Schiekia timida M.Pell., E.J.Hickman, Rhian J.Sm. & Hopper, 2020

Pellegrini, Marco O. O., Hickman, Ellen J., Guttierrez, Jorge E., Smith, Rhian J. & Hopper, Stephen D., 2020, Revisiting the taxonomy of the Neotropical Haemodoraceae (Commelinales), PhytoKeys 169, pp. 1-59 : 1

4.3. Schiekia timida M.Pell., E.J.Hickman, Rhian J.Sm. & Hopper sp. nov. Figs 19 , 20

Diagnosis.

Similar to Schiekia orinocensis (Kunth) Meisn. in rhizome morphology, leaf arrangement and consistency, inflorescence architecture, floral orientation, and filiform staminode-like projections, but differs due to its leaves with impressed veins, narrowly tubular and cleistogamous flowers, tepals with apex straight and light to medium green, upper tepals lacking nectar guides, medial filament inflated, staminode-like projection 1/3 the length of its subtending tepal and capsules slightly longer than broad or as broad as long.

Type.

Brazil. Tocantins: Natividade, Serra da Natividade, fl., fr., 6 Mar 2015, R.C. Forzza et al. 8562 (RB!; isotypes: CEPEC!, HTO!, UPCB!).

Description.

Herbs ca. 40-100 cm tall, perennial, rhizomatous with a definite base, terrestrial to paludal in boggy areas. Roots thick, fibrous, orange to red, sand-binding, emerging from the rhizome. Rhizomes underground, short, new shoots external surface reddish-orange to red, older shoots external surface brown to reddish-brown, internal surface orange to reddish-orange to red. Stems inconspicuous to short, ascending to erect, fibrous, unbranched; internodes inconspicuous when sterile, 2.5-7.9 cm long when fertile, green to orange to reddish-orange, glabrous to tomentose, hairs pilate, light to medium brown. Leaves distichously-alternate, equitant, congested at the apex of the stem when sterile, some evenly distributed along the elongated stem when fertile, sessile, the apical ones gradually smaller than the basal ones; sheaths 2.2-14.8 cm long, light green, glabrous to sparsely tomentose, margin glabrous to ciliate, hairs pilate, light to medium brown; blades 1.7-29.2 × 0.4-1 cm, fibrous to coriaceous, unifacial, yellowish-green to medium green to bluish-green, drying olive-green to brown, linear to linear-elliptic, slightly ensiform to ensiform, glabrous to tomentose, hairs pilate, light to medium brown, base sheathing, margins green, glabrous to ciliate, apex acuminate; midvein inconspicuous, secondary veins 4-6, impressed to deeply impressed, becoming more prominent when dry. Inflorescences terminal, solitary, consisting of a pedunculate many-branched thyrse; peduncles 7.7-38.8 cm, tomentose to densely tomentose, with a mixture of pilate glandular hairs, light to medium brown; basal bract 1.8-7.3 × 0.1-0.4 cm, leaf-like, linear to linear-elliptic, straight to slightly ensiform, glabrous to tomentose, with a mixture of pilate glandular hairs, light brown, base truncate to slightly sheathing, margin ciliate, apex acuminate, secondary veins inconspicuous; cincinnus bract absent; cincinni 6-28 per thyrse, alternate, 1-6-flowered, sessile, bright orange to reddish-orange, glandular-tomentose to densely glandular-tomentose, hairs light brown; bracteoles 4.6-8.8 × 1.4-3.1 mm, lanceolate to elliptic to broadly elliptic, bright orange to reddish-orange, apex sometimes green to yellowish-green, glandular-tomentose, hairs light