Eremitis robusta Hollowell, F.M.Ferreira & R.P.Oliveira, 2016

Ferreira, Fabrício Moreira, Hollowell, Victoria C. & Oliveira, Reyjane P., 2016, Eremitis linearifolia and E. robusta (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Olyreae): two new species of herbaceous bamboos from Brazil first collected over 30 years ago, Phytotaxa 280 (2), pp. 179-189 : 184-187

Eremitis robusta Hollowell, F.M.Ferreira & R.P.Oliveira , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2F–I , 4 ).

Similis Eremitis magnifica cum habitu robusto et foliis magnis latis (12.3–19 x 3–5 cm vs. 13.6–22 x 3.2–6.3 cm), sed vaginiis foliorum non inflatis (vs. inflatis) et cum fimbriis persistentibus (vs. caducis).

Type: — BRAZIL. Bahia: Itacaré, Faz. Almas, distrito de Água Fria, 14°20’55”S, 39°14’13”W, 16 November 2009, F. M. Ferreira & A. L. C. Lima 2215 (holotype HUEFS).

Leafy culms erect, (51 −)53 − 108(− 127) cm long, (2 −)2.4 − 4.5(− 5.2) mm diam. near the base; culm internodes slightly striate, glabrous; nodes thickened, glabrous. Leaves (7 −)8 − 12(− 13) per leafy culm; leaf sheaths slightly keeled, not inflated, glabrous, margins ciliate, fímbriae at the apex present, persistent; ligule entire, 1 − 1.5 mm long; pseudopetioles 2.2 − 3.9(− 4.6) × 1.2 − 2 mm, dark, adaxially slightly pilose, abaxially pilose; leaf blades (12.3 −)13.5 − 18,2(− 19) × (3 −)3.4 − 4.8(− 5) cm, lanceolate, apex acute, base attenuate, symmetric or slightly assymmetric, adaxial and abaxial surfaces green, glabrous, margins scabrous. Decumbent culms (15 −) 25 − 28 cm long, leaves 3, reduced to sheaths; leaf sheaths not inflated, glabrous, green, margins ciliate. Subterranean culms ca. 65 cm long. Inflorescences on leafy culms (1 −)2 − 5(− 7) per culm, 4 − 5 cm long. Inflorescences on decumbent culms 1 per culm, 6 − 6.5 cm long. Inflorescence on subterranean culms 1 per culm, ca. 3 cm long. Gynecandrous whorls (15.5 −)16 − 18.2 × (3.5 −) 3.7 − 4.5 mm, 1–2 per inflorescence, rachis prolongation (11 −)13.9 − 14(− 16) mm long, glabrous at the base, pilose toward the apex. Female spikelets 1 per whorl, (11 −)12 − 15 × (3.4 −) 3.5 − 3.7 mm, lanceolate, stramineous; glumes (7.3 −)8.7 − 10 × (1.7 −) 2 − 2.3 mm, membranous, hyaline or darkened stramineous, lanceolate to oblong, apex acute, glabrous, 1-nerved; lemma cartilaginous, oblong to lanceolate, apex acute, glabrous, 12–14-nerved; palea cartilaginous, lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous, 8–10-nerved. Caryopsis 8.8 − 9 × 3 − 3.5 mm, castaneous. Male spikelets (5–)6–7(–8) per whorl, (4.8 −)5 − 6(− 6.3) × 1.5 − 2 mm, oblong; pedicels (8.2 −) 11 − 13.4 mm long, laterally adnate in two groups, adaxial surface pilose at the base, glabrous toward the apex, abaxial surface glabrous; glumes 3 − 4 × 1.5 − 1.7 mm, triangular, apex acute, slightly scabrous, 1–2-nerved; lemma (4.8 −)5 − 6(− 6.3) × 1.5 − 2 mm, oblong, apex obtuse to rounded, glabrous, margins and apex slightly villose, 2–3-nerved; palea 4.5 − 6 × 1.3 − 1.9 mm, oblong, apex obtuse to rounded, glabrous, pilose to villose toward the apex, 2-nerved; stamens 2, filaments adnate at the base, fleshy, anthers 1.5 − 2.5 mm long.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the robust habit of the new species.

Morphological comments:— We herein accept and formally describe Eremitis robusta proposed by Hollowell (1987). The circumscription of the species here is narrower than in Hollowell (1987), who cited nine collections under the taxon that we now consider to belong to other three species ( Eremitis sp. 1 , Calderón et al. 2054, 2220; Eremitis sp. 2 , Soderstrom et al. 2195, 2210; Eremitis sp. 3 , Calderón et al. 2036, 2184, Harley et al. 15004, Hollowell et al. 3007, 3014) (F.M. Ferreira et al. unpublished data).

