Cypella ravenniana Deble & F.S.Alves, 2015

Deble, Leonardo Paz, Alves, Fabiano Da Silva, González, Andrés & Deble, Anabela Silveira De Oliveira, 2015, Three new species of Cypella (Iridaceae) from South America, and taxonomic delimitation of C. suffusa Ravenna, Phytotaxa 236 (2), pp. 101-120 : 109-111

Cypella ravenniana Deble & F.S.Alves , sp. nov. ( Figs. 6 , 8, 9A–C , 10C–D )

Cypella ravenniana is closely related to C. suffusa , however can be distinguished by outnumber of spathes per branch (2–4 vs. 1–2), peduncles of spathes 0.5–1.8 cm long (vs. 2.5–5.5 cm) and spathes containing a single flower (vs. two flowers). From C. discolor this new species differs by its yellow flowers, and longer style branches ending in long crests.

Type:— ARGENTINA. Santo Tomé: Garruchos, “Estancia San Juan Bauptista, on stony rocky grassland, 28° 10’ 20,54’’ S − 55° 38’ 14,33’’ W, 22 December 2014, L. P. Deble & F. S. Alves 15505 (holotype SI! isotype CTES! ICN! MVFA!).

Plant up to 8–27 cm high above the soil, underground stems up to 12 cm long. Bulb often deformed, strongly compressed, 30–40 × 25–35 mm, prolonged in a collar up to 10 cm; cataphylls dark-brown, broadly ovate, apex acuminate. Leaves at anthesis 2–6, green, blades linear 10–22 × 0.2–0.4 cm. Cauline leaf linear-ensiform, 6.5–11.2 × 0.3–0.5 cm, base sheathing the stem; the uppers smaller than the basal and bracteiform. Flowering stems 6–22 cm long, 2–4 times branched, proximally foliate. Spathes 2–4 per branch, 3.6–4.8 × 0.3–0.5 cm, herbaceous, pallid-green, scarcely pruinose, bivalved, one-flowered, shortly pedunculate, peduncles 0.5–1.8 cm long; outer valve 2.2–3.1 cm long, the inner 3.5–4.7 cm long, both with membranous edges covered with sparse parallel dark-brown longitudinal glandular strips; pedicel filiform, 2.8–4.5 cm long. Flowers shiny yellow, densely spotted by purplish-brown dots or stains, 38–55 mm diameter; central concavity 22–34 mm diameter, and 10–14 mm depth. Tepals whorls sharply dissimilar: outer tepals oblong, panduriform, 32–40 mm long, concave at the base for 11.5–16 mm, with purple dots in proximal half, yellow veined, reflexes distally; blades 20–28 × 15–18 mm, erect in proximal third, then revolute; claws purplish-brown stained, cuneate, 8–10 mm long, 2–2.5 mm wide at the base, and 7.5–8 mm wide at the apex. Inner tepals arcuate-recurved, 23–27 mm long, the proximal two-thirds erect-patent, slightly inclined, then curved, the distal one-third incurved and strongly reclinate; blades 9–11 mm wide, mostly yellow, with a yellow-cream central depression densely clothed by glandular trichomes, surrounded by a lateral high part, whitish-cream with purplish-brown to dark-brown oblique stripes; claws purplish-brown stained, narrowly cuneate, 10–11 mm long, 2–2.4 mm wide at the base, and 6–7 mm wide at the apex, with few trichomes scattered. Filaments filiform 5.9–6.5 mm long, porrect, light yellow, base dilated, cuneate, with purple stripes, attached for 0.3–0.5 mm; anthers oblong 6.5–7.8 × 1.4–1.8 mm; connective yellow, 0.9–1.2 mm, locules ochraceous, pollen greenish-yellow to ochraceous. Ovary green, obovate, 7–8 × 2.3–3 mm. Style 6.5–8 mm long. Style branches channeled, 6–7 mm long, crests at the apex 3, translucent and yellowish, adaxial crests lanceolate, 4.5–7 mm long, abaxial crest deltate, 2–3 mm long. Capsule obovate, 9–12 × 6–7 mm. Seeds oblong to obconical, 2–2.5 mm long, angulate, reddish-brown, epidermis papillose striate.

Phenology:—Specimens with flowers and capsules can be found between September − April, flowering mainly in October − November and January − February. The flowers bloom in the morning and wither around midday. In cloudy days flowers remain opened until the middle afternoon. In favorable years the specimens flowering fullness, and its bigger and shiny yellow flowers, ensures a beautiful sight in the sites in the region at which it occurs.

Eponymy:—This species is named in honor of Pierfelice Ravenna (1938 −), specialist in monocotyledons, especially Iridaceae that has made important contributions to knowledge of the genus Cypella .

