Microlicia xylopodifera Fontelas & R.Romero, 2020

Fontelas, Jean Correa & Romero, Rosana, 2020, Two new species of Microlicia D. Don (Melastomataceae, Microlicieae) from Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goias State, Brazil, PhytoKeys 164, pp. 115-126 : 115

Microlicia xylopodifera Fontelas & R.Romero sp. nov. Fig. 3

Type.

Brazil. Goiás: Alto Paraíso de Goiás, ca. 40 km N, 1250 m elev., 24 March 1971 (fl, fr), H.S. Irwin et al. 33108 (holotype: UEC!, isotypes: CAS! [CAS0519655], NY!, US! [US-01899836]).

Diagnosis.

The new species can be recognised by the robust xylopodium, cespitose habit, indumentum of spherical glands, setose and glandular trichomes on branch, leaf, hypanthium and sepal and flower bud with a dense crown of glandular trichomes at the apex.

Description.

Subshrub, 0.1-0.2 m tall, cespitose, robust xylopodium present. Stem terete, glabrous. Branch fastigiate, younger branch green, quadrangular, older branch brownish, becoming terete, glabrescent and leafless with age. Branch, both surfaces of the leaf, hypanthium and sepal covered by spherical glands, setose and glandular trichomes 0.2-1.5 mm long. Leaf sessile, horizontal or ascending, lax, internode 2-6 mm long; blade 2.5-9 × 1.5-5.5 mm, discolorous, adaxial surface darker than the abaxial surface (in dry state), chartaceous, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute at the apex, with a terminal glandular trichome, 0.5-1 mm, base rounded or slightly cordate, margin flat, serrate, ciliate, 3-veined, usually inconspicuous on both surfaces. Flower 5-merous, solitary, terminal or lateral, perianth actinomorphic; pedicel 0.7-1 mm long; hypanthium 3.5-4.5 × 1.5-2 mm, green, urceolate; calyx tube ca. 0.2 mm long; sepal 1-2 × 1-1.5 mm, triangular, acute at the apex, with a terminal glandular trichome ca. 0.5 mm long; petal 5-10 × 2.5-5 mm, pink, obovate, obovate-oblong or oblong, acute at the apex, flower bud with a crown of glandular trichomes, during anthesis, the trichomes are only at the apex, margin entire; stamen 10, dimorphic, anther polysporangiate; larger (antesepalous) stamen 5, filament 2.5-3.5 mm long, pinkish, sometimes yellow, pedoconnective 2-3 mm long, pinkish, sometimes yellow; ventral appendage 1.5-2 mm long, yellow, truncate or rounded at the apex, rarely obtuse, anther 1.5-2 mm long including beak, vinaceous, ovate-oblong, beak 0.3-0.5 mm long; smaller (antepetalous) stamen 5, filament ca. 3 mm long, pinkish, sometimes yellow, pedoconnective ca. 1 mm long, pinkish, sometimes yellow, ventral appendage ca. 0.3 mm long, yellow, acute at the apex, anther ca. 1.5 mm long including beak, yellow, ovate-oblong, beak 0.3-0.5 mm long; ovary ca. 2.5 × 1.5 mm, 3-locular, pyriform, superior, glabrous; style ca. 6 mm long, pinkish, terete, slightly curved at the apex; stigma punctiform. Capsule ca. 2 × 2 mm, brown, globose, dehiscing into 3 valves from the apex, hypanthium partially covering the capsule; seed ca. 0.6 × 0.3 mm, brown, oblong, testa foveolate.

Distribution and habitat.

Microlicia xylopodifera is endemic to Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás State, Brazil, occurring in cerrado rupestre and campo limpo, on sandy soil, between 1000 m and 1800 m elevation (Fig. 2 ).

Conservation status.

Microlicia xylopodifera has a restricted extent of occurrence (EOO = 80 km2) and area of occupancy (AOO = 20 km2) and, therefore, we recommend that it be considered Endangered [EN B1ab (ii, iii, iv] if all IUCN (2019) guidelines are followed. So far, all populations of M. xylopodifera have been found inside the park boundaries, where we believe the species is protected.

Phenology.

Flowers and fruits have been collected in March.

Etymology.

The specific epithet " xylopodifera " refers to the robust xylopodium (also described as lignotubers) present in all specimens examined. Xylopodium or lignotuber is an organ that buffers the plant against extremes of water loss, temporal mineral or nutritional deficiency, providing also protection against fire ( Gottsberger and Silberbauer-Gottsberger 2006).

Additional specimens examined

(paratypes). Brazil. Goiás: Alto Paraíso de Goiás, ca. 30 km ao norte da Chapada dos Veadeiros, 1000 m elev., 16 March 1969 (fl), H.S. Irwin et al. 24490 (NY!); ca. 19 km N, 1250 m elev., 20 March 1971 (fl), H.S. Irwin et al. 32788 (NY!, UEC!, US!); 8 km N, 1500 m elev., 6 March 1973 (fl), W.R. Anderson 6433 (NY!, US!); ca. 29 km N, 800 m elev., 9 March 1973 (fl), W.R. Anderson 6742 (NY!, US!). Teresina de Goiás, 31 km na estrada ao sul para Alto Paraíso de Goiás, 1500 m elev., 16 March 1973 (fl), W.R. Anderson 7162 (NY!, US!).

Figures

Figure 2. Geographical distribution of Microlicia gracilis and M. xylopodifera in the state of Goias, Brazil.

Figure 3. Microlicia xylopodifera Fontelas & R. Romero A habit, showing a xylopodium B leaf adaxial surface C flower bud D detail of the apex of the flower bud with a crown of glandular trichomes E petal F larger (antesepalous) stamen G smaller (antepetalous) stamen H gynoecium I closed capsule (A-I: H. S. Irwin et al. 33108). Photos: Jean Fontelas.