Forzzaea pseudomicra Leme

Leme, Elton M. C., Ribeiro, Otávio B. C., Souza, Fernanda Vidigal D., Souza, Everton Hilo De, Kollmann, Ludovic J. C. & Fontana, André P., 2020, Miscellaneous new species in the “ Cryptanthoid complex ” (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae) from Eastern Brazil, Phytotaxa 430 (3), pp. 157-202 : 173

2.3. Forzzaea pseudomicra Leme & O. B. C. Ribeiro, sp. nov. ( Figs. 7 A–F )

Diagnosis:— This new species is morphologically closely related to F. micra , but differs from it by its comparatively larger leaf rosette (7–15 cm vs. 3–8 cm in diameter), leaf blades larger (4–9 × 0.4–0.6 cm vs. 1.1–4.1 × 0.15– 0.3 cm), densely lepidote adaxially, with trichomes almost completely obscuring the leaf color (vs. subdensely lepidote, with trichomes not obscuring the leaf color), sepals connate at the base for 1–1.5 mm (vs. free), petals yellowish-white (vs. white), connate at the base for 2–4 mm (vs. free), and stigma lobes without papillae (vs. sparsely papillate).

Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Couto de Magalhães de Minas, right side of Manso River, proximity of Cachoeira da Fábrica, trail from Cachoeira da Fábrica to garimpo area, 806 m elevation, 18°07’32.1” S, 43°26’29.4” W, 9 August 2017, E. Leme 9231, O. Ribeiro & R. Oliveira (holotype RB!).

Description:— Plants stemless, flowering ca. 2.5 cm tall, propagating by short basal shoots. Leaves 20–25 in number, coriaceous mainly toward the base, spreading-recurved, forming a dense rosette 7–15 cm in diameter; sheath subtrapeziform, inconspicuous, 0.6–0.8 × 1 cm, greenish-white, glabrescent toward the base, densely and coarsely white lepidote at distal end; blade sublinear-attenuate, then acuminate, with slightly pungent apex, 4–9 × 0.4–0.6 cm, V-shaped canaliculate, distinctly nerved mainly abaxially, green but the color partially obscured by the trichomes, the surfaces not at all contrasting with each other, densely and coarsely white lepidote, margins densely to subdensely spinose; spines 0.5–1.7 mm long, 2–6 mm apart, triangular, prevailingly straight but sometimes retrorse or antrorse. Inflorescence sessile, compound, ca. 1 cm long, ca. 1 cm in diameter (not including the primary bracts); primary bracts resembling the leaves, subspreading-recurved; flower fascicles ca. 5 in number, densely arranged, complanate, ca. 12 × 6 mm (excluding the petals), mostly 2-flowered; floral bracts triangular, apex acuminate, slightly incurved or recurved, hyaline and membranaceous toward the base, greenish-white toward the apex, coarsely white lepidote at the apex with fimbriate trichomes, glabrous elsewhere, finely nerved, distinctly exceeded by the sepals, carinate, 7–8 × 6 mm, margins entire. Flowers all perfect, sessile, 17–18 mm long, distinctly fragrant; sepals narrowly oblong to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 7–8 × 2–2.5 mm, connate at the base for 1–1.5 mm, greenish-white, white lepidote at the apex with fimbriate trichomes, obtusely carinate or carinate; petals spathulate, 12–14 × 3–3.5 mm, connate at the base for 2–4 mm, yellowish-white, obtuse-emarginate, without papillae along the margins, distinctly longer than the stamens but spreading at anthesis and exposing them, bearing 2 conspicuous longidutinal callosities to 5–8 mm above the base; filaments subequal in length, 8–9 mm long, adnate to the petals for 2–4 mm and forming an inconspicuous basal concrescence with the style; anthers ca. 2.5 mm long, dorsifixed near the base, base distinctly bilobed, apex apiculate, strongly recurved mainly at late anthesis; pollen oblate, ca. 50 μm in diameter (longest axis), sulcate, sulcus bearing sparse exine elements, margins indistinct, exine microreticulate; ovary ca. 2.5 × 2 mm, trigonous, white, glabrous; epigynous tube lacking; ovules few (ca. 6 in number), obtuse; placentation apical; style exceeding the anthers; stigma simple-erect, yellowish, lobes longer than broad, partially connate at the base, nearly flat at the apex, spathulate, rounded, apical margins entire, without papillae. Fruits unknown.

