Trichostema gracile K. S. McClell., 2023

Mcclelland, R. Kevan Schoonover, Weakley, Alan S. & Poindexter, Derick B., 2023, Seven new species of Trichostema (Lamiaceae: Ajugoideae) from the North American Coastal Plain biodiversity hotspot, Phytotaxa 603 (2), pp. 95-149 : 118-121

Trichostema gracile K. S. McClell. sp. nov. ( Figures 16 and 17 )

Diagnosis: —Suffrutescent perennial to 60 cm tall, morphologically most similar to Trichostema suffrutescens . It differs from T. suffrutescens by branching regularly in the middle to upper part of the plant (vs. primarily near the base), its narrower leaves of 0.26–0.56 cm (vs. 1.13–1.74 cm), larger leaf length/width ratio of 3.87–7.08 (vs. 2.39–3.05), an ecological preference for mesic to scrubby flatwoods (vs. and ecological preference for scrub and scrub-sandhill ecotones), and a geographic restriction to xeric habitats off the main central ridge systems of Florida (vs. a geographic restriction to the main central ridge systems).

Type: — U.S.A. Florida. Highlands County. Roadside clearing in scrubby flatwoods, Avon Park Air Force Range , 14 October 2018, R. Kevan Schoonover McClelland, Edwin Bridges, and Steve Orzell 199a–f (holotype NCU!; isotypes FLAS!, GH!, NY!, US!, USF!) . Note: Specimens R. Kevan Schoonover McClelland 199a–f represent a single gathering in accordance with Article 8.2 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018).

Suffrutescent perennial to 60 cm tall; branching primarily in the middle to upper part of the plant; stem hairs downwardly curved to two, occasionally to three, cells long ( Figure 1h ), with sessile glands; node hairs downwardly curved, occasionally spreading, to two, occasionally to three, cells long ( Figure 1h ); leaves widest towards the tip or near the middle, rarely widest towards the base, (1.3–)1.69–2.44(–3) × (0.2–)0.26–0.56(–0.88), average of 2.06 × 0.41, cm, (2.5–)3.87–7.08(–9.6), average of 5.47, times long as wide, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire, apex rounded, occasionally obtuse, rarely emarginate or ±90°; inflorescence hairs spreading, occasionally upwardly curved, rarely downwardly curved, to three cells long, with sessile and spreading glands to two cells long (including gland); bracts widest towards the tip, rarely widest near the middle, (2.5–)3.36–5.46(–6.7) × (0.7–)0.83–1.64(–2.3), average of 4.41 × 1.24, mm, (1.81–)2.86–4.63(–5.67), average of 3.74, times long as wide, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse, occasionally rounded; fruiting calyx (4.4–)5.07–5.87(–6.3), average of 5.45, mm long; buds purple-black to dark blue-purple, corolla dark blue or blue-purple to blue or blue-purple; anthers dark blue or blue-purple to blue or blue-purple; style bifid, the longer arm 4–6, rarely as little as 3 or as much as 9, times as long as the shorter; mature nutlets alveolate, (1.4–)1.48–1.73(–1.9), average of 1.61, mm long, hilum (0.3–)0.42–0.61(–0.7), average of 0.52, mm long, (0.21–)0.27–0.37(–0.44), average of 0.32, times the length of the nutlet, alveoli small, rarely mid-sized, ridges tall, occasionally mid-sized ( Figure 2i ).

Phenology: —Flowers and fruits September to December. Some plants will have a small number of flowers March to April.

Etymology: —The epithet gracile (Latin: thin, slender) is given to this species based on its overall habit. It often has only one or a few erect stems whose short slender leaves give the plants a wand-like appearance, especially when vegetative. The common name Flatwoods Bluecurls is chosen for this species based on its ecological distribution.

Habitat and distribution: — Trichostema gracile occurs in mesic to scrubby flatwoods; 5–40 meters; USA: Florida: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia Counties. ( Figure 18 )

Conservation status: —This species is quite widespread throughout the central and southern parts of the Florida Peninsula; however, the number of populations and their sizes are affected by its habitat requirements. Based on the data collected for this study, this species should be recognized at a G3 ranking (NatureServe 2020).

