Anthurium marcusianum Valadares et al. (2019: 3)

Valadares, Rodrigo Theófilo, Couto, Dayvid Rodrigues, Manhães, Vitor Da Cunha, Silva, Lucas De Almeida & Dutra, Valquiria Ferreira, 2024, Anthurium capixaba (Araceae): a new species with cordate leaves from Brazil, Phytotaxa 664 (1), pp. 75-82 : 78

Anthurium marcusianum Valadares et al. (2019: 3) ( Fig. 3 ).

Type:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Águia Branca, Pedra da Bandeira, 26 April 2008, fl., L. J. C. Kollmann 10937 (holotype MBML!, isotype, RB!).

Rupicolous or terrestrial; sheath 2.1–5.9 cm long. Petiole 14.3–57.1 × 0.4–0.5 cm, leaf blade 8.2–33.9 × 7.5–20.3 cm, ovate to broadly ovate, anterior lobe 8.2–23.6 cm long; posterior lobes 4.1–10.3 cm long, sinus spathulate, obovate to parabolic; peduncle 24.5–61.4 × 0.4 cm, 1.2–2.7 times longer than the petiole; spathe 4.2–7.1 × 0.6–0.8 cm; spadix 4.6–8.4 × 0.4–0.5 cm, sessile to stipe 0.7 cm long, cylindric to tapered; anthers aggregated overtop and obscuring the pistil. Infructescence with berries greenish at apex, translucent to whitish at base, globose, 0.5–0.6 × 0.4–0.5 cm; mesocarp mucilaginous with elongate raphides; seeds beige, rounded in outline with convex faces, 0.25–0.30 × 0.24–0.28 cm, with rough surface.

Discussion: —Despite being within a private area, the rocky outcrop vegetation of the type locality is well preserved. It is possible to estimate more than 200 adult individuals of Anthurium marcusianum forming a community with Aechmea maasii Gouda & Till (1997: 4) , Paliavana prasinata ( Ker Gawler 1819: 428) Bentham (1876: 1003) , Sinningia brasiliensis ( Regel & Schmidt 1880: 97) Wiehler & Chautems (1995: 7) and Pseudobombax petropolitanum Robyns (1963: 83) . Anthurium marcusianum can be considered predominantly heliophilic, but some more robust mesophyte plants can be found underneath P. petropolitanum . The wide range of petiole and peduncle presented here mean that these characters cannot be used to distinguish it from other species.

It is important to highlight that the species has been the target of overexploitation(pers.obs.).In 2022, 300individuals were removed from a population unknown to the authors in Colatina city, Espírito Santo. Its leaf characteristics, such as a cordate base and velvety surface, encourage the search for individuals in nature and highlight the need for ex-situ reproduction of the species. The authors' understanding follows the concern about the increased extraction of other Araceae species in the Espírito Santo. As vegetative propagation in Araceae is well known, initiatives that encourage the training of plant breeders could reduce the removal of specimens. However, the proposal could only achieve success under the guidance of researchers and decision-makers.

Additional specimen examined:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Águia Branca, Santa Luzia, Antiga propriedade do Sr. Ciro Ferreira ; afloramento próximo a cachoeira do Arco-íris , 16 March 2016, H. V. Pinto Junior 228 & L. Luber ( SAMES!) ; Santa Luzia, Pedra da Cachoeira Arco-Iris , 18°59'00.3"S, 40°39'43.4"W, 18 February 2020, R. T. Valadares 2283 & L. A. Silva ( VIES!) ; loc. cit., 18°58'51"S, 40°39'58.6"W, 18 February 2020, R. T. Valadares 2284 & L. A. Silva ( VIES!) ; loc. cit. 18°58'50"S, 40°39'42.4"W, 18 February 2020, R. T. Valadares 2285 & L. A. Silva ( VIES!) ; loc. cit., Monumento Natural dos Pontões Capixabas, 19°01'16"S, 40°40'37"W, 20 November 2021, H. L. Silva et al. 627 ( VIES!) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Anthurium capixaba. A. Leaf blade. B. Inflorescence. C. Type locality. A–B from D.R. Couto 1591 (CAP). Photo C from D.R. Couto.