricted to Torotoro National Park in Bolivia, where it is found from 2,550 to 2,750 m above sea level.

Description

Mastigostyla torotoroensis (Image: Darwin Project 11-010)

Mastigostyla torotoroensis (Image: Darwin Project 11-010)

An erect, perennial herb reaching 17-60 cm in height. The dark, shiny chestnut-brown to very dark brown bulb is ovoid or rounded with papery tunics. The bulb is 2.2-3 × 1.2-1.5 cm with a neck about 3-6 cm long. The plant is hairless with the exception of the leaf veins and margins which have a covering of minute stiff hairs. The linear leaves have parallel veins and longitudinal folds and taper to a long tip; there is normally one basal leaf and one or two leaves arising from the stem. The leaf-blades are 14-44 × 0.1-0.25 cm.

The 2-6 flowered inflorescence is cymose with a grooved peduncle (stalk) 64-95 mm long and two bracts of 19-28 × 3-5 mm, which are yellow-green to dark green or grey-green, and turn russet-brown at the tip when in fruit. The erect flowers have spreading, free tepals. The outer tepals are 13-16 × 3-7 mm, and dark to light blue with a white blotch at the base, sometimes with darker speckling elsewhere. The base is not differentiated into a claw and blade. The inner tepals are 8-11 × 2-3 cm, and are the same colour as the outer tepals. The filaments are united to form a 4-7 cm long, erect column. The anthers are 3-5 mm long and are each sited between a pair of the three style branches. The style branches are 3-6 mm long and divided into slender, white to bluish arms 2.5-4 mm long with a golden-yellow head. The egg-shaped ovary is 6-9 × 2-6 mm and is grooved. Details of the fruit and seeds are unknown. 

Threats & Conservation

Mastigostyla torotoroensis (Image: Darwin Project 11-010)

Mastigostyla torotoroensis (Image: Darwin Project 11-010)

Mastigostyla torotoroensis is only found in the Torotoro National Park in Bolivia’s Potosí Department. Despite being very local in distribution it is considered to be of Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN Red List criteria, because the populations of this species are quite extensive, and no immediate threat is obvious. It has been recommended that regular monitoring be carried out to ensure populations do not decline, as M. torotoroensis is of special botanical interest in this protected area due to it being endemic to the Park and an attractive and charismatic plant.

This species at Kew

Pressed and dried specimens of Mastigostyla torotoroensis are held in the Herbarium, one of the behind-the-scenes areas of Kew. Details, including images, of some of these can be seen on-line in the Herbarium Catalogue.


References & Credits

Huaylla, H., Wilkin, P. & Weber, O. (2010). Mastigostyla I. M. Johnst. in Bolivia: three new species and new data on M. cardenasii R. C. Foster. Kew Bull. 65: 1-14.

Images: With thanks to John Wood and Darwin Project 11-010

Kew Science Editor: Paul Wilkin
Kew contributors: Odile Weber
Copyediting: Emma Tredwell
Kew would like to thank the following contributors: Hibert Huaylla (Herbario Chuquisaca, Bolivia); John Wood (Plant Sciences Department, University of Oxford). The research project which led to the discovery and description of this species was funded by the Darwin Initiative.

While every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained in these pages is reliable and complete, the notes on hazards, edibility and suchlike included here are recorded information and do not constitute recommendations. No responsibility will be taken for readers’ own actions. Full website terms and conditions.




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