Caraipa iracemensis F.N. Cabral, 2017

Cabral, Fernanda Nunes, Bittrich, Volker & Amaral, Maria Do Carmo Estanislau Do, 2017, Two new endemic species of Caraipa (Calophyllaceae) from the Central Amazon Basin, Amazonas State, Brazil, Phytotaxa 311 (1), pp. 77-84 : 81-83

2. Caraipa iracemensis F.N. Cabral , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2 and 3 ).

Type: BRAZIL. Amazonas, Presidente Figueiredo, Cachoeira de Iracema , 01 o 59’19”S, 60 o 03’31”W, 10 October 2012, F. N. Cabral et al. 557 (holotype INPA! (barcode 263954); isotypes MO! (barcode 100828130), UEC! (barcode 189893)) .

Diagnosis:— Caraipa iracemensis is a caespitose shrub with branched stems. It is morphologically similar to C. grandifolia subsp. grandifolia , C. grandifolia subsp. lacerdae and C. caespitosa , but it can be distinguished from them by its less numerous branched stems, larger leaves and petioles, and rugulose fruit surface.

Description: — Shrubs up to 3 m tall with 3–10 branched stems. Leaves distichous; lamina chartaceous, elliptic to obovate, (6–)9.5–17 × 3.8–5.6 cm; apex rounded, obtuse, acute or emarginate, base rounded or obtuse, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface with bulliform cells, glabrous or pubescent with minute sessile stellate trichomes, dark dots, streaks or channels not visible, margin flat; midrib sulcate and glabrous adaxially, prominent and pubescent abaxially; secondary veins conspicuous on both surfaces, 16–17 pairs; tertiary veins typically conspicuous on both surfaces, parallel; petiole 8–13 mm long, pubescent. Inflorescence paniculate or in glomerules, terminal or axillary, axis 3–6 cm long, with 5–9 flowers; pedicel 2–9 mm long; axis and pedicels covered with stipitate stellate and long simple trichomes; bracts and bracteoles caducous, bracteoles inserted half way the pedicel. Flower buds globose to ovoid, 13–14 × 11–12 mm. Sepals tomentose abaxially, pubescent adaxially, lobes 3–4 × 3–4 mm, apex acute or rounded. Petals 26–27 × 10–15 mm, tomentose abaxially, glabrous adaxially, ciliate on margins. Stamens numerous, filaments 5–10 mm long; anthers ca. 0.8 mm long, gland covering the top of the anther. Ovary 2–3 mm across, tomentose, style 3–4 mm long, pubescent. Fruit ovoid, trigonous, slightly asymmetrical, 2.2–6.0 × 1.3–3.4 cm, (beaklet ca. 5 mm long), surface slightly rugulose, tomentose, with sessile stellate trichomes, valves flat (concave towards the base), exocarp separating from endocarp. Seeds not seen.

Etymology:— The epithet iracemensis refers to the locality Cachoeira de Iracema in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas ( Brazil), where the species occurs.

Phenology:— Flowering from September to October. Fruiting from September to December.

Distribution and habitat:— Endemic to the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas ( Brazil). Caraipa iracemensis occurs sympatrically with C. glabra in forested white-sand vegetation (campinarana), by the margin of a small stream, in the Cachoeira de Iracema area ( Fig. 4 ).

Conservation status:—Similar to C. glabra , collections of C. iracemensis are limited to the type locality by the margin of a small stream. We have therefore considered the conservation status of this species should be Data Deficient (DD; IUCN 2001).

Taxonomic notes:— Caraipa iracemensis is morphologically similar to C. grandifolia subsp. grandifolia Martius (1824: 106) , C. grandifolia subsp. lacerdae (Barbosa Rodrigues) Kubitzki (1978: 121) and to C. caespitosa . See Table 2 for morphological differences.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— BRAZIL. Amazonas : Presidente Figueiredo, Cachoeira de Iracema, 01°59’19”S, 60°03’31”W, 10 October 2012, F. N. Cabral et al. 559, 560, 561, 563 ( INPA) ; Cachoeira de Iracema , 1°59’23” S, 60°03’28” W, 12 September 2013, F. N. Cabral et al. 977 and 979 ( INPA, UEC) ; Cachoeira de Iracema , 1°59’20” S, 60°03’32” W, 11 September 2013, F. N. Cabral et al. 964 and 968 ( INPA) ; Cachoeira de Iracema , 01°59’19”S, 60°03’31”W, 12 December 2013, F. N. Cabral 1089 ( INPA) ; Cachoeira de Iracema , 1°59’22” S, 60°03’28” W, 21 April 2014, F. N. Cabral et al. 1151 ( INPA, UEC) .

grandifolia and C. grandifolia subsp. lacerdae .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Caraipa glabra (A–B) and Caraipa iracemensis (C–F). A. Habit with immature fruit. B. Mature fruit, note the endocarp separating from the exocarp. C. Habitat and habit, note the caespitose habit. D. Flower buds and flowers. E. Immature fruits. F. Mature fruits.

FIGURE 3. Caraipa iracemensis. A. Habit. B. Ovary and style. C. Fruit. D. Branch with flower buds and flowers. E. Flower buds and flowers.

FIGURE 4. Distribution map of C. glabra and C. iracemensis (by L. Melo).