brown, base cuneate, margin glabrous, hyaline, apex acute. Flowers 0.2-0.4 cm diam., bisexual, cleistogamous, enantiostylic, campanulate, asymmetric due to the position of the style; floral buds 4.2-8.2 × 2-2.9 mm, ovoid, orange to reddish-orange, base generally white to cream, apex light green; pedicels 2.3-7.2 mm long, not gibbous at apex, orange to reddish-orange, densely tomentose with a mixture of pilate and glandular hairs, white to light brown, upright to patent and elongate in fruit; perianth zygomorphic, upper lobes connate to 2/3 of their length, upper and lower lateral lobes basally connate forming two lateral perianth pouches, nectar guide absent, outer lobes 8.3-10.1 × 1.8-2.3 mm, subequal, the upper slightly broader and longer, the lateral ones asymmetric, elliptic to spathulate or lanceolate, external surface white to cream, base apricot to bright orange to reddish-orange, apex medium to light green, rarely completely apricot to bright orange to reddish-orange, glandular-tomentose to densely glandular-tomentose, hairs white to light brown, internal surface white to cream, base light orange to apricot, apex medium to light green, rarely completely light orange to apricot, glabrous, base truncate or cuneate, symmetric in the upper, asymmetric in the lateral ones, margins glabrous, apex obtuse, inner lobes 7.2-10.2 × 4.8-7.3 mm, subequal, the lower slightly broader, the upper ones asymmetric, elliptic to spathulate, external surface white to cream, base apricot to bright orange to reddish-orange, apex medium to light green, rarely completely apricot to bright orange to reddish-orange, glabrous, tomentose along the midvein, white to light brown, internal surface white to cream, base light orange to apricot, apex medium to light green, rarely completely light orange to apricot, glabrous, base cuneate, the upper ones asymmetric, the lower one symmetric, margins glabrous, apex obtuse to slightly emarginate; staminode-like projections 2, 3.5-3.7 × 0.1-0.2 mm, adnate to the base of the lateral outer perianth lobes, thin, filiform, white; stamens 3, lateral stamens with filaments 4.4-5.1 mm long, slender, slightly sigmoid, apex filiform, incurved, cream, basally apricot, apically white, glabrous, anthers 0.5-0.6 × 0.4-0.6 mm, basifixed, deciduous, extrorsely rimose, broadly oblongoid to broadly ellipsoid, with an apical connective appendage, cream, medial stamen with filament 5.1-5.8 mm long, sigmoid, slightly spirally coiled either to the left or to the right, apex incurved, cream, basally apricot, apically white, glabrous, anthers 1.1-1.4 × 0.6-0.8 mm, dorsifixed, extrorsely rimose, broadly oblongoid to broadly ovoid, cream; ovary 1.4-1.7 × 1.5-1.8 mm, broadly ovoid to subglobose, slightly trigonous, 3-loculate, apricot to bright orange, smooth, glabrous, style 3.4-3.8 mm, slightly sigmoid, apex incurved, white, basally cream to apricot to light orange, glabrous, stigma capitate, white, papillose. Capsules 6.4-7.1 × 4.6-5.7 mm, broadly ellipsoid in outline, trigonous, dry, thick-walled, orange when immature, becoming medium to dark red when mature, loculicidal, 3-valved. Seeds 1.6-2.2 × 1.3-1.7 mm, deltoid, each face sunken, testa medium to dark brown, evenly reticulate; embryotega dorsal, relatively inconspicuous, without a prominent apicule; hilum punctate.

