Eremitis linearifolia 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 : 182-184

Eremitis linearifolia Hollowell, F.M. Ferreira & R.P.Oliveira , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2A–E ).

Affinis Eremitis parviflora sed inflorescentiis longior, 4–6.5 cm (non 1–2.5 cm), laminiis foliorum linearibus ad linear-lanceolatis/linearum lanceolatis/anguste lanceolatis differt.

Type: — BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Santa Teresa, São João de Petrópolis, mata da Escola de Agronomia, Valão de São Bras, 19°56’15”S, 40°33’45”W, 02 Outubro 2009, F. M. Ferreira, A. L. Côrtes & A. F. P. Machado 2185 (holotype HUEFS).

Leafy culms erect, (31 −) 34 − 71 cm long, (1.1 −)1.2 − 1.5(− 1.6) mm diam. near the base; culm internodes slightly striate, glabrous or scabrous; nodes thickened, pilose. Leaves (8 −)9 − 11 per leafy culm; leaf sheaths slightly keeled, not inflated, glabrous, scabrous or pilose, margins ciliate, fimbriae at the apex present, persistent; ligules entire, 0.1 − 0.7 mm long; pseudopetioles 1.2 − 2.4 × 0.8 − 1.3(− 1.5) mm, stramineous to vinaceous, adaxially glabrous or pilose, abaxially glabrous to slightly pilose; leaf blades (7.8 −)7.9 − 10.3(− 10.6) × (1.1 −) 1.2 − 1.4 cm, linear to narrowly-lanceolate, base attenuate, asymmetric, apex acute, adaxial surface green, glabrous, abaxial surface green, glabrous to slightly scabrous, margins scabrous. Decumbent culms 15 − 30 cm long, leaves 3 − 5, reduced to sheaths; leaf sheaths not inflated, glabrous, green, tinged with purple at apex, margins ciliate. Subterranean culms (15 −)30 − 32(− 46) cm long. Inflorescences of the leafy culms 1(− 2) per culm, 4 − 6.5 cm long. Inflorescences on decumbent culms 1 per culm, 4 − 5 cm long. Inflorescence on subterranean culms 1 per culm, ca. 3 cm long. Gynecandrous whorl 17 − 17.2 × 4.5 − 4.7 mm, 1 per inflorescence, rachis prolonged 14.8 − 15 mm long, glabrous at base, pilose at the apex. Female spikelets 1 per whorl, 14.4 − 15 × 3.8 − 4 mm, lanceolate, stramineous; glumes (9.5 −)10.5 − 11 × 2 − 2.4 mm, membranous, hyaline, lanceolate, apex acute, glabrous to slightly pilose at the apex, 1 − 3-nerved; lemma cartilaginous, lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous at base to slightly scabrous at apex, 7-nerved; palea cartilaginous, lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous, 6-nerved. Caryopsis 7 − 7.9 × 3.1 − 3.2 mm, castaneous. Male spikelets 5(− 6) per whorl, (3.3 −)4 − 4.2 × 1 − 1.2 mm, oblong; pedicels 13.5 − 14 mm long, laterally adnate in two groups, adaxial surface pilose at base, glabrous toward the apex, abaxial surface glabrous; glumes 1.7 − 1.9 × 0.8 − 1.5 mm, triangular, apex acute, glabrous to slightly pilose, 1 − 3-nerved; lemma (3.3 −)4 − 4.2 × 1 − 1.2 mm, oblong, apex obtuse to acute, slightly villose, 3-nerved; palea 3 − 3.5 × 0.8 − 1.1 mm, oblong, apex obtuse to rounded, glabrous, pilose to villose toward the apex, 2-nerved; stamens 2, filaments adnate at the base, fleshy, anthers 2 − 2.3 mm long.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the leaf blade shape, which is markedly linear and a distinctive feature found only in this specie.

Morphological comments:— Eremitis linearifolia was first recognized as a new species by Hollowell (1987), but not formally published until now. It shares with E. parviflora a small stature [(31–) 34–71 cm vs. (26–)31–47(–51) cm tall], slender, graceful culms (1–1.6 mm vs. 1 − 1.7 mm diam.) and narrow leaf blades [(7.8 −)7.9 − 10.3(− 10.6) × (1.1 −) 1.2 − 1.4 cm vs. 6–10.3 × 0.9–1.6 cm)]. Eremitis linearifolia can be differentiated from E. parviflora by its longer inflorescences on leafy culms (4 − 6.5 cm vs. 1 − 2.5 cm). Eremitis linearifolia is most easily recognizable from other species of Eremitis by its characteristic leaf blades that are typically linear.

We herein formally describe Eremitis linearifolia from a specimen collected 31 years ago (Martinelli & Soderstrom 9729) in the north of the state of Espírito Santo and from a second population collected more recently in the state (Oliveira et al. 853 and Ferreira et al. 2185, the type), in Santa Teresa, about 229 km south of the first collection site.

Geographic distribution, habitat and conservation status:— Eremitis linearifolia is known only from two populations in Espírito Santo state, one from the northern portion (municipality of Pinheiros) and the second from the central region (municipality of Santa Teresa), at elevations of 100 − 190 m ( Fig. 3A, D ). The population occur in shaded environment with many rocky outcrops and near water courses ( Fig. 3D ). The predominant vegetation in central Espírito Santo is semi-deciduous, seasonal submontane forest ( Assis et al. 2007), whereas the nothern collection site is characterized by dense montane ombrophilous forest in the higher elevations and by dense sub-montane ombrophilous forest at lower elevations ( Assis et al. 2007).

It was not possible to visit the site where this new species was collected for the first time (Martinelli & Soderstrom 9729 — US), so the status of that population is unclear. In Santa Teresa, the taxon was not abundant; we counted only 87 individuals. Due to absence of data we can not determine an IUCN category for this new species. We consider it data deficient. However, the Atlantic forest in Espírito Santo has been drastically deforested to build roads and for agricultural purposes, with only 8.9% of its original forest cover remaining ( Pereira 2007). Although the first location in the IBDF reserve (Biological Reserve Córrego do Veado) is under protection by the goverment of Espírito Santo, the second locality in the Valão de São Bras (mata da Escola de Agronomia) is not protected and is surrounded by many coffee farms, threatening the conservation of this species.

Paratypes: — BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Pinheiro, IBDF reserve near Pinheiro , 30 October 1983, G. Martinelli & T. R. Soderstrom 9729 (US) ; Santa Teresa, São João de Petrópolis, mata da Escola de Agronomia , 12 Abril 2003, R. P. Oliveira, V. Demuner, P. Fiaschi & I. Andrade, M. J. Andrade 853 ( HUEFS) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Eremitis linearifolia. A. Habit. B. Detail of the leaf sheaths showing the fimbriae. C. Inflorescence on leafy culm. D–F. Male spikelets of the gynecandrous whorls. D. Adaxial view of the gynecandrous whorl showing the rachis prolongation. E–F. Abaxial view of the gynecandrous whorl. G. Decumbent culm with inflorescence. H. Detail of the inflorescence on subterranean culm. All based on Ferreira et al 2185, drawn by Carla Teixeira Lima.

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.