Wissadula paraguariensis Chod. (1901: 400)

Bovini, Massimo G. & Baumgratz, José Fernando A., 2016, Taxonomic revision of Wissadula (Malvoideae, Malvaceae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 243 (3), pp. 201-234 : 226-227

15. Wissadula paraguariensis Chod. (1901: 400) . Type :— PARAGUAY. L’Assumption, sur les bords des marais, May 1874, fl., fr., B. Balansa 1626 (holotype: G!; isotype: K!).

Wissadula oligomera Chod. (1901: 400) . Type:— PARAGUAY. In dumetis Espinillar de Carapegua, October, E. Hassler 1217 (holotype: G).

Wissadula periplocifolia Presl. var. genuina Hochr. (1902: 28) . Type:— PARAGUAY. In dumetis insulae Chaco-y pr. Concepcion, October, E. Hassler 7579 (holotype: G).

Wissadula periplocifolia Presl. var. genuina Hochr. f. parvifolia Chodat & Hassl. (1905: 289) . Type:— PARAGUAY. In regione cursus superioris fluminis Apa, December, E. Hassler 8259 (holotype: G).

Wissadula periplocifolia Presl. var. hernandioides Hochr. f. transiens Hassl. (1909: 82) . Syn. nov. Type:— PARAGUAY. In regione cursus inferioris fluminis Pilcomayo, December, T. Rojas 351 (holotype: G!, RB, photo!).

Subshrubs to shrubs 0.5–2 m tall, erects. Branches puberulous, trichomes whitish, multiradiate and multiradiate-stipitate, caducous. Stipules 0.6–0.7 cm long., lanceolate, free, caducous, pannose, trichomes multiradiate-stipitate. Leaves with petiole 0.5–3.5 cm long, panose, trichomes hyaline to ferrugineous, multiradiate-stipitate; lamina 2.5–9.5 × 1.5–5 cm, membranaceous to chartaceous, green discolor, deltoid to slightly cordiform, base truncate, sometimes cordate, apex obtuse, sometimes mucronate, margin entire to slightly sinuose; adaxial surface puberulous, trichomes whitish, fasciculate, multiradiate, and rarely simple; abaxial surface velutinous, trichomes hyaline, multiradiate-stipitate, longer than the trichomes of abaxial surface. Synflorescence frondose-bracteate, pyramidal, lax; coflorescence double-racemes, 26–30 cm long; accessory axis rarely reduced, 2(–3) flowers; anthopodium 1.5–2 cm long, pubescent, trichomes glandular and multiradiate-stipitate. Flowers with pedicel 9–10 mm long, indumentum and trichomes similar to those of the anthopodium; calyx 5–6 mm long, sepals free to the middle below to medium portion, not accrescent in fruit, adaxial surface pubescent, trichomes glandular and multiradiate-stipitate, abaxial surface hirtellous, trichomes simple long; corolla 0.8–0.9 cm diam, yellow, with dark purple center; staminal column with rare trichomes hyaline, simple and fasciculate-stipitate, free portion os filaments ca. 3 mm long, few trichomes hyaline, simple; ovary 4–5 celled, 3 ovules per cell; style ca. 5 mm long. Schizocarp 1.3–1.4 cm diam, 4–5 mericarps, 10–11 × 5–6 mm, spines ca. 1.5 mm long, constriction conspicuous, pubescent, shiny, trichomes fasciculate and multiradiate, frequently at the union between the carpel and in the distal region os mericarps; seeds 3, ca. 3 mm long, hilum pubescent, trichomes simple ( Figs. 7j–l ).

Representative Specimens Examined — BRAZIL. Tocantins: Conceição do Tocantins , 11 May 2000, fl., fr., G. Hatschbach et al. 71908 ( MBM) . Bahia: Jacobina , 04 April 1967, fl., fr., A. Krapovickas 12846 and 12847 ( CTES) . Mato Grosso: Cáceres , August 1980, fl.fr., L. Rossi & I. Cordeiro s.n. ( CTES 110135 , SPF) ; Paconé , 28 January 1989, fl., fr., A. Krapovickas 43106 & C. L. Cristóbal ( CTES, MBM) ; “viveiros, org.”, 19 March 1945, fl., fr., F. Guerra s.n. ( RB 55435 ) . Mato Grosso do Sul: arredores, 15 March 2004, fl., fr., G. Hatschbach et al. 77168 ( CTES, MBM) ; Miranda , 05 June 1973, fl., fr., J. S. Silva 63 ( SP) ; Porto Murtinho , 23 May 2002, fl., fr., G. Hatschbach et al. 73326 ( MBM) .

Etymology— The epithet paraguariensis is a tribute to the country where the type specimen was collected: Paraguay.

Distribution— It is found in Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. In Brazil, it occurs in the States of Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Bahia.

Notes— Wissadula paraguariensis is distinguished by its leaves with obtuse apex and frequently truncate base, schizocarps with 4–5 mericarps, and shiny appearance of the schizocarp by the presence of fasciculate and multiradiate trichomes at the junction of the carpels and on the distal region of the mericarps. It resembles W. periplocifolia in the shape of its leaves.

Although Fries (1908) examined the type specimen of W. periplocifolia var. hernandioides f. transiens (Rojas 351), he did not include it in the list of synonyms of W. paraguariensis . Did Fries consider it as a difference species? Because its leaf shape and the type of fruit indumentum are insufficient evidence to consider it as a distinct species, we s included this name a synonym of W. paraguariensis .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Wissadula hernandioides (L´Hér.) Garcke. a. fertile branch. b. detail of branch. c. fruit. W. indivisa R.E.Fr. d. fertile branch. e. detail of branch. f. fruit. W. macrantha R.E.Fr. g. fertile branch. h. detail of branch. i. fruit. W. paraguariensis Chod. j. fertile branch. k. detail of branch. l. fruit. (a–c: Bovini 2567, RB; d–f: Gibbs 5304, UEC; g–i: Hatschbach 74963, MBM; j–l: Hatschbach 77168, CTES, MBM). Scale bars: a, d, g, j = 5 mm; b, c, e, f, h, I, k, l = 2 mm.