Dyckia inflexifolia Guarçoni & Sartori ( Guarçoni et al. 2012b: 407 )

Büneker, Henrique Mallmann, Soares, Kelen Pureza & Assis, Lucas Coelho De, 2016, The Dyckia sordida complex (Bromeliaceae, Pitcairnioideae) and a new species from Minas Gerais, Brazil, Phytotaxa 244 (1), pp. 57-68 : 60

1. Dyckia inflexifolia Guarçoni & Sartori ( Guarçoni et al. 2012b: 407) , Fig. 1A–E

Type: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Serro, Ceu Aberto Farm , 16 June 2007, flow. cult. 30 July 2010, E. Guarçoni 1474 & M. A. Sartori (holotype VIC; isotype R!) .

Etymology: —The epithet “ inflexifolia ” (inflexus from Latin, participle of inflecto = bent over, bent; folia = leaf) refers to the occasional occurrence of curved leaf apex, facing inward, forming a hook ( Fig. 1B ), a characteristic that can be only occasionally observed in some individuals in its population. So, this is a morphological characteristic with occasional occurrence in the population, which alone is not a good morphological character for species differentiation since it does not occur in all individuals of D. inflexifolia and can be occasionally observed occurs in other species of the genus.

Observations: — Dyckia inflexifolia was recently described and is known only from the type locality. It is characterized by having the adaxial side of the leaf blade completely glabrous, a distinctive feature from the remaining species of the complex. Despite of the morphological similarity in the floral aspects, vegetatively D. inflexifolia and D. sordida are very different. The first one having relatively short leaves, with blade margins densely and conspicuously spinose serrate, while in the second one the blade are relatively long and have margins laxly and inconspicuously spinose serrate (especially in the type collection).

Conservation Status: —This species is only known from the type locality, where its population occupies an area (AOO) of ca. 1 km ². It is susceptible to the mining advancement, because it grows on iron ore-rich rocky outcrops. According to the criterion B2 ac(ii, iv) and D ( IUCN 2012), it is considered a Critically Endangered species (CR).

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Serro, Fazenda Céu Aberto, 18 June 2014, H.M. Büneker 298 et al. (HDCF).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–E. Dyckia inflexifolia E.A.E. Guarçoni & M.A. Sartori (Büneker 298 et al.). A. Vegetative appearance in habitat. B. Detail of young leaves with bent over (hooked) apex. C. Fertile habitus in habitat. D. Inflorescence detail with flowers at anthesis. E. Inflorescence detail with flowers in bud.