Galianthe longifolia (Standl.) E.L. Cabral, Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot., 1991

Florentín, Javier E., Nuñez-Florentin, Mariela & Salas, Roberto M., 2024, Advancements in Galianthe (Spermacoceae-Rubiaceae) knowledge: complete description of G. longifolia and new records for G. thalictroides in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Phytotaxa 655 (1), pp. 89-96 : 90-93

Galianthe longifolia (Standl.) E.L. Cabral, Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. 27 (3–4): 245. 1991 [1992]. ( Figs. 1 , 2 , 3A )

Borreria thalictroides K.Schum. var. longifolia Standl., Field Mus. Nat. Hist.Bot.Ser. 8(5): 394: 1931. Type:— BRAZIL. Parana. Serriha, in campo, alt. 840 m, 7 December 1908, P. Dusén 7303 (holotype S), isotype US 00130100!

Erect subshrubs, up 40–60 cm tall. with xylopodium; stems simple, sub-tetragonal, glabrous or pubescent, internodes 2–5 cm long. Leaves 2–6 pseudoverticillate per node, (15)25–65 x 0.5–1 mm, sessile, linear, lacking veins, glabrous. Stipular sheath 4–5 mm long, puberulent, the margin irregular, with 3–4 fimbriae 5–15 mm long, linear to broad-based filiform, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal, thyrsoid, 3–15 cm long, multiflorous, shortly pedunculate. Hypanthium turbinate, 1.2–1.7 mm long, glabrous. Calyx lobes equal, triangular-acuminate, 1.5–2 mm long, glabrous, margins with antrorse papillae, with colleters at lobe sinuses. Corolla infundibuliform, externally micropapillate. Long-styled flowers: corolla 3.7–4.5 mm long, lobes equal to or longer than the tube, externally micropapillate, inner surface with two rings of moniliform trichomes, a narrow one of thin hairs in the middle of the tube and another dense one in the lower third of the lobes, the rest micropapillate; stamens included, filaments ca. 1 mm long, anthers 0.7–1 mm long; pollen grains 6–7-zonocolporate, medium-sized (P = 31.17–38.79 μm, E = 34.05–41.04 μm diam.), oblate-spheroidal (P/E = 0.85–1.02), circular outline in polar view, ectocolpus 17.79–23.51 μm long, slit-like, endocingulum as endoaperture, exine 2.43–3.98 μm thick, semitectate-bireticulate, infrareticulum nanogranulate, suprareticulum muri mostly psilate; style exserted, ca. 3.7–4 (5.2) mm long, with dense papillae, bifurcate at the apical part, stigmatic branches linear with dense, long hairs. Short-styled flowers: corolla 3.5–4 mm long, lobes equal to or shorter than the tube, inner surface with two rings of moniliform trichomes, one of fine hairs in the middle of the tube and another of coarser, longer, arching hairs on the lobes, the rest micropapillate; anthers 0.5–0.7 mm, filaments ca. 0.5 mm long; pollen grains 7–8-zonocolporate, medium-sized (P = 38.39–42.49 μm, E = 32.43–39.28 μm diam.), prolate-spheroidal (P/E = 1.05– 1.25), circular outline in polar view, ectocolpus 19.3–25.02 μm long, slit-like, endocingulum as endoaperture, exine 3.1–3.98 μm thick, semitectate-bireticulate, infrareticulum nanogranulate, suprareticulum muri mostly psilate; style 1.2–2 mm long, with broad-based unicellular papillae, divided in their third into spatulate stigmatic branches, with dense multicellular papillae from the bifurcation, the apical ones longer. Nectariferous disk entire. Capsules turbinate, septicidal, with dehiscent valves, 4–5 mm long, calyx lobes persistent. Seeds elliptic, 2–3 mm long, blackish to brown, ventral surface with a longitudinal groove partially covered by the strophiole, dorsal surface with colliculate testa, cells circular, 25–50 μm wide, anticlinal walls convex, periclinal walls convex, furrowed.

Notes: Galianthe longifolia is morphologically similar, and sometimes confused, with G. thalictroides but the G. longifolia species is distinguished by its simple stems, 2–5 cm long internodes (vs. densely branched stems, with numerous lateral branches, 1–2 cm long internodes), (15) 25–65 mm long leaves (vs. 8–25 mm long leaves), stipular sheath 4–5 mm long, with 3–4 laciniae, 5–15 mm long (vs. stipular sheath 1–1.2 (–2.5) mm long, with 1–5 laciniae, 0.2–2.5 mm long), shortly pedunculate inflorescence up to 35 mm (vs. long pedunculate inflorescence over 35 mm), corolla (short-styled flowers) 3.5–4 mm long (vs. corolla (short-styled flowers) 5.5–6.2 mm long).