Distribution, habitat and conservation:— Forzzaea pseudomicra is known from the type locality only, not far from Cachoeira da Fábrica, in the county of Couto de Magalhães de Minas, Minas Gerais state, at an elevation of 806 m. It grows as saxicolous in crevices in more or less vertical quartzitic rock surfaces in the Campos Rupestres, forming small but dense groups of plants scattered in the area ( Fig. 7 A–B ). This population is situated about 10 km in straight line from the area where F. micra is found, in the State Park of Rio Preto, county of São Gonçalo do Rio Preto. However both areas constitute two distinct blocks of montain ranges, being separated by a lower, 2 to 3 km wide valley partially covered by forests and Cerrado vegetation, which may represents a natural barrier segregating both populations.

The vegetation of the type location of F. pseudomicra is comparatively well preserved but the absence of more complete data on the size and extension of its population suggests its conservation status as a “data deficient” species (DD).

Etymology:—The similarity of this new species with F. micra , with which it can be easily confused, is the origin for its name, meaning a “false” F. micra .

Additional specimen examined (paratype):–– BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Couto de Magalhães de Minas, right side of Manso River, proximity of Cachoeira da Fábrica, trail from Cachoeira da Fábrica to “garimpo” area, 806 m elevation, 18° 07’ 32.1” S, 43° 26’ 29.4” W, 9 August 2017, E. Leme 9232, O. Ribeiro & R. Oliveira (RB!).

Observations:— Forzzaea pseudomicra is morphologically closely related to F. micra (Louzada, Wand. & Versieux, in Versieux et al. 2010: 13) Leme, S. Heller & Zizka (2017: 68), which we observed and photographed in details at the type locality, in the State Park of Rio Preto, São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, Minas Gerais state, but we did not collect samples. We also studied living specimens of F. micra collected at the type locality and introduced into cultivation at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (Martinelli 18931, Fig. 7 G–I ). The data obtained in loco, from cultivated specimens, as well as the detailed description and illustration provided in the protologue allowed us to establish the differences presented here. So, this new species differs from its morphologically closest relative by its larger leaf rosette (7–15 cm vs. 3–8 cm in diameter), leaf blades larger (4–9 × 0.4–0.6 cm vs. 1.1–4.1 × 0.15–0.3 cm), densely lepidote adaxially, with trichomes almost completely obscuring the leaf color (vs. subdensely lepidote, with trichomes not obscuring the leaf color), sepals connate at the base for 1–1.5 mm (vs. free), petals yellowish-white (vs. white), connate at the base for 2–4 mm (vs. free), anthers strongly recurved at anthesis (vs. slightly recurved only), pollen larger (ca. 50 μm vs. ca. 40 μm), and stigma lobes without papillae (vs. sparsely papillate).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Forzzaea pseudomicra from the right side of Manso River, Couto deMagalhães de Minas,Minas Gerais state:A–B. Saxicolous habit at the type locality. C–D. Specimen flowering in cultivation (Leme 9231 et al.). C. Habit, indicating the smaller proportion of the flower in relation to the vegetative part of the plant. D. Details of the inflorescence and flower. E. Detail of the flowers of a specimen flowering in cultivation (Leme 9232 et al.). F. Simple-erect stigma type. G–I. Forzzaea micra which flowered in cultivation (Martinelli 18931). G. Simple-erect stigma type. H. Details of the flowers. I. Habit, indicating the larger proportion of the flower in relation to the vegetative part of the plant.