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— ARGENTINA. Corrientes: Ituzaingó, San Carlos, access to San Carlos from National Route 14, 27° 47’ 12,6’’ S − 55° 54’ 24,2’’ W, fl. and fr., 11 December 2014, H. A. Keller & M. M. Franco 12557 ( CTES!) ; José Rafael Gómez (Garabí), in the native grassland with rocky stony soil, near the left bank of the stream Ciriaco , 28° 13’ 48,96’’ S – 55° 48’ 26,17’’ W, 11 January 2015, L. P. Deble , F. S. Alves & A. S. de Oliveira-Deble 15518 ( SI!) ; Santo Tomé, paraje Península , 28° 19’ 48’’ S − 55° 40’ 53,7’’ W, 15 April 2014, fl, fr, H. A. Keller et al., 12073 ( CTES!) ; Misiones: Bonpland, October 1906, Van de Venne s.n. ( SI029473 !). Candelaria : Ruta prov. 3, de cerro Corá a ruta nac. 12, 4 km de Cerro Corá, 27º 30’ S – 55º 37’ W, 23 March 1998, F. Zuloaga 6572, D. Cañas, F. Biganzoli ( SI!) . BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Sul: Alegrete, Jacaquá , 29° 50’ 30,55” S − 55° 21’ 00,63” W, 4 December 2006, L. P. Deble & A. S. de Oliveira-Deble 7992 ( SI!) ; Durasnal , among volcanic rocks, 29° 55’ 01,77” S − 55° 30’ 15,84” W, 4 November 2013, L. P. Deble & A. S. de Oliveira-Deble 14855 ( SI!) ; 6° Subdistrict Catimbau, São José farm, on stony rocky, 29° 52’ 57,16’’ S − 55° 44’ 35,58’’ W, 21 September 2014, F. S. Alves, P. M. A. Guadagnin & V. O. T. Silva 755 ( SI!). Garruchos, 28° 12’ 30,81’’ S – 55° 31’ 37,56’’ W, 12 January 2015, L. P. Deble, F. S. Alves & A. S. de Oliveira-Deble, 15598 ( SI!) ; ibidem, 28° 11’ 54,84’’ S – 55° 25’ 50,40’’ W, 12 January 2015, L. P. Deble , F. S. Alves & A. S. de Oliveira-Deble 15599 ( MVFA!) ; Itacurubi , state road—RS 541, on stony, 28° 50’ 50,73” S − 55° 05’ 08,64” W, 17 October 2013, L. P. Deble & M. I. Paz-Deble 14498 ( SI!) ; Santiago , state road—RS 168, 28º 54’ 31,47” S − 54º 56’ 33,71” W, 17 October 2013, L. P. Deble & M. I. Paz-Deble 14497 ( SI!) ; Santo Antônio das Missões, locality of Itaroquem , on stony grasslands, 28° 37’ 44,92” S − 55° 18’ 37,93” W, 9 November 2013. P. Deble & M. I. Paz-Deble 14496 ( PACA!) ; ibidem, 28° 35’ 44,24’’ S – 55° 39’ 20,88’’ W, 12 January 2015, L. P. Deble , F. S. Alves & A. S. de Oliveira-Deble, 15597 ( MVFA!) ; São Borja, source of Puitã river, 14 October 2013 (fl, fr), L. P. Deble , A. S. de Oliveira Deble & F. S. Alves 15504 ( SI! PACA!) .

Distribution and habitat:— Cypella ravenniana occurs in southern Misiones, and northeast Corrientes Provinces, Argentina, and western and northwestern Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The populations are fragmented, but composed often by many individuals, who grow on native grasslands, in places of shallow soils, stony and rocky, developed from volcanic rocks of “Serra Geral” geological formation ( Gordon Júnior 1947, PAULIPETRO 1981, Melfi et al. 1988). The bulbs usually grow in rock crevices.

Conservation status:— Cypella ravenniana has an extent of occurrence estimated in less than 20,000 Km², the area of occupancy is smaller than 2,000 km 2, furthermore the populations are fragmented and occur in specialized habitat, on native grasslands in places of shallow soils, stony and rocky. The agriculture have increased in the last years in the area that C. ravenniana occurs, resulting in a direct threat to the conservation of this species by destroying of the natural habitat. According to the IUCN Red List protocol ( IUCN 2013) the species can be assigned to the Vulnerable (VU, B1b(iii), c(iv) + B2, b(iii), c(iv)) category.

Taxonomic relationships:— Cypella ravenniana belongs sect. Nais Ravenna (1981a: 489) (sensu Ravenna 1981a, 1981b, 2003, 2009), and it is closely related to C. suffusa Ravenna (2009: 1) , both species have larger bright yellow flowers with central concavity provides of purplish-brown dots, and like shape of outer and inner tepals. However, C. ravenniana differs mainly by its lower habit, and shortly pedunculate and one-flowered spathes. In living specimens, this new species can be separated also by shape of the central concavity of perigone, larger and less deep, by absence of conspicuous purple stains in the middle portion of the blade, and by stamens with filaments not adhered to style in the distal half. C. ravenniana is easily distinct from C. laeta Ravenna (1981b: 13) by its one-flowered spathes, bigger flowers and shape of inner tepals. From C. discolor Ravenna (1981b: 16) this new species is easily segregated by its yellow flowers, and longer style branches, ending in long crests at top.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Cypella ravenniana. A. Habit. B. Flower, lateral view. C. Flower, upper view. D. Flowers, tepals removed. E. Inner tepal. F. Capsule. G. Seed. H. Spathe with immature capsule. I. Stamen (A–C, E–I from Deble et Alves 15505; D from Deble & Alves 15504).

FIGURE 9. Cypella ravenniana. A. flower, upper view. B. flower, inclinate view. C. Flower, lateral view. Cypella suffusa. D. Flower, upper view. E. Flower, inclinate view. F. Flower, lateral view (A from Deble et al. 15504; B–C from Deble et Alves 15505; D–F from Deble et Alves 15511).

FIGURE 10. Cypella suffusa. A. holotype, at herbarium SI. B. detail of the spathes. Cypella ravenniana. C. paratype, at herbarium SI (material cited as a paratype of C. suffusa by Ravenna). D. detail of the spathes.