Peperomia sulbahiensis D. Monteiro & M. Coelho, 2016

Monteiro, Daniele, Leitman, Paula & Coelho, Macielle M., 2016, Two new Peperomia (Piperaceae) species from Southern Bahia, Brazil, Phytotaxa 258 (3), pp. 287-294 : 291-292

Peperomia sulbahiensis D. Monteiro & M. Coelho , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2F–J and Fig. 3C–D )

Rupiculous herb, entirely densely long-villous, with reddish stem, leaves alternate, ovate, with base cordate, sometimes peltate, apex acuminate and venation campylodromous; spike erect, equal or longer than the peduncle; fruit globose with mamiliform apex. Type:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Barro Preto, Reserva Serra da Pedra Lascada , 14º46’6”S 39º32’18”W, 626 m elev., 6 December 2011 (fl., fr.), D. Monteiro et al. 571 (holotype RB!, isotype CEPEC!) .

Rupiculous herb, ca. 30 cm long, stoloniferous, reptant, entirely long villous, trichomes 1–2 mm long; stems ascendent, succulent and reddish; internodes 0.6–1.5 cm long. Leaves alternate, discolorous, translucid, membranaceous; petiole 7– 12(–14) cm long, reddish and long villous; leaf blade 6.5–11(–16) × 5.5–9(–11,5) cm, ovate, apex acuminate, base cordate, with open sinus, sometimes slightly peltate, inconspicuously glandulose, densely villous on both surfaces, venation campylodromous, with 9 veins, sunken adaxially. Spikes 8–13(–17) cm × 2 mm, erect, light green; peduncle(6.5–)9.5–12(– 14) cm long, densely long villose, reddish; rachis densely covered with flowers, glabrous, foveolate, smooth; floral bract ca. 0.3 mm diam., round, peltate, glabrous, densely covered with brown to reddish glands; ovary globose, in a depression of the rachis. Fruits 1 × 1 mm, globose, slightly immersed on the rachis, with mamiliform apex, and apical stigma.

Distribution and habitat:— Peperomia sulbahiensis was found on rocks in humid and shaded areas, between 600 and 900 m elev. It is known only from two montane forest fragments in southern Bahia (SCO-Almadina and SPL- Barro Preto, Fig. 1 ) that are about 18 km apart.

Phenology: —Fertile specimens of P. sulbahiensis have been collected in December only.

Etimology:—The specific epithet refers to the locality where the examined material was collected, in the southern Bahia state.

Conservation status: — Peperomia sulbahiensis can be considered as Endangered (EN B1ab[i, ii, iii]) ( IUCN 2014), for being known only from two populations in two mountain forest fragments, both outside conservation units and historically with intense anthropogenic pressure.

Comments:— Peperomia sulbahiensis is a stoloniferous herb, rupiculous, densely long-villous, characterized by its reddish stems, alternate leaves, ovate blade with cordate base and venation campylodromous. The spike and peduncle are long, erect and the fruits are globose with mamiliform apex. This new species, assigned to subgenus Multipalmata , resembles P. arifolia Miquel (1843: 72) differing by number of leaf venation (9–11veins), its complete glabrousness and life form (vs. epiphytic or terrestrial).

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— BRAZIL. Bahia: Almadina, Serra do Corcovado, Fazenda São José , propriedade do Sr. Francisco, 14º42’15”S 39º36’10”W, 628 m elev., 6 December 2011 (fl., fr.), D. Monteiro et al. 583 ( RB!) ; Almadina, Serra do Corcovado, 13, 8 km ao SW de Coaraci na estrada para Almadina. Fazenda São José, propriedade Senhor Francisco , 14º42’21”S 39º36’12”W, 650–900 m elev., 17 December 2006 (fl., fr.), R. A. X. Borges et al. 419 ( CEPEC!, NY, RB!, SP) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map showing the location of the municipalities of Bahia state, where P. epipremnifolia and P. sulbahiensis were collected. A–D. photo of locations:A- SCO,Almadina; B- SPL, Barro Preto; C- SLNP,Arataca; D- SBPR, Camacan. Photos by D. Monteiro.

FIGURE 2. A–E. Peperomia epipreminifolia (D. Monteiro et al. 556): A. Habit; B. Detail of trichomes on leaf margin; C. Peduncular bract; D. Detail of spike; E. Fruit. F–J. Peperomia sulbahiensis (D. Monteiro et al. 571): F. Habit; G. Detail of leaf base; H. Detail of trichomes; I. Detail of spike; J. Fruit.

FIGURE 3. Photos of the species in its natural habitats. A–B. Peperomia epipreminifolia (Photos by P. Leitman): A. Habit; B. Branch with spike. C–D. (Photos by M. M. Coelho): Peperomia sulbahiensis. C. Habit; D. Branch with spikes.