Wissadula delicata Bovini (2010: 435)

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

8. Wissadula delicata Bovini (2010: 435) . Type:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul, Ladário, 8 September 1984, fl., C. A. Conceição 1569 (holotype: RB!, isotype: CTES!).

Shrubs ca. 1 m tall, erect (?). Branches pubescent, trichomes fasciculate and fasciculate-stipitate, caducous. Stipules ca. 1 cm long, linear, free, caducous, tomentose, trichomes fasciculate, ferrugineous. Leaves with petioles 0.5–2 cm long, indumentum and trichomes similar to that of theto branches; lamina 1.5–3.5 × 0.7–1.7 cm, membranaceous, green discolor, deltoid, rare sub-cordiform, base truncate to subcordate, apex rounded, rare acute, margin entire, sometimes also serrate; adaxial surface puberulous, trichomes simple, glandular and fasciculate; abaxial surface velutinous, trichomes whitish, fasciculate. Synflorescence frondose-bracteate, pyramidal, lax; coflorescences double-raceme, 4–6 cm long; anthopodium ca. 2 cm long, tomentose, trichomes glandular and fasciculate; 2 bracts, persistent, linears, ca. 1 mm long, trichomes simple and glandular. Flowers with pedicel ca. 8 mm long, indumentum and trichomes like the anthopodium; calyx ca. 5 mm long sepals free to the middle below to medium portion, little accrescent in fruit, adaxial surface villous, trichomes simple, long; abaxial surface pubescent; corolla ca. 2 cm diam, yellow, without dark center; staminal column with trichomes simple, hyaline, free portion of filaments ca. 3 mm long, few trichomes hyaline, simple; ovary 4–celled, 3 ovules per cell; style ca. 4 mm long. Schizocarp ca. 1 cm diam; 4 mericarps, 8–9 × 3–4 mm, spines ca. 1 mm long, constriction conspicuous, puberulous, trichomes hyaline, fasciculate; seeds 3, ca. 2 mm long, hilum lanose, trichomes simple, long.

Representative Specimens Examined— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Corumbá, margem do Paraguai , 1 October 1953, fl., E. Pereira et al. 147 ( RB) ; morro da região do Castelo , 17 October 2002, fr., I. M. Bortolotto et al. 1117 ( COR, CTES) .

Etymology— the epithet delicata is an allusion to the delicate life form of the species.

Distribution— The species is endemic to the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Note— Wissadula delicata differs from other species, in particular, those occurring in the Pantanal, by the small, deltoid, rarely subcordate leaves, with an entire or serrate margin, and corolla with ca. 2 cm of diameter, which is considered large for the genus. It is closely related to W. paraguariensis , which is distinguished by the presence of a purplish tint on the corolla’s center, fasciculate trichomes on fusion of the carpels, and the distal region of the mericarp.