Notes: — Trichostema gracile corresponds to Lewis’ “ Trichostema suffrutescens with exceptionally narrow leaves” ( Lewis 1945).

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — U.S.A. Florida: S. Florida, s.d., Anonymous s.n. ( USCH!); Brevard County: Near Cocoa Fla., April 1935, Beardslee s.n. ( MU!); Indian River region , Brevard Co. , 26 October 1902, Fredholm 5508 ( US!); N. verge of disturbed field behind horse barns, 28.162883 N, 80.667483 W, 15 November 2002, MacClendon 119 ( FTG!, USF!); Wickham Park, 28.158017 N, 80.659217 W, 12 October 2002, MacClendon & Weichman 108 ( USF!); Broward County: Tamarac, sand pine area south of Executive Airport, 8 October 1973, Correll, Correll & Brackmann 40211 ( FTG!); Charlotte County : Prairie / Shell Creek ( SWFWMD) property; 0.5 km W of US 17, 0.6 km N of Taralane Drive., 26.991389 N, 81.964167 W, 11 September 2010, Franck 2300 ( USF!); Prairie / Shell Creek ( SWFWMD) property; 0.25 km W of US 17, 0.4 km N of Taralane Drive., 26.989722 N, 81.795 W, 30 October 2010, Franck 2416 ( USF!); Collier County: Collier Enterprises Scrub (Coll 26). Sec 23, T50 S, R25 E (Naples South Quad )., 26.101616 N, 81.774102 W, 19 February 1986, Huck & Christman 3392 ( FLAS!); Highlands County: Avon Park Air Force Range, 27.603922 N, 81.15660278 W, 14 October 2018, McClelland , Bridges & Orzell 200 ( NCU!); Avon Park Air Force Range , 27.601983 N, 81.157172 W, 12 November 2017, Schoonover, II, Bridges & Orzell 121 ( NCU!); Hillsborough County : End of Allen Rd. off C. R. 674, 2 October 1990, Eilers s.n. ( USF!); Ca. 3.5 mi. SE of Riverview at Shadow Run development; ca. 0.5 mi. S of W end of lake., 26 October 1979, Hansen, Richardson & Crewz 6766 ( USF!); Balm-Boyette Tract , 3.0 mi. SSW of Boyette. T31 S, R21 E, Sec. 18, SE 1/4 of SW 1/4., 27.782776 N, 82.248499 W, 23 September 1994, Landry & Vandaveer s.n. ( USF!); Balm-Boyette Tract , 2.9 mi. SSW of Boyette. T31 S, R21 E, Sec 18, SE 1/4 of SE 1/4., 27.782776 N, 82.248499 W, 8 September 1994, Landry & Vandaveer s.n. ( USF!); Little Manatee River State Park, 27.673819 N, 82.37720833 W, 8 June 2018, McClelland 133 ( NCU!); Triple Creek Nature Preserve , 27.786342 N, 82.262044 W, 16 October 2021, McClelland & Schoonover 214 ( NCU!); Little Manatee River State Park : T32 S, R19 E, Sect. 23, SE 1/4, SW 1/4. Picnic area; between 2 pavilions to the East., 27.676477 N, 82.37945 W, 15 October 1998, Myers 185 ( USF!); About six miles southeast of Tampa, 28 October 1960, Ray, Jr., Lakela & Patman 10564 ( USF!); East of Balm-Boyette Road about 1.5 miles north of Balm , section 18, Township 31 S, Range 21 E., 27.782776 N, 82.248499 W, 23 October 1975, Shuey 1502 ( USF!); Indian River County: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, southwest quadrant along blue trail, 27.805497 N, 80.51129167 W, 9 August 2017, McClelland & Schoonover 100 ( NCU!); Lee Co. , Florida, 18 October 1931, Buswell s.n. ( FLAS!, FTG!); Estero Bay Preserve , Estero River Scrub Unit , south of Lazy Creek Blvd. , 26.47229214 N, 81.8370023 W, 14 October 2021, Horn s.n. ( NCU!); Manatee County : Wingate Creek State Preserve : SW 1/4, NW 1/4, NE 1 /4, S7 , T35 S, R22 E, 27.453731 N, 82.140431 W, 11 September 1997, Becker & Hattaway WC 0268 ( USF!); South Fork State Preserve [Now part of Beker State Park]: in S portion of preserve; SE 1/4, SW 1/4, SW 