Wissadula excelsior (Cav.) C. Presl (1835: 118)

Bovini, Massimo G. & Baumgratz, José Fernando A., 2016, Taxonomic revision of Wissadula (Malvoideae, Malvaceae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 243 (3), pp. 201-234 : 219-220

9. Wissadula excelsior (Cav.) C. Presl (1835: 118) . Sida excelsior Cav. (1785: 27) . Abutilon excelsior (Cav.) G. Don (1831: 500) . Type:— PERU. 1857, fl., fr., A. Jussieu s.n. (Lectotype: P-Ju nº 12310!, designated by Fryxell 1988).

Abutilon patens A. St. -Hil. (1827: 200). Sida patens (A. St.-Hil.) Dietr. (1847: 851). Wissadula patens (A.St.-Hil.) Garcke (1890: 123). Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro, Fazenda Padre Manoel, without date, fl., fr., A. St.-Hilaire s.n. (lectotype: P!, designated by Fryxell 2002; isotype: F n° 9305, photo!).

Wissadula rufescens Turczaninow (1858: 202) . Type:— MÉXICO. Veracruz, Mirador, 1838, fr., L. Linden 1377 (holotype: KW; isotype: K!).

Sida calophylla Poepp. ex Schum. (1892: 444) , pro. syn.

Shrubs to treelets, 1–3.5 m tall, erects. Branches frequently spreading, whitish, flocose, trichomes ferrugineous, fasciculate, fasciculate-stipitate. Stipules ca. 0.9–1 cm long., lanceolate, free, caducous, hirsutullous to hirtellous, trichomes simple, glandular, rare fasciculate. Leaves with petioles 0.5–6 cm long, indumentum and trichomes similar to that of the branches; lamina 6–17 × 3–9.5 cm, membranaceous to chartaceous, green discolor, lanceolate to deltoid, base truncate to rounded or sub-cordate, apex acuminate or cuspidate, margin entire; adaxial surface hispid, trichomes whitish, simple and glandular, rarely multiradiate; abaxial surface tomentose, trichomes along the veins, ferrugineous, multiradiate whitish and multiradiate-stipitate. Synflorescence frondose-bracteate, pyramidal, lax; coflorescences double-raceme, 25–30 cm long; accessory axis reduced, 2(–3) flowers; anthopodium 1.5–1.8 cm long, tomentose, trichomes similar to that of the branches. Flowers with pedicel 10–12 mm long, puberulous, trichomes similar to that of the branches; calyx 4–5 mm long, sepals free to the middle below to medium portion from the apex to the middle portion, little accrescent in fruit, adaxial surface tomentose, trichomes similar to that of the branches, and frequently multiradiate-stipitate; abaxial surface pubescent, trichomes simple and fasciculate; corolla ca. 1.2 cm diam, white to beige, with yellow center; staminal column with few trichomes hyaline, simple and fasciculate-stipitate, free portion of filaments ca. 3 mm long, few trichomes hyaline, simple; ovary 5–7-celled, 3 ovules per cell; style ca. 3 mm long. Schizocarp ca. 1.1 cm diam; 5–7 mericarps, 8–9 × 4–5 mm, with large apical, spines ca. 2 mm long, constriction conspicuous, tomentose, trichomes simple, glandular; seeds 3, ca. 2 mm long, hilum tomentose, trichomes simple. ( Figs. 6g –i ).

