Wissadula boliviana R.E.Fr. (1908: 40)

Bovini, Massimo G. & Baumgratz, José Fernando A., 2016, Taxonomic revision of Wissadula (Malvoideae, Malvaceae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 243 (3), pp. 201-234 : 213-214

3. Wissadula boliviana R.E.Fr. (1908: 40) .

Type :— BOLÍVIA. without locality and date, fl., Bang 2809 (lectotype: MO, designated here, digital image!; isolectotype: B, BM, G, K, NY, US) .

Shrubs 1.5–2.5 m tall, erects. Adult branches glabrate, pubescent when young, trichomes ferrugineous, fasciculate and fasciculate-stipitate, rare minute glandular. Stipules 0.4–0.5 cm long, lanceolate, free, caducous, both surface tomentose, trichomes ferrugineous, fasciculate. Leaves with petioles 1–4.5 cm long, tomentose, trichomes fasciculate-stipitate; lamina 2.5–10 × 2–7.5 cm, green discolour, membranaceous to chartaceous, ovate to cordiform, base subcordate to sub-truncate, apex acute to long acuminate, margin entire; adaxial surface pubescent, trichomes hyaline, simple, and glandular, rare multiradiate, abaxial surface velutinous, trichomes whitish, multiradiate, stipitate or not. Synflorescence frondose-bracteate, pyramidal, lax; coflorescences double-racemes, 17–20 cm long; accessory axis reduced, 2(–3) flowers; anthopodium 1–1.1 cm long, tomentose, trichomes fasciculate, fasciculate-stipitate and glandular. Flowers with pedicel 4–5 mm long, indumentum and trichomes like the anthopodium; calyx 2–3 mm long, sepals free to the middle below to medium portion, not accrescent in fruit, adaxial surface tomentose, ferrugineous, trichomes fasciculate, fasciculate-stipitate and glandular, abaxial surface sericeous, trichomes simple, long; corolla ca. 1 cm diam, yellow, without dark center; staminal column with few hyaline trichomes, simple and fasciculate-stipitate, free portion of filaments ca. 3 mm long, few trichomes hyaline, simple; ovary 4–celled, 3 ovules per cell; style ca. 4 mm long. Schizocarp 0.7–0.8 cm diam; 4 mericarps, 6–7 × 3–4 mm, spines <1 mm long, constriction conspicuous, pubescent, trichomes fasciculate and multiradiate; seeds 3, ca. 3 mm long, hilum puberulous, trichomes simple. ( Figs. 5d–f ).

Representative Specimens Examined— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Corumbá , July 1911, fl, Hoehne 3015 ( BM, R) ; Miranda , 4 June 1983, fl., Silva 35 ( CTES, RB, SP) ; 9 September 2007, fl., Bovini et al. 2679 ( RB) .

Additional Specimens Examined— BOLÍVIA. La Paz: 4 July 1981, fl., fr., Beck 4737 ( CTES, LPB) ; 15 December 1997, fl., Beck 23224 ( CTES, LPB) ; Yungas , 1 April 1986, fl., Beck 12620 ( CTES, LPB) ; 6 May 1990, fl., Luteyn & Dorr 13505 ( CTES, NY) .

Etymology— The epithet boliviana refers to the country Bolivia (locus classicus of the species)

Distribution— It is found in Bolivia and in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Wissadula boliviana was recorded for the first time in Brazil.

Note— Wissadula boliviana can be identified by its leaves, which are usually membranous and pubescent on the adaxial surface with an acute to long acuminate apex, and the presence of four mericarps. A. Krapovickas (pers. comm.) states that this species is difficult to identify, particularly when the leaves reach adult size because they become similar to those of W. excelsior . Fries (1908) described W. boliviana with long-petiolate leaves and trigonous petioles. However, based on the material analyzed, petioles are up to 4.5 cm long, which represents the average size in the Wissadula genus. Because the characteristic trigonous shape was not observed, we believe that the petiole may have been modified by the herborization techniques applied to the type material.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Wissadula amplissima (L.) R.E.Fr. a. fertile branch. b. detail of branch. c. fruit. W. boliviana R.E.Fr. d. fertile branch. e. detail of branch. f. fruit. W. caribaea (DC.) Bovini. g. fertile branch. h. detail of branch. i. fruit. W. contracta (Link) R.E.Fr. j. fertile branch. k. detail of branch. l. fruit. (a–c: Grecco 78, SP; d–f: Bovini 2679, RB; g–I: Miranda 3252, CTES; j–l: Bovini 2566, RB). Scale bars: a, d, g, j =5 cm; b, c, e, f, i, k, l = 2 mm; k = 1 mm.