Eremitis robusta resembles E. magnifica ; both have a robust habit, similar leafy culms lengths [51 − 108(− 127) cm long in E. robusta vs. 70 − 109 cm long in E. magnifica ], and similar-sized leaf blades [12.3 − 19 × 3 − 5 cm in E. robusta vs. 13.6 − 22 × 3.2 − 6.3 cm in E. magnifica ]. The two species are clearly distinguished by the shorter (1 − 1.5 mm long), entire ligule in E. robusta , and the longer [(2.5 −) 3 − 4 mm long], bifid ligule in E. magnifica . In E. robusta the leaf sheaths are not inflated (vs. inflated in E. magnifica ) and fimbriae are present and persistent on all leaf sheaths of the leafy culms (vs. present only on the two basal-most sheaths and caducus in E. magnifica ).

Geographic distribution, habitat and conservation status:— This new species is known only from two localities in southern Bahia, and only the type population from Itacaré has been relocated during recent field trips ( Fig. 3A–C ). The vegetation in the region is comprised of dense submontane ombrophilous forest ( Martini et al. 2007). The type population, from Alma Farm, Itacaré (Ferreira & Lima 2215), includes fewer than than 80 individuals, growing in the interior of humid forest, at an elevation of 54 m, adjacent to water courses and is associated with cocoa plantations ( Fig. 3C ). The climate in this region is hot and humid with 1200–1800 mm of rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year ( Mori et al. 1983), which is ideal for cultivation of cocoa, the main crop in the region. Traditionally, cocoa has been planted under a system known locally as cabruca, in which native trees are left to provide shade, and the understory is removed ( Mori et al. 1983). This agricultural production is responsible for the destruction of the herbaceous layer, threatening many species that compose this vegetation, including Eremitis robusta and other congeneric species.

The site of the individuals collected by Soderstrom et al. 2185 (Pão Doce Farm, Itajuípe) was not found during our recent fieldtrips and the population has possibly been destroyed, because the native forest has been largely converted to grasslands ( Fig. 3A, B ). For this reason, we suggest that Eremitis robusta should be considered Critically Endangered (CR B1ab), according to IUCN Red List Criteria (IUCN 2016). Its extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 100 km 2 in an extremely fragmented area.

Paratypes: — BRAZIL. Bahia: Itacaré, Faz. Almas, 16 February 1972, C. E. Calderón & R. S. Pinheiro 2175 ( CEPEC, US) ; Itacaré , 17.5 km E on unpaved road from Aurelino Leal to Itacaré by Fazenda Almas, ca. 14°21’S, 39°16’W, 27 January 1982, V. C. Hollowell, T. S. Santos & L. A. M. Silva 3010 ( US, CEPEC, MO) ; Itajuípe, 4 km N of União Queimada on road to Pimenteira , Brazo Norte of the Serra Geral , Fazenda Pão Doce , densely forested slopes of mountain, elevation 290 m, 3 May 1976, T. R. Soderstrom, G. F. Russell & J. L. Hage 2182 ( US) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Morphology of Eremitis linearifolia and E. robusta. A–E. Eremitis linearifolia. A. Plant habit. B. Detail of the leaf sheaths showing the fimbriae. C. Inflorescence on decumbent culm. D. Subterranean culm with inflorescence. E. Detail of the inflorescence on subterranean culm. F–I. E. robusta. F. Plant habit. G. Inflorescence on leafy culm. H. Detail of the leaf sheaths showing the fimbriae. I. Decumbent culm with inflorescence. Photos by F. M. Ferreira.

FIGURE 3. A. Geographic distributions of Eremitis linearifolia, E. robusta and other congeneric species. B–D. Environments in which E. linearifolia and E. robusta occur. B. Pão de Açúcar Farm, Itajuípe, Bahia state in 2009, one of two localities where E. robusta was collected by T.R. Soderstrom (no. 2182) in 1976, currently deforested. C. Almas Farm, Itacaré, Bahia state, the other locality where E. robusta occurs and was collected in 2009. D. Santa Teresa, Epirito Santo state, where E. linearifolia was collected by R.P. Oliveira (no. 853) in 2003 and F.M. Ferreira (no. 2185) in 2009, the year the photo was taken. Photos by F. M. Ferreira.

FIGURE 4. Eremitis robusta. A. Habit. B. Detail of the leaf sheaths showing the fimbriae and the inflorescence at the apex of the leafy culm. C. Decumbent culm with inflorescence. D. Detail of the leafy culm inflorescence. E. Abaxial view of the gynecandrous whorl. F. Adaxial view of the gynecandrous whorl showing the rachis prolongation. G. Detail of the caryopsis, hilum view.All based on Ferreira & Lima 2215, drawn by Carla Teixeira Lima.