Staurogyne parva Braz & Monteiro (2006: 583)

Braz, Denise Monte & Monteiro, Reinaldo, 2017, Taxonomic Revision of Staurogyne (Nelsonioideae, Acanthaceae) in the Neotropics, Phytotaxa 296 (1), pp. 1-40 : 27

18. Staurogyne parva Braz & Monteiro (2006: 583) . Type: — BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: SantaTereza, Nova Lombardia, “erva em semi-sombra, em local com muita matéria orgânica, pilosidade branca e vinácea”, 15 May 1985, H.Q.B. Fernandes 1142 (holotype: MBML!). (Fig. Braz & Monteiro 2006: 584) ( Fig. 1A )

Herb to subshrub 20 − 40 cm tall, usually branched at the base, pilose with simple trichomes, dense toward the apex. Petiole 9 − 33 mm long; blade lanceolate-elliptic, sometimes slight-ovate, 5.8 − 11.5 × 1.8 − 3.4 cm, apex acute, base acute to slight-cuneate, with sparse simple trichomes on both surfaces. Inflorescence in dense, terminal, bracteate spike, 2.5 − 13.5 cm long, sessile or peduncle up to 8 mm long; flowers opposite; rachis, bract and bracteoles densely simple pilose; bract and bracteoles green, bract broad-elliptic to suborbicular, 9 − 12.5 × 4.5 − 7 mm, 3-nerved, bracteoles lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic, 5.7 − 8 × 0.8 − 1.5 mm. Flowers subsessile; calyx green, sparsely pilose with glandular and simple trichomes, sometimes slightly ciliate, posterior segment 8.5 − 11.5 × 2 − 3.3 mm, 3-nerved, lateral pair of segments 5 − 9 × 0.3 − 0.8 mm, anterior pair of segments 8.7 − 12 × 1 − 1.6 mm; corolla white, with vinaceous markings at limb and throat, 9.3 − 15 mm long, basal tube ca. 3.0 mm long, anterior lobe 2.1 − 4.5 mm long, externally and internally with sparse simple trichomes; posterior stamens 4 − 5.4 mm long, anterior stamens 4.5 − 5.8 mm long, staminode 1 − 3.5 mm long; ovules 6 − 7 per locule, posterior lobe of the stigma slightly divided. Capsule 6.5 − 7 × 3.2 − 3.8 mm, sparsely glandular pilose.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Goipaboaçu , 2 December 1985, Boone 927 ( MBML) ; Estação Biológica de Santa Luzia , 19 º 58’S, 40 º 32’W, 21 November 1989, Fernandes 2862 ( MBML) .

Distribution and habitat:— Staurogyne parva is an herb that usually grows in semi-shaded places with good quantity of organic matter (Fernandes 1142). It is endemic to the State of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil, occurring in low montane rainforest, at or near riverbanks at elevation of 300 − 850 m.

Phenology:— It was collected with flowers and fruits in May and flowers in December.

Taxonomic notes:— Staurogyne parva can be recognized by its short habit, by the lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic leaves, hairy on both surfaces, by the bracteate elongated inflorescence, with green bracts generally larger than the calyx, and especially by the reduced number of ovules per locule/seeds per valve (6 − 7). S. parva differs from S. veronicifolia (Nees von Esenbeck 1847: 18) Kuntze (1891: 497) , which also occurs in the State of Espírito Santo, by the leaves pilose (not glabrescent), the elongate terminal (not subcapitate) inflorescence, the bract with distinct venation (not inconspicuous) and the calyx sometimes slightly ciliate (not always ciliate).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Staurogyne in the neotropics. A. S. parva, stigma, showing the anterior lobe slightly divided (Fernandes 2862). B.Seed of S. spraguei (Maguire &Politi 27410). (photoed by the authors)