Specimens seen

(paratypes). Brazil. Amazonas: Rio Negro, across Comunidade Aparecida, 1 km up from Rio Taurí, fl., fr., 7 Nov 1987, D.W. Stevenson et al. 890 (K, NY). Goiás: Salinas, fl., Mar-Jul 1844, M.A. Weddell 2087 (P); Caiapônia, 46 km N de Caiapônia, fl., fr., 23 Feb 1982, P.I. Oliveira & W.R. Anderson 425 (MBM, MICH, MO, NY). Maranhão: Carolina, Cachoeira do Garrote, margem esquerda do Rio Garrote, ca. 4.3 km W da estrada, fl., 24 Feb 2005, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 9624 (CEN); Parque Nacional da Chapada das Mesas, Gleba II, fl., fr., 9 Apr 2016, A.C. Sevilha et al. 5742 (CEN); perto de Carolina, fl., 26 May 1950, J.M. Pires & G.A. Black 2262 (IAN); BR-010, Transamazônica, Pedra Caída, fr., 13 Apr 1983, M.F.F. Silva et al. 1084 (IAN, INPA, MG, MO, NY); Vereda do Seu Zico, ca. 3.5 km do asfalto, fl., fr., 27 Feb 2005, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 9702 (CEN); estrada Carolina/ Babaçulândia, km 8.2, margem direita do Rio Tocantins, kms marcados da Igreja São Francisco, Bairro Brejinho, fr., 22 May 2010, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 15292 (CEN); Riachão, estrada Riachão /Vila Nova de Carli, Proceder III, ca. 30 km S de Riachão, fl., 21 Mar 2000, B.M. Walter et al. 4426 (CEN); rodovia Vila Gerais das Balsas/ Riachão, km 153, fl., 24 Mar 1999, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 4140 (CEN). Mato Grosso: Canabrava do Norte, Serra do Roncador, ca. 60 km N of Xavantina, fr., 25 May 1966, H.S. Irwin et al. 16002 (K, MO, NY, RB, U, UB, US); Cataqui-imaúi, Campos dos Urupós, Cab. do Cantário, fl., Dec 1918, J.G. Kuhlmann 1647 (RB); Rio Turvo, ca. 210 km N of Nova Xavantina, fr., 29 May 1966, H.S. Irwin et al. 16283 (K, NY, RB, UB, US); Nova Canaã do Norte, resgate de flora da UHE Colider, estrada de acesso à UHE, fl., fr., 26 Feb 2015, M.E. Engels & M. Lautert 2839 (CNMT, HERBAM, MBM, RB, TANG); fr., 27 Apr 2016, H.R.W. Zanin 373 (CNMT, HERBAM, RB); Nova Xavantina, km 85 from Nova Xavantina-Cachimbo road, fr., 31 May 1966, D.R. Hunt & J.F. Ramos 5695 (K, NY, UB); Serra do Roncador, ca. 84 km N of Nova Xavantina, fr., 6 Jun 1966, H.S. Irwin et al. 16454 (MO, NY, RB, UB, UMO, US); 60 km from Nova Xavantina, fl., fr., 6 Jun 1966, D.R. Hunt & J.F. Ramos 5835 (K, NY, UB); 20 km NE of Base Camp of the Expedition, fl., fr., 4 Mar 1968, D.R. Gifford 2657 (K, NY, UB); Km 57 N from Nova Xavantina-Cachimbo road, fl., 16 Jan 1968, D. Philcox & A. Ferreira 4080 (K, UB); km 241 from Nova Xavantina-Cachimbo road, fl., fr., 16 Mar 1968, D. Philcox & A. Ferreira 4563 (K); ca. 1 km E from km 242 from Nova Xavantina-Cachimbo road, fl., fr., 18 Mar 1968, D. Philcox & A. Ferreira 4567 (K, MO, NY, P, RB, S, UB); ca. 15 km S of Base Camp of the Expedition, Lagoa do Sucuri, close to the Nova Xavantina-São Felix road, fr., 13 Jun 1968, R.R. Santos et al. 1767 (IAN, K, NY, P, UB); 270 km N of Nova Xavantina, Lagoa do Leo, 8 km SW of Base Camp of the Expedition, fl., fr., 8 May 1968, J.A. Ritter et al. 1362 (K, NY, UB); Santa Cruz do Xingu, Parque Estadual do Xingu, limite norte do parque, fl., fr., 4 Mar 2011, D.C. Zappi et al. 3091 (K, RB, UNEMAT); Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade, topo da Cachoeira do Jatobá, fl., fr., 17 May 2013, J.E.Q. Faria et al. 3508 (CEN, RB, SP, UB). Pará: Belém do Pará, Ariramba, igarapé Quebra-Dente, fl., 30 May 1957, G.A. Black et al. 57-19801 (IAN); Itaituba, arredores da base Aérea do Cachimbo, próximo ao destacamento km 6 da estrada para o Aeroporto, km 794, fr., 25 Apr 1983, M.N. Silva et al. 73 (INPA, K, RB). Roraima: Boa Vista, estrada do Cantá, fl., 31 Jul 1986, J.A. Silva et al. 539 (MO, NY, UB); estrada para Serra Grande, fl., 4 Aug 1986, E.L. Sette-Silva et al. 665 (K, MIRR, MO, NY); Ilha de Maracá, sandy savannah at Santa Rosa, at the E side of the island, fl., fr., 8 Oct 1987, J. Pruski et al. 3417 (INPA, K, MG, MO, NY); Caracaraí, estrada