Vismia conduplicata M.V.Martins & G.H.Shimizu, 2018

Martins, Milena Ventrichi, Shimizu, Gustavo Hiroaki, Bittrich, Volker & Amaral, Maria Do Carmo Estanislau Do, 2018, Vismia conduplicata (Hypericaceae), a new species from Mato Grosso, Brazil, Phytotaxa 338 (1), pp. 125-129 : 126-128

Vismia conduplicata M.V.Martins & G.H.Shimizu , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Type: — BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Luciara, Estrada para a Mata do Coco , ca. 16 km N de Luciara , Fazenda Três Pontas do Araguaia , 11°07’21,9’’S, 50°44’17,5’’W, 140 m, 19 March 1997, fl., fr., V. C. Souza, J. P. Souza, A. R. Duarte & F. F. Mazine 14492 (holotype: ESA! [mounted on two sheets with the same herbarium accession number - ESA43012 ]; isotypes: BHCB [photo!], FUEL!, INPA!, MBM!, PEL, SPSF [photo!], UEC!) .

Vismia conduplicata can be recognized by the combination of variable phyllotaxis (opposite, whorled or alternate, sometimes on the same branch), conduplicate and narrowly elliptic leaves, stamen fascicles with three stamens each, two black glands between the thecae, and sepals ascendant to patent on mature berries.

Shrubs, 1.5–3 m tall; branches brownish, sometimes peeling, glabrous; exudate not reported by collectors. Leaves petiolate, opposite or in 3-merous whorls (rarely in 4-merous whorls or alternate); petiole 0.5–1 cm long; leaf blades 3.5–9.4 × 0.5–1.8 cm, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, narrowly elliptic, conduplicate, apex and base acute, margin entire (sometimes crenulate toward the apex), adaxial surface dark brown in sicco, midrib impressed, secondary veins prominent, glabrous or glabrescent (midrib sometimes with stellate trichomes), abaxial surface light brown, midrib and secondary veins prominent, glabrous or glabrescent; venation brochidodromous, secondary veins 18–28 pairs; black dots present on both surfaces. Inflorescence terminal, thyrsoid, up to 25 flowers, rachis 1–2 cm long, glabrous; flower buds ca. 2 × 1 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid. Flowers apparently homostylous, pedicel 2–5 mm long, sometimes with black dots; sepals 5, slightly unequal, ca. 3 × 1 mm, elliptic, apex acute, base truncate, margin sometimes denticulate at the apex, surface glabrous, four blackish canals (vittae) on both surfaces, more evident on the inner one; corolla campanulate, petals 5, 5–6 × 2 mm, elliptic, apex acute, base truncate, lanose on inner surface, black dots on upper half; stamen fascicles 5, 3–5 mm long, each one with 3 stamens, filaments connate except for the apical portion, hirsute mainly on central portion, free portion 1.3–1.6 mm long, anthers ca. 0.2 mm long, with two black glands between the thecae; staminodes ca. 1 mm long, deltoid, lanose; ovary ca. 2 mm long, ovate, 5-locular, 1-ovulate per locule, glabrous (sometimes apex with few trichomes), surface with black dots, styles 2.8–3.1 mm long, glabrous, with black dots, stigmas disk-shaped. Berries 5–7 × 6 mm, ovate to spherical, coal black in sicco; sepals, stamen fascicles, staminodes, and styles persistent; sepals ascendant to patent on mature berries. Seeds 1 per locule, 2.5–4 × 1–1.5 mm, oblong to elliptical, curved.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Lucas do Rio Verde, campo de murundus, 10 June 1996, bud, E. A. Silveira 22 ( UFMT). Nova Xavantina, Fazenda Brejo Azul, approx. 10 km S of Xavantina, 14°44’S, 52°20’W, 14 January 1977, fl., fr., J. A. Ratter et al. 4128 ( CPAP, E, K, MO, NY, UB, UEC). Tapurah, estrada MT-010, cerca de 5 km do entroncamento com MT-338, 12°49’S, 56°26’W, savana arborizada com trechos alagáveis, 12 June 1997, fr., V. C. Souza et al. 17812 ( ESA, MBM, PEL, RB, SPF, UEC).

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the conduplicate (lengthwise folded upwards) leaves.

Distribution, habitat, and conservation: — Vismia conduplicata is so far only known from four localities within Mato Grosso state, in the Central-West region of Brazil ( Fig. 2 ). Two of them, Lucas do Rio Verde and Tapurah, are neighbouring municipalities, in the central portion of the state. On the other hand, Luciara and Nova Xavantina are almost 1000 km distant to them, the former on the border with the state of Tocantins and the latter more towards the south. The species occurs in one of the vegetation physiognomies of the Brazilian Cerrado called “campo de murundus” (mound fields) (e.g. Oliveira-Filho 1992, Marimon et al. 2012) or “parque de Cerrado” ( Ribeiro & Walter 2008), which consists basically of earth mounds covered by Cerrado typical woody plants in a grassland matrix usually hit by seasonal floodings ( Oliveira-Filho 1992, Silva 2010, Marimon et al. 2015).

Although we have used the GeoCAT tool to assess the conservation status, we considered more cautious to assign it as DD (Data Deficient) at the moment, based on the few information presently available. New collection efforts may help to designate a better supported conservation status.

Phenology: —Specimens were collected with flower buds in June, with flowers in January, March and with fruits in January, March and June.

Comments: —Although there are few specimens available, apparently the flowers are homostylous, due to the similar lengths of the stamen fascicles in all specimens observed.

The new species is placed in Vismia sect. Trianthera due to the stamen fascicles composed of three stamens and the 1-ovulate locules. It can be distinguished from Vismia micrantha , which also belongs to this section, by the narrowly elliptic and conduplicate leaves (vs. elliptic to lanceolate and usually flat in V. micrantha ), variable phyllotaxis (alternate, opposite or whorled), sometimes on the same branch (vs. opposite), sepals with blackish canals present (vs. absent), deltoid staminodes (vs. rectangular), and glabrous styles (vs. trichomes present). Moreover, Vismia conduplicata occurs in the “campos de murundus” of Mato Grosso state, whereas V. micrantha is found in the forest formations of Southeastern Brazil ( Flora do Brasil 2020).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Vismia conduplicata. A. Branch with flower buds. B. Abaxial leaf surface. C. Detail of the abaxial leaf surface, showing black dots. D. Flower bud. E. Open flower in lateral view. F. Sepal in outer view. G. Petal in outer (left) and inner (right) view. H. Dissected flower, showing sepals, petals, stamen fascicles, staminodes, and gynoecium. I. Stamen fascicle in inner (left) and outer (right) view. J. Young stamen showing two black glands between thecae. K. Fruit. A–C. E.A. Silveira 22. D–J. V.C. Souza et al. 14492. K. V.C. Souza et al. 17812. Drawn by Klei Sousa.

FIGURE 2. Geographical distribution map of Vismia conduplicata.