Representative Specimens Examined — BRAZIL. Amazonas: Boa Vista do Ramos , 28 August 1923, fr., J. G. Kuhlmann 190 ( RB, RBR) ; Borba , 27 June 1983, fl., fr., S. R. Hill et al. 12856 ( INPA) ; Humaitá , 12 September 1975, fl., fr., L. M. Silva 21 & H. F. Filho ( INPA) ; Manaus, Autaz-Mirim , 25 June 1973, fl., fr., A. Loureiro et al. s.n. ( INPA) ; São Paulo de Olivença, 20 June 1971, fl., fr., G. T. Prance 14433 ( INPA, R) . Roraima: arredores da Estação Ecológica de Maracá , 08 February 1979, fr., N. A. Rosa 3108 ( MG, NY) . Pará: Altamira , 29August 1986, fl., fr., A. T. G. Dias 120 ( MG) ; Ilha de Marajó, Fazenda Ribanceira, 17 November 1969, fr., E. Oliveira 5094 ( IAN). Rondônia: Costa Marques , Chapada dos Parecis, 16 June 1984, fl., fr., C. A. Cid et al. 4596 ( INPA, RB) ; Pimenta Bueno , 19 June 1984, fl., fr., C. A. Cid et al. 4641 ( INPA) ; Rio Guaporé , ponta das Pedras Negras, 18 June 1952, fl., fr., G. A. Black & E. Cordeiro 52-15109 ( CTES, IAN) ; Santa Cruz , 29 June 1965, fl., fr., J. M. Pires & R. T. Martin 9996 ( CTES, IAN, RBR) ; Serra dos Três Irmãos , 05 July 1968, fr., G. T. Prance et al. 5644 ( MG, NY, R) . Maranhão: Buriticupu, Reserva Florestal do Rio Doce , 29 August 1991, fr., M. R. Cordeiro 2125 ( IAN) . Piauí: Bom Jardim , 07 July 1912, fl., fr., Lützelburg 1319 ( RB) . Ceará: Guaramiranga , September 1857, fl., fr., J. Huber s.n. ( MG 259 ?) . Bahia: Canavieiras, km 2 do ramal que liga a Faz. Cubículo à Canavieiras , 12 July 1978, fl., fr., T. S. Santos & L. A. Mattos Silva 3251 ( CEPEC, CTES, RB) . Mato Grosso: Aripuanã , 12 July 1974, fr., N. A. Rosa 83 ( CTES, IAN) ; Barão do Melgaço, Formigueiro , June 1918, fl., fr., J. G. Kuhlmann 2138 (R, RB, SP) ; Juína, Buriti-Juína , 12 July 1985, fr., M. Macedo & S. Assumpção 1874 ( INPA) ; Vila Bela de Sma. Trindade , 17 July 1997, fr., G. Hatschbach 66976 ( CTES, MBM) ; without locality, morrinho do Lyra , May 1918, fl., fr., J. G. Kuhlmann 2135 (R) . Goiás: 75 km of Aragarças , 700 m. s.m., 24 June 1966, fl., fr., H. S. Irwin et al. 17721 ( CTES, IAN, NY) ; Goiânia, margens do rio João Leite , 07 June 1968, fr., J. A. Rizzo & A. Barbosa 1370 ( CTES, UFG) . Minas Gerais: Tombos , 05 July 1935, fr., M. Barreto 1401 ( BHCB, R) . Rio de Janeiro: Itaguaí, Seropédica , 24 November 1949, fl., fr., H. Monteiro 2696 ( RBR) ; Nova Friburgo , 12 April 1895, fr., E. H. Ule 3629 (R) ; Rio de Janeiro, arboreto do Jardim Botânico , 07 June 2005, fr., M. G. Bovini 2479 ( RB) . São Paulo: Pirassununga , August 1960, fr., H. Monteiro s.n. ( RBR 18396 ) ; Promissão , 19 June 1939, fl., fr., G. Hashimoto 126 ( SP). Without locality and date, fr., C. F. P. Martius 1009 ( BM) .

Etymology— The epithet excelsior came from the Latin word excelsus (= high) and refers to the height of the treelet.

Distribution— It is found in Mexico, the West Indies, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. In Brazil, it is widely distributed, except in the southern region.

Note— Wissadula excelsior is easily identified by its large size (ca. 3.5 m tall), probably the tallest species within the genus, branches frequently spreading, large green shiny leaves, floccose indumentum of the branches and petioles, and schizocarps with apically wide mericarps.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Wissadula cuspidata (R.E.Fr.) Bovini. a. fertile branch. b. detail of branch. c. fruit. W. decora S. Moore. d. fertile branch. e. detail of branch. f. fruit. W. excelsior (Cav.) C. Presl. g. fertile branch. h. detail of branch. i. fruit. W. glechomifolia (A.St.-Hill.) R.E. Fries. j. fertile branch. k. detail of branch. l. fruit. (a–c: Cordeiro 69, CTES, IAN; d–f: Dubs 354, MBM; g–i: Bovini 2479, RB; j–l: Bovini 2649, RB). Scale bars: a, d, g, j = 5 cm; b, e, h, k, l = 1mm; c, f = 2mm; i = 5 mm.