Perimetral Norte [BR-210], 9 km do entroncamento com as estrada Manaus/ Caracaraí [BR-174], próximo a Novo Paraíso, fl., fr., 28 Aug 1987, C.A. Cid Ferreira et al. 9210 (INPA, NY, U). Tocantins: [Goyaz] between Natividade and Conceição, fl., Feb 1866, G. Gardner 4014 (BM, G, K, NY, P); Almas, RPPN Fazenda Minnehaha, campo úmido limpo bordeado pelo Cerrado que desce a barra do Rio Lapa com o Rio Laurentino, fr., 21 Apr 2004, J.M. Felfili et al. 522 (RB); Barra do Ouro, margem direita do Rio Tauá, ca. 12 km de Barra do Ouro, ponte suspensa, fl., 15 Jan 2010, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 14926 (CEN); Centenário, Bacia do Tocantins, Sub-bacia do Rio Manuel Alves Pequeno, fl., fr., 27 Mar 2010, M.L. Fonseca et al. 6494 (IBGE, RB); Goiatins, Área Indígena Krahô, Aldeia Nova, fr., 8 Mar 2000, E. Rodrigues 695 (PMSP); estrada Aldeia Indígena Krahô Santa Cruz/ Itacajá, km 10, margem direita do Riozinho, próximo a Kapey, fr., 27 Apr 2009, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 14314 (CEN); estrada Goiatins/ Itacajá, margem esquerda do Ribeirão Cartucho, fr., 4 May 2009, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 14391 (CEN); Reserva Indígena Krahô, Aldeia Pedra Branca, fl., fr., 6 May 2000, A.A. Santos et al. 659 (CEN); Guaraí, margem esquerda da Ferrovia Norte Sul, estrada vicinal Guaraí /Itupiratins, fl., fr., 24 Apr 2009, G. Pereira-Silva et al. 14217 (CEN); Gurupi, rodovia Belém /Brasilia, 5 km S de Gurupi, fl., fr., 24 Mar 1976, G. Hatschbach & R. Kummrow 38313 (MBM, MO, NY); Itapiratins, Bacia do Tocantins, Sub-bacia do Rio Tocantins, fl., fr., 24 Mar 2010, F.C.A. Oliveira et al. 1834 (IBGE, RB); Kraolandia, próximo a cidade de Peritoró, fl., 20 Mar 1974, J.S. Assis 26 (RB); Lagoa da Confusão, Bacia do Araguaia, Sub-bacia Rio Formoso, fr., 22 Mar 2010, F.C.A. Oliveira et al. 1666 (IBGE, RB); Mateiros, fr., 3 May 2001, R. Farias et al. 363 (CEN, UB); entorno do Parque Estadual do Jalapão, estrada Mateiros/Ponte Alta, ca. 2 km do Rio Novo, fr., 15 Jun 2002, T.B. Cavalcanti et al. 2831 (CEN); margem esquerda do Rio Novo, fl., fr., 8 May 2001, C.E.B. Proença et al. 2523 (UB); estrada Mumbuca/Boa Esperança, Vereda do Bebedouro, fl., fr., 8 Mar 2006, G.H. Rua et al. 787 (CEN); Parque Estadual do Jalapão, Vereda do Porco Podre, fl., fr., 15 Feb 2005, J.M. Rezende et al. 1019 (CEN); Pindorama do Tocantins [Pindorama de Goiás], fl., fr., 21 Apr 1978, R.P. Orlandi 78 (RB). Bolivia. Santa Cruz: Velasco, Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado, Campamento Huanchaca II, fl., 8 Mar 1997, S. Jiménez et al. 1254 (MO, U); Campamento Las Torres, margen del Río Iténez [ Guaporé], frontera con Mato Grosso, lado noreste del Serrania Huanchaca, 24 km S Flor de Oro, fr., 24 May 1991, M. Peña & R. Foster 222 (U); Lago Caimán, fl., 15 Jan 1997, T. Killeen et al. 8151 (U, USZ). Colombia. Guainia: Casuarito, immediately S of Casuarito, lajas along the Río Orinoco, fl., 22 Jun 1984, G. Davidse & J.S. Miller 26411 (MO, U). Guajira: Barrancas, Río Quatiquia, fl., 16 Jul 1897, Lehmann 8841a (K); llanos on Río Meta and Río Quatiquia, fl., fr., 16 Jul 1897, Lehmann 8841b (K). Guyana. Rupununi: Manari, fl., 24 Jul 1995, M.J. Jansen-Jacobs et al. 4621 (K, P, U). Venezuela. Amazonas: Atures, alrededores de Puerto Ayacucho, ca. 4 km SE, sabana de los alrededores del vivero de MARNR, alto Caño Carinagua, fl., 17 Jun 1977, O. Huber 841 (MO, U, VEN); Carretera Coromoto, along Río Coromoto, Tobogán de la Selva, 35 km SE of Puerto Ayacucho, fl., 14 May 1980, J.A. Steyermark et al. 122561 (F, U, VEN); Oripopos, 7 km N of Puerto Ayacucho on the road to El Burro, fl., 22 Jun 1984, J.S. Miller 1608 (MO, U); San Juan de Manapiare, sobanas sobre los cerros de arenisca al Norte del Cerro Movocoy, arriba del sitio llanado "Pazo de la Carlina" a unos 12 km al Oeste de San Juan de Manapiare, fl., fr., 16 Oct 1977, O. Huber 1205 (MO, U).