1/4, NE 1 /4, S20 , T33 S, R21 E, 27.593339 N, 82.225057 W, 1 April 1995, Cole & Owens SF0320 ( USF!); Hwy 64, 15 mi. E of Bradenton, Manatee River Fish Control , park area., 25 October 1975, Genelle & Fleming 2222 ( USF!); Wingate Creek State Park , 27.454975 N, 82.14414444 W, 8 June 2018, McClelland 132a ( NCU!); Wingate Creek State Park , 27.454975 N, 82.14414444 W, 8 June 2018, McClelland 132b ( NCU!); Martin County: on N side of main road through Jonathan Dickinson SP, ca. 0.6 I W of railroad crossing, ca. 3.4 air mi SSE of Hobe Sound, 27.011667 N, 80.123611 W, 1 November 1995, Bridges & Mears 23964 ( FTG!); Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 27.015697 N, 80.12630556 W, 13 November 2017, McClelland & Orzell 123 ( NCU!); Haney Creek Park, Stuart, 27.225553 N, 80.257111 W, 15 October 2021, McClelland & Schoonover 212 ( NCU!); Jonathan Dickinson State Park . near the river camping area., 15 October 1978, Popenoe 1446 ( FTG!, NCU!); on St. Rd. 85, 5 miles S. of Stuart, 9 November 1945, West & West s.n. ( FLAS!); Orange County: UCF Campus, next to Lake Claire , 28 October 1986, Bard 861028-1 ( FTU!); Christmas Florida, 26 October 1962, Craighead s.n. ( FTG!); Osceola County : Bull Creek Mgt. Area . T27 S, R34 E, Sec 30., 28.077666 N, 80.915205 W, 13 October 1977, Huck 1512 ( NCU!); NC edge of Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area , S31 , R34 E, T27 S., 28.074755 N, 80.911369 W, 15 October 1978, Lotspeich 522 ( FLAS!); Palm Beach County: Riverside Drive, Tequesta, 4 October 1969, McCart 11065 ( FLAS!, NCU!); Sarasota County : Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, Jordyn Parcel, northern parcel limit 4.5 miles east of intersection of S. Moon Dr. and Border Road, I-75 borders to the south., 27.102778 N, 82.266944 W, 23 October 2009, Birch, Amos, Holst & Troxell 434 ( USF!); Seminole County: Longwood, Fla. , October 1930, Beardslee 288 ( MU!); Resience at 2409 Fawn Run , Oviedo. Found in the Oak hammock in the middle of the property., 15 November 2010, Onisko 62 ( FTU!); Volusia County : Tiger Bay State Forest , 29.187583 N, 81.16824167 W, 12 August 2017, McClelland & Schoonover 103 ( NCU!); Tiger Bay State Forest : Rima Ridge Tract , 29.173 N, 81.160936 W, 15 October 2021, McClelland & Schoonover 211 ( NCU!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Detail of the stem and node trichomes of Trichostema section Trichostema. A) Trichostema dichotomum, B) T. setaceum, C) T. suffrutescens, D) T. nesophilum, E) T. floridanum, F) T. fruticosum, G) T. bridgesii-orzellii, H) T. gracile, I) T. hobe, J) T. microphyllum. Photos by R. Kevan Schoonover McClelland.

FIGURE 2. Detail of the nutlets of Trichostema section Trichostema. A) Trichostema dichotomum, B) T. setaceum, C) T. suffrutescens, D) T. nesophilum, E) T. floridanum, F) T. fruticosum, G) T. latens, H) T. bridgesii-orzellii, I) T. gracile, J) T. hobe, K) T. microphyllum. Trichostema dichotomum (A) shows large alveoli and tall ridges. T. latens (G) shows small alveoli and shorter ridges. Photos by Derick Poindexter.

FIGURE 16. Holotype specimen of Trichostema gracile in situ. Photo by R. Kevan Schoonover McClelland.

FIGURE 17. Holotype specimen of Trichostema gracile. Photo by R. Kevan Schoonover McClelland.

FIGURE 18. Approximate range of Trichostema gracile based on field data and herbarium records.