The protologue of G. longifolia mentions that the holotype Dusén 7303 is deposited in the Stockholm herbarium with the sentence “Stockholm herb. type”.At the herbarium database (https://herbarium.nrm.se/species/50016789), the presence of a specimen was confirmed (“material present in the herbarium, but no specimens have yet been registered in the database”), but it was not possible to obtain a barcode because the herbarium building is undergoing extensive renovation, and the botanical collections are kept ex situ.

The description of Galianthe longifolia is complemented by traits not previously described, principally those of the fruit, seeds and pollen grains. Based on our morphological analysis we confirm the placement of G. longifolia in the Galianthe subgen. Galianthe mainly because of their septicidal capsules with dehiscent valves.

Phenology: it flowers and fruits from November to April.

Geographic distribution and habitat: Galianthe longifolia is distributed in Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul ( Brazil). It grows in high fields between 840–875 m a.s.l., in areas occupied by pinheiros [ Araucaria angustifolia ( Bertoloni 1819: 411–412) Kuntze (1898: 375) ] in the state of Paraná and adjacent localities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul ( Brazil). Fig. 3A .

In the state of Paraná, the species is recorded in populations distributed across several localities, such as Balsa Nova, Campo Largo, Lapa, Palmeira, Porto Amazonas, Ponta Grossa, and Jacutinga. However, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, only two populations have been identified in the localities of Amambai and Tacuru. All collections indicate that the species is not very common and is found in dry, sandy, and rocky fields belonging to the Atlantic Forest biome. According to conservation assessment carried out by Florentín et al. (2022), G. longifolia is categorized as EN (Endangered) due to habitat destruction caused by livestock grazing, agriculture, and mining activities. Despite this, some populations may exist within protected areas [such as the Devonian Escarpment and Passauna (Paraná)], but there are no recent observations or collections to indicate their current presence.

Specimens examined:— BRASIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Rod. MF 642, 5 Km O, Tacuru , 16 December 1983, G. Hatschbach 47302 ( MBM, UB) ; Arredores da tribo Caiuá, Amambai, 1979, W. G. Garcia 13848 ( UEC). Paraná. Palmeira, PR, 11 February 1973, L. Dombrowski 4553 ( US) ; Lapa, 14 December 1959, R. Braga et al. 165 ( NY) ; idem, 28 November 1948, G. Hatschbach 1113 ( HBR, MBM, US) ; idem, 9 November 1976, L. Dombrwski 6682 ( US) ; Volta Grande, 20 December 1979, P. I. Oliveira 173 ( UB) ; Mun. Balsa Nova, Tamandua, 27 December 1968, G. Hatschbach 20659 ( RB, UB, US) ; Rio Passo Dois , 31 December 1967, G. Hatschbach 18226 ( MBM, US) ; Lapa, Fazendinha, 11 December 1965, R. Reitz et al. 17406 ( B, F, HBR, SI, US) ; Passauna, Estr. a campo Largo, 18 January 1951, Tessmann s.n ( MBM) ; Restinga Serra, 14 April 1908, P. Dusén 2665 ( R) ; São Luiz do Puruña , 10 January 1987, L. Dombrwski 6869 ( ICN) ; Vila Velha, 15 January 1987, A. Krapovickas et al. 40856 ( CTES) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Galianthe longifolia. A. Habit. B. Stipular sheath. C–E. Long-styled flower. C. Flower. D. Hypanthium, calyx, style, and stigma. E. Opened corolla. F–H. Short-styled flower. F. Flower. G. Hypanthium, calyx, style, and stigma. H. Opened corolla. I–K. Seed. I. Seed, dorsal view. J. Seed, ventral view. K. Seed, cross section. L. Fruit. A–H extracted from Cabral (2009), I–L de Cordeiro C.B. 1969 (C). Ilustrated by L. Simón

FIGURE 2. Galianthe longifolia. LM (K, O), SM (A, D–E) and SEM (B–C, F–J, L–N, P) photomicrographs of fruits, seeds, and pollen grains.A. Inmature fruit. B. Dehiscent fruit.C. Detail of the fruit wall. D–H. Seed. D, F. Dorsal view. E, G. Ventral view. H. Detail of testa surface. I–P. Pollen grain. I–L. Short-styled flower. I. Polar view. J–K. Equatorial view. L. Detail of exine. M–P. Long-styled flower. M. Polar view. N–O. Equatorial view. P. Detail of exine. Scale bar A–B. 500 μm. C, H. 20 µm. D–G. 500 µm. I–K, M–O. 5 µm. L, P. 1 µm. A–H from Cordeiro C.B. 1969 (C).

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Galianthe species. A. Galianthe longifolia (red circles). B. G. thalictroides (yellow circles), blue dotted lines indicate new records.