Eremitis magnifica F.M.Ferreira & R.P.Oliveira, 2013

Ferreira, Fabrício Moreira, Dórea, Marcos C., Leite, Kelly Regina B. & Oliveira, Reyjane P., 2013, Eremitis afimbriata and E. magnifica (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Olyreae): two remarkable new species from Brazil and a first record of blue iridescence in bamboo leaves, Phytotaxa 84 (1), pp. 31-45 : 37-40

Eremitis magnifica F.M.Ferreira & R.P.Oliveira , sp. nov. ( Figs. 4 , 5 ).

It differs from other Eremitis species by a robust habit, leaf sheaths inflated, fimbriae only at the two most basal leaf sheaths and inflorescences also with spathaceous and inflated bracts, including one or two apical gynecandrous whorls, with one or two central female spikelets, surrounded by five to eight male spikelets long pedicellate.

Type: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Ipaba , RPPN Faz. Macedônia, propriedade da Cenibra, 10 September 2009, F.M. Ferreira, M.O.D. Pivari & V.B. Oliveira 2158 (holotype HUEFS!, isotypes BHCB!, CEPEC!, CEN!, CVRD!, ICN!, ISC!, K!, MBM!, MO!, P!, R!, RB!, SP!, US!).

Plants rhizomatous, cespitose, perennial. Leafy culms erect, 70−109 cm long, (2.4−) 3−4.8 mm diam. near the base, leaves 6−9; internodes slightly striated, slightly scabrous; nodes thickened, glabrous or pilose; leaf sheaths slightly keeled, inflated, glabrous or scabrous, margins ciliate, fimbriae at the apex present, at least in the basal ones; leaf blades (13.5−)15−22(−22.2) × (3.2−)3.5−5.9(−6.3) cm, widely lanceolate, base rounded to slightly attenuate, symmetrical, apex acute to acuminate, abaxial surface green, glabrous to scabrous, adaxial surface green, glabrous to slightly scabrous, margins scabrous; pseudopetioles (3−)4−6(−6.5) × 1−2.7 mm, dark, adaxial surface pilose, abaxial surface glabrous to pilose; ligule bifid, asymmetrical, (2.5−) 3−4 mm long. Decumbent culms (15−) 20−30 cm tall; leaves 3−5, reduced to the leaf sheath or vestigial blades; leafy branches absent; leaf sheaths inflated, glabrous to shortly pilose, margins ciliate. Subterranean culms not seen. Leafy culms inflorescence (1−2)3−4(−6) per culm, (2.8−) 3.5−5.5 cm long. Decumbent culms inflorescence 1 per culm, 4.5−6.5(−8.5) cm long. Spikelets distributed in dimorphic whorls, the uppermost gynecandrous, (13−)14−17(−20) × (3−)3.5−4−5(−6) mm, (1−)2 per inflorescence; rachis prolongation 1−1.5 cm long, glabrous at the base, pilose at the apex; female spikelets (1−)2 per whorl; male spikelets (5−)6−8(−9) with long pedicels, surround the female one(s); lower whorls exclusively male, (1−)2− 3 male spikelets per whorl; uppermost with 4−5 fertile spikelet, the lower ones with (1−)2−3 spikelets, fertile and/or not. Female spikelets (12−)15−16 × (2.8−) 3.5−4.5 mm, lanceolate or oblong; glumes (6.5−)7−10 × (1−) 1.5−1.9 mm, membranous, hyaline, oblong to lanceolate, apex acute, glabrous to slightly pilose at the apex, 1−3-nerved; lemma (10.5−)11.7−15 × (2−) 3.2−4.5 mm, cartilaginous, oblong to lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous, 16−18- nerved; palea (11−)13−14(−15) × (3−) 3.6−4.3 mm, cartilaginous, lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous, 10−16-nerved. Caryopsis 9−10 × 3−3.5 mm, oblong, castaneous; hilum extending for entire length of the caryopsis. Male spikelets 3−4(−5) × 1−2 mm at the gynecandrous whorl, oblong; pedicels (9.2−)11.6−12.5(−14.3) mm long, laterally adnated in two groups, abaxial surface glabrous to shortly pilose, adaxial surface pilose; glumes (2.8−)3−4 × 1−1.5 mm, narrowly triangular to triangular, apex acute, glabrous to slightly scabrous at the margins, 1−3-nerved; lemma 3−4.5(−5) × 1−1.5 mm, oblong, apex rounded to slightly retuse, glabrous at the base, pilose at the margins toward the apex, 3-nerved; palea 3−4(−5) × 0.6−1 mm, oblong, apex obtuse, glabrous at the base, pilose at the apex, 2−3-nerved; stamens 2, filaments adnate at the base, fleshy, anthers ca. 1.4−2 mm long; at lower whorls, male spikelets 3−4(−5) × 1−1.2 mm, oblong; pedicels 0.6−1 mm, laterally adnate or free, glabrous; glumes 1.8−2.3 mm long, linear to narrowly triangular, apex acute, glabrous to scabrous, 0−1-nerved; lemma 3−4 × 1−1.5 mm, narrowly lanceolate to oblong, apex rounded, glabrous to villose at the margins toward the apex, 3-nerved; palea 3−3.8 × 0.9−1 mm, oblong, apex acute, glabrous at the base, villose at the margins toward the apex, 2-nerved.

Etymology: —The epithet magnifica refers to the unique features of this new species, with a robust habit, large leaf blades and inflated leaf sheaths, characters which make it stand out from the other plants with which it grows, and also differentiate this species from its congeners.

