Phyllanthus heteradenius Müller Argoviensis (1873: 63)

Mendes, Jone Clebson Ribeiro, Silva, Marcos José Da, Pereira-Silva, Rafaela Alves, Sales, Margareth Ferreira De & Athiê-Souza, Sarah Maria, 2021, Typifications and a new synonym in Phyllanthus sect. Phyllanthus subsect. Clausseniani (Phyllanthaceae), Phytotaxa 483 (2), pp. 160-168 : 163

2. Phyllanthus heteradenius Müller Argoviensis (1873: 63) .

Type: — BRAZIL. In Brasilia, C.F.P. Martius s.n. (holotype M0264638 ! , isotype G00435015 !).

Phyllanthus atalaiensis G.L. Webster (2002: 22) . Type: — BRAZIL. Goiás: Mun. Monte Alegre de Goiás, Serra da Atalaia , 25 km by road SW of Monte Alegre, forest on granitic rock, 600–800 m, 12 March 1973, W.R. Anderson 6911 (holotype US2869354!, isotypes MO2964927!, NY00908111!, UB16827!; V0044173F!). syn. nov. Figure 2 .

Phyllanthus heteradenius was described by Müller Argoviensis (1873) based on Martius s.n. from “ Habitat in Brasilia, loco speciali ignoto: Hb. reg. Monac. ”, while Phyllanthus atalaiensis was proposed by Webster (2002) based on Anderson 6911 from Goiás State ( Brazil). Webster (2002) admitted that this species resembled a form of P. heteradenius , and differentiated them mainly by the presence of laciniate stipules and bracts.

A comparative analysis of types and herbarium specimens of Phyllanthus atalaiensis and P. heteradenius , as well as specimens of P. atalaiensis collected in Goiás State, showed that both names refer to the same taxonomic entity. In addition to the herbaceous habit and falcate staminate disk, pointed out by Webster (2002) as characters shared by both species, they also share leaves broadly obovate to suborbicular; 2-4 staminate axillary flowers arranged in glomeruli, sepals 5, elliptical or suborbicular, disk 5-segmented, stamens 3, free; pistillate flowers solitary, sepals 5, obovate, disk 5-segmented, ovate; ovary oblate; styles free, 2-fid; capsule depression-ovoid, and seeds trigonous, very finely crossstriated.

Phyllanthus heteradenius is currently recognized as occurring exclusively in northeastern Brazil (in the states of Alagoas, Bahia, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, and Sergipe) in the savanna and caatinga domains. As a result of the synonymization, the geographical distribution of P. heteradenius now expands to Goiás State ( Fig. 3 ).

Representative Specimens Examined: — BRAZIL. Alagoas: Delmiro Gouveia, 26 June 2004 (fl. and fr.), R.P. Lyra-Lemos et al. 8325 (MAC); Maravilha, 13 May 1982 (fl.), R.P. Lyra-Lemos & M.N.R. Staviski 539 (MAC); Pão de Açúcar , 15 July 2000 (fl. and fr.), R.P. Lyra-Lemos 4816 (MAC); Piranhas, 27 June 2000 (fl. and fr.), R.P. Lyra-Lemos 4659 (MAC). Bahia: Curuçá, 12 March 2011 (fl. and fr.), E. Melo et al. 9299 (HUEFS); Iaçu, 22 February 1997 (fl. and fr.), E. Melo et al. 2074 (HUEFS); Remanso, 6 January 1964 (fl.), Andrade-Lima 64-4216 (IPA); Feira de Santana , 6 July 2019 (fl. and fr.), J.C.R. Mendes 210 (PEUFR). Ceará: Pentecoste , 26 April 2018 (fl. and fr.), I.G. Lima 07 (EAC); Santa Quitéria, 14 May 2016 (fl.), I.S.A. Cardins 191 (IPA). Goiás: Monte Alegre de Goiás, 17 October 2019 (fl. and fr.), J.C.R. Mendes 314, 315, 316 (PEUFR); Campos Belos , 19 October 2019 (fl. and fr.) J.C.R. Mendes 318, 319 (PEUFR). Paraíba: Araruna, 17 March 2003 (fl. and fr.), Lima et al. 1744 (IPA); Soledade , June 1988 (fl.), R. Pereira s.n. (IPA49469); Congo, 17 May 2006 (fl. and fr.), M.F.A. Lucena & D. Araújo 1291 (UFP); Areias, 10 June 1953 (fl. and fr.), J.C. Moraes de 741 (PEUFR). Pernambuco: Petrolina , 19 April 1971 (fl.), E.P. Heringer et al. 155 (IPA); Cabrobó, 12 July 2007 (fl.), M. Oliveira & J.P. Nascimento 2939 (UFP); Alagoinha, 9 April 2002 (fl. and fr.), M.J. Silva & A. Oliveira, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170 (PEUFR); Sertânia, 16 June 2005 (fl. and fr.), M.J. Silva & J.I.M. Melo 657, 658, 659 (PEUFR). Rio Grande do Norte: Serra Negra do Norte , 19 February 2010 (fl. and fr.), E. Melo et al. 7722 (HUEFS); Caicó, 5 July 2005 (fl.), R. Pereira et al. 3011 (IPA); Natal, 18 July 1955 (fl.), S. Tavares 421 (HST). Sergipe: Itabaiana, 11 June 2007 (fl. and fr.), M.F.A. Lucena et al. 1806 (UFP); Porto da Folha , 20 July 2006 (fl. and fr.), M.F.A. Lucena et al. 1531 (UFP).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Phyllanthus heteradenius. A. Specimen collected in the municipality of Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Brazil, B. Staminate flower, C. Pistillate flower, D. Fruit, E. Detail of the branch collected in Monte Alegre de Goiás, Goiás State, Brazil.

FIGURE 3. Updated geographical distribution of Phyllanthus heteradenius.