Hornschuchia mellosilvae L.Vilela & J.C.Lopes

Fig. 6

Phytotaxa 520 (3): 274, figs 1–2 (Lopes et al. 2021).

Type: BRAZIL – Bahia • “ Almadina, Rodovia de Almadina para Ibitupã ca 20 km. Fazenda São Roque, ca 10 km da entrada do ramal à esquerda ”; 14°38′27″ S, 39°42′47″ W; 12 Mar. 2005; P. Fiaschi 2784; holotype: SPF [SPF00168936]!; isotypes: CEPEC [CEPEC00104268]!, NY [NY01282018] !.

Material examined

BRAZIL – Bahia • “ Antônio Cardoso, 20 km de Feira de Santana, na BR-116, Fazenda Sossego”; [12°22′50.9″ S, 39°06′49.5″ W]; 14Apr. 1995; E. Mello 1143; SPF [SPF00146918]!, SPF [SPF00133100] !.

Description

Shrubs or treelets. Leaves chartaceous to subcoriaceous, petiole 2–7 mm long, lamina 6–11.6 × 2.4– 5.3 cm, narrowly elliptic to elliptic or lanceolate, both surfaces glabrous, base cuneate to acute or obtuse, apex acuminate to acute or obtuse, primary vein impressed adaxially and raised abaxially, 8–12 secondary veins, angles between primary and secondary veins 50–60°. Inflorescence one-flowered, supra-axillary or terminal or ramiflorous, bracts absent. Flowers with pedicel 2–4 mm long, flower buds 5–7 × 2–3 mm, conical, densely to sparsely covered in trichomes. Sepals completely connate, calyx cupuliform, apex truncate, 3–8 × 2–5 mm, densely covered in trichomes. Petals linear, white, outer petals (9–)20–24 × (1.5–) 2–3 mm, inner petals 15 × 3 mm, densely covered in trichomes, stamens 10, ca 4 × 0.5 mm, carpels 4, ca 5.5 × 1 mm, densely covered in trichomes. Monocarp 1, obloid with acute apex, rugose, 20–24 × 9–12 mm, glabrous, green in vivo, stipe 1–2 mm long, calyx persistent. Seeds 4, obloid-flattened, 15–18 × 8 mm, with aril.

Distribution and habitat

Hornschuchia mellosilvae occurs inland in Bahia. It inhabits semideciduous seasonal forest and lowland tropical moist forest (Gouvêa et al. 1976; Thomas & Barbosa 2008; Fig. 6).

Phenology

Flowering from March to April, fruiting in March.

Preliminary conservation status

Endangered, EN B2ab(iii) (Lopes et al. 2021).

Notes

Hornschuchia mellosilvae and H. bryotrophe are the only species in the genus with ramiflory. However, H. bryotrophe is easily recognized by its leaves with evident commissural veins (Fig. 2B), absent in H. mellosilvae . Some individuals of H. mellosilvae also present supra-axillary or terminal inflorescence, features shared with H. mediterranea . See note under H. mediterranea to differentiate the two species.