Morphological comments: — Eremitis magnifica is also very remarkable, possessing many peculiar features when compared to other species in the genus ( Figs. 4 , 5 ). Its leaf blades are the largest and widest known to Eremitis (13.5−22.2 × 3.2−6.3 cm, versus (6.2−)6.5−9.6(−10.3) × (0.9−) 1−1.5 cm in E. parviflora , and 12.3−18.2 × 2.7−4.8 cm in E. afimbriata ) ( Fig. 1 ). Its leaf sheaths are inflated both on leafy and decumbent culms ( Fig. 5 B, E ) and the fimbriae are present only in the two basal leaf sheaths, which has also been confirmed in the cultivated material ( Fig. 5 H−J).

The inflorescence also exhibits several marked differences. On both leafy and decumbent culms the inflorescence possess one to two apical gynecandrous whorls, the last one regarded as being a rare condition in this genus and recently mentioned as occurring in another undescribed species which occurrs at Marambaia Island, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (see Silva et al. 2012, Fig. 5 D ). The gynecandrous whorls of E. magnifica include two central female spikelets surrounded by five to eight long pedicelate male spiklets, while congeneric species have only one gynecandrous apical whorl, composed of only one central female spikelet, surrounded by four or five male ones. This new species is also distinct by the inflorescence number per leafy culm [(1−2)3−4(−6) per culm versus 1(−2) in E. afimbriata and only 1 in E. parviflora ] ( Figs. 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ).

Underground culms did not develop in cultivation in E. magnifica , so this structure could not be described. However, in the course of the field work we found remains of inflorescences on the underground culms in some specimens, and in only one we observed a seedling still attached to the caryopsis, indicating the presence of fertile culms in this species ( Fig. 5 G ).

Distribution, habitat and conservation status: — Eremitis magnifica is known from only one population which includes about 50 individuals. This species seems to be microendemic to the region of Vale do Aço, in Eastern Minas Gerais, growing in a semi-deciduous seasonal forest, at Ipaba municipality, about 213 m elevation ( Fig. 3 ). The forest fragment where E. magnifica was found is part of RPPN Fazenda Macedônia, a protected area of about 1400 ha, surrounded by Eucalyptus spp. , cultivated for cellulose production. The Vale do Aço region has suffered strong anthropic pressure due to the mining activities of large companies, which led to a dramatic fragmentation of their forest remnants ( Lombardi & Gonçalves 2000). So, this new species is also considered critically endangered (CR B1ab), according to the IUCN red list ( IUCN 2001) criteria based on its rarity, restricted distribution, and the small number of individuals found in the field.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Eremitis afimbriata. A. Habit. B. Detail of the leaf sheaths without fimbriae. C. Leafy culm apex with inflorescence. D. Detail of the leafy culm inflorescence (after removal the spathaceous bracts; the gynecandrous whorl above, two male whorls below). E−F. Decumbent culm with multiple inflorescences. G−L. Male spikelets of the gynecandrous whorls: G−H. Adaxial view; I−J. Abaxial view. K−L. Male spikelets of the gynecandrous whorls: K. Adaxial view; L. Abaxial view, and detail of the rachis prolongation. M−N. Female spikelet: M. Abaxial view; N. Adaxial view. O. Male spikelet of the lower whorls (All based on Ferreira et al. 2196; drawn by Carla Teixeira Lima).

FIGURE 2. A−H. Eremitis afimbriata. A. Habit. B. Leaf blades abaxial view. C. Apex of the leaf sheath. D. Inflorescence in leafy culms. E. Decumbent culm with multiple inflorescences. F. Decumbent culm with leaf blades developing, arrows indicate the inflorescences. G. Subterranean culm with inflorescence, arrow indicate the inflorescence (knife ca. 50 cm compr.). H. Detail of blue iridescence in the leaf blades. Photos by Fabrício M. Ferreira.

FIGURE 3. Geographic distribution of Eremitis afimbriata, E. magnifica and E. parviflora (Eastern Brazil).

FIGURE 4. Eremitis magnifica. A. Habit. B. Leafy culm apex with inflorescences. C. Detail of the leafy culm inflorescence (showing the opened spathaceous bracts and the gynecandrous whorl with two female spikelets). D. Decumbent culm inflorescence. E. Detail of the decumbent culm single inflorescence. F−G. Detail of leafy culm inflorescence (after removal the spathaceous bracts; see above the gynecandrous whorl and below, two male whorls). H–J. Detail of the gynecandrous whorls: H. Frontal view; I−J. Lateral view. K−M. Detail of male spikelets of the gynecandrous whorls: K−L. Adaxial view; M. Abaxial view, and detail of the rachis prolongation. N. Male spikelet of the lower whorls. O−P. Female spikelet: O. Abaxial view; P. Adaxial view (All based on Ferreira et al. 2158; drawn by Carla Teixeira Lima).

FIGURE 5. A−J. Eremitis magnifica. A. Habit. B. Apex of the leaf sheath. C. Inflorescence on leafy culms. D. Inflorescence on leafy culms with two the gynecandrous whorls (arrows). E. Decumbent culm with inflorescence. F. Detail of blue iridescence in the leaf blades. G. Seedling from underground inflorescence still attached to the caryopsis (arrow indicate the remains of inflorescences). H. Seedling from leafy culm inflorescence grown in the greenhouse. I. Seedling from leafy culms inflorescence still attached to the caryopsis (arrow indicate the fimbriae). J. Detail of the apex of the leaf sheath of seedling shown with fimbriae (arrow). Photos by Fabrício M. Ferreira.