Etymology.

The epithet means “shy” and makes reference to the cleistogamous flowers, which open only a few millimetres. This is the first record of cleistogamy in Neotropical Haemodoraceae , which was previously recorded only for the Paleotropical genus Haemodorum .

Distribution and habitat.

Schiekia timida is currently known for Bolivia, Brazil (States of Amazonas, Pará, Roraima, Tocantins, Maranhão, Goiás, and Mato Grosso), Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela (Fig. 21 ). Found growing in seasonally-flooded grasslands.

Phenology.

It was found in flower and fruit from November to June, rarely during July and August, but peaking during the rainy season.

Conservation status.

Schiekia timida possesses wide EOO (5,598,459 km2) and AOO (ca. 580 km2). Thus, following IUCN’s (2001) recommendations, S. timida should be considered as Least Concern (LC).

Vernacular name and use.

According to specimen labels, S. timida is called “ahtu” in the language spoken by the native Brazilian Krahô tribe. It seems to be used in some religious ceremonies, mixed in a drink with some confirmed psychoactive plants.

Comments.

Schiekia timida is morphologically similar to S. orinocensis due to its rhizome morphology, leaf arrangement and consistency, inflorescence architecture, floral orientation, and inflated medial filament. Nonetheless, it differs due to its conspicuously veined leaves, narrowly tubular and cleistogamous flowers, pedicels not apically gibbous, tepals with apex straight and light to medium green, upper tepals lacking nectar guides, staminode-like projections filiform and 1/3 the length of its subtending tepals and capsules slightly longer than broad or as broad as long. Until the present work, both species were treated under a broad concept of S. orinocensis subsp. orinocensis , as proposed by Maas and Maas-van de Kamer (1993). However, as noticed during fieldwork, S. timida seems to be a cleistogamous species, with flowers never opening more than a few millimetres.

Figures

Figure 19. Schiekia timida M. Pell. et al. A habitat B flowering habit C detail of the leaves D, E inflorescence: D inflorescence with many-flowered cincinni E inflorescence with 1 - flowered cincnni F inflorescence bearing young capsules G-I flower: G upper view of a flower showing both perianth apertures and their respective nectar drops (arrows) H side view of a flower I frontal view of a flower J mature capsules before opening K seeds. A by G. Antar, B by G. Davidse, C, F by M. E. Engels, D by C. Castro, E by V. A. O. Dittrich, G-I by P. L. Viana and J, K by S. E. Martins.

Figure 20. Schiekia timida M. Pell. et al. A whole plant B cincinnus C flower bud D hairs E, F flower: E side view F frontal view G-I perianth: G upper perianth lobes, showing the lack of nectar guides H medial inner perianth lobe I lateral outer perianth lobe with adnate staminode-like structure J flower with the perianth removed, showing the androecium and gynoecium K, L stamens: K lateral stamen L medial stamen M-N gynoecium: M ovary N stigma O-S fruit: O immature capsule covered by the persistent perianth P immature capsule with perianth removed Q capsule in longitudinal section R capsule in cross-section S dehisced capsule T-V seed: T dorsal view U ventral view V longitudinal section. Illustration by E. J. Hickman. Scale bars: 1.5 cm (A,); 0.35 mm (B); 2 mm (C, E, F); 0.25 mm (D); 1.75 mm (G-I); 1.25 mm (J, O-Q, S); 1 mm (K-M, R); 0.5 mm (N); 0.75 mm (T-V)

Figure 21. Distribution of Schiekia timida M. Pell. et al. Light Green- Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Red - Deserts, Xeric Shrublands and Tropical Coniferous Forests; Orange - Tropical / Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands; Maroon - Dry Broadleaf Forests; Green - Moist Broadleaf Forests; Lilac - Montane Grasslands and Shrublands.