Staurogyne riedeliana (Nees) Kuntze (1891: 497)

Braz, Denise Monte & Monteiro, Reinaldo, 2017, Taxonomic Revision of Staurogyne (Nelsonioideae, Acanthaceae) in the Neotropics, Phytotaxa 296 (1), pp. 1-40 : 28-29

20. Staurogyne riedeliana (Nees) Kuntze (1891: 497) . Ebermaiera riedeliana Nees von Esenbeck (1847: 18) . Lectotype (designated by Braz & Monteiro 2011b: 176): — BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro, without date, L. Riedel 47 (lectotype: LE!).( Fig. 19 )

Herb 30 − 50 cm tall, sparsely branched, densely covered with simple trichomes. Petiole 7 − 12 mm long; blade elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 8 − 12.1 × 2.7 − 4.9 cm, apex acute, base acute to slightly cuneate, adaxially sparsely simple pilose, sometimes restricted to the veins, abaxially restricted to the veins. Inflorescence in dense, terminal and axillary, bracteate spike, terminal ones 3 − 3.3 cm long, sessile, axillary ones subcapitate, 1 − 1.7 cm long, peduncle 0.2 − 0.7 cm long; flowers opposite; rachis with dense simple and glandular trichomes; bracts and bracteoles green, sparsely simple and glandular pilose, bract elliptic to slightly obovate, 9.5 − 10.1 × 3.5 − 5 mm, 3 acrodromous veins, bracteoles lanceolate, 6.5 − 7.2 × 0.8 − 1.1 mm. Flowers sessile; calyx green, pubescent with scattered simple and glandular trichomes, non-ciliate, posterior segment 2 − 2.3 × 8 − 8.8 mm, 3-nerved, lateral pair of segments 6 − 7.2 × 0.5 − 0.7 mm, anterior pair of segments 7 − 8.2 × 0.9 − 1.2 mm; corolla white to slightly lilac, with vinaceous markings at limb and throat, 11.5 − 12.1 mm long, basal tube 3.0 − 3.5 mm long, anterior lobe 3 − 4 mm long, externally with sparse simple trichomes, rarely glandular, internally glabrescent; posterior stamens 3.1 − 3.5 mm long, anterior stamens 3.5 − 3.9 mm long, staminode 0.9 − 1 mm long; ovules 15 − 16 per locule, posterior lobe of the stigma divided to concave. Capsule ca. 8.0 × 3.3 mm, sparsely pilose with glandular trichomes.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Bahia: 1822, Riedel ( LE 01,6 ). Minas Gerais: Caratinga, Faz. Montes Claros , Matão , 19 April 1984, Andrade & Lopes s.n. (BHCB-7784), trilha M1, 6 November 1998, Lombardi et al. 2368 ( BHCB) ; Descoberto, Reserva Biológica Represa do Grama , 19 August 2000, Meireles et al. s.n. (CESJ-31443). Rio de Janeiro: Santa Maria Madalena, Ribeirão Vermelho , November 1935, Lima 321 ( RB) ; Itatiaia , 16 July 1902, Dusén 682 ( RB) ; Teresópolis , Serra dos Órgãos, Toca dos Caçadores , 7 August 1940, Brade 16536 ( RB) .

Distribution and habitat:— Recent collections of Staurogyne riedeliana indicate its occurrence in southeastern Brazil, although it had been originally described based on aspecimen from Bahia, and its non-occurrence in this state nowadays may be related to deforestation in the Atlantic Forest and/or gaps on the knowledge of that region. The absence of any other Staurogyne species in the northeastern states suggests a more restricted distribution.

Phenology:— It was registered with flowers in the months of April and September.

Taxonomic notes:— Staurogyne riedeliana is characterized by the relatively large leaves, the bracteate terminal inflorescence, generally short, with green bracts. For the corolla shape and dimensions and shape of the leaf blade it is close to S. mandioccana , which also occurs in Rio de Janeiro, but it differ from the latter, in general, by the pilose (not glabrous) leaves, inflorescences terminal (not axillary ones) 3 − 3.3 cm long (not 8 − 15 cm long), and the bracts green (not usually colored).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Staurogyne riedeliana. A. Flowering branch. B. Flower, bract and bracteoles. C. Bract and bracteole. D. Calyx. E. Anther in frontal view. F.Anther in dorsal view. G. Staminode. H. Stigma in dorsal view. I. Corolla lobes (from Andrade & Lopes (BHCB 7784)).