Adesmia smithiae DC., Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris)

Monteiro, Thiago Cobra E, Iganci, João Ricardo Vieira, Miotto, Silvia Teresinha Sfoggia, Simpson, Beryl B., Vatanparast, Mohammad, Lewis, Gwilym P., Klitgård, Bente B., Pezzini, Flávia Fonseca, Vargas, Oscar M. & Fortuna-Perez, Ana Paula, 2024, Towards a Monophyletic Infrageneric Circumscription of Adesmia DC. (Dalbergieae, Leguminosae): a Taxonomic Revision in Adesmia series Adesmia, Phytotaxa 639 (1), pp. 1-69 : 57-58

18. Adesmia smithiae DC., Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 4: 95 (1825a).

≡ Patagonium smithiae (DC.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 201 (1891).

Type :— Hab. in Amer. merid. Habitus Smithiae, 1815, {fl./fr.}, Thibaud, E. s.n. (holotype: G barcode G00479695 [photo!]; negative of the holotype F 6965 [photo!]) .

Prostrate to ascendant subshrubs, adventitious roots from stem branch nodes absent. Stem pilose to pubescent, sparse white tector hairs intermixed with ochraceous glandular setules on all plant parts. Stipules 2.5–3.5× 0.5–1.5 mm, narrowly triangular, pubescent. Leaves with 4–5 pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.5–1 cm long, rachis 0.5–3 cm long, pubescent; leaflets 3–7× 1–3.5 mm, oblong to oboVate, apex retuse, base acute, margin entire, glabrescent to glabrous. Solitary axillary flowers from the base of the stem to its apex; bracts absent; pedicel reflexed after anthesis, 3–5 mm long, pubescent. Flowers 5.5–7 mm long; calyx 4–5 mm long, externally pubescent to glabrescent, internally hirsute on the lobes with white tector hairs; lobes 2–3 mm long, triangular to narrowly triangular; standard petal straight, 6.5–7.5× 3–4 mm, oboVate, apex obtuse, externallY pubescent; claw 1–2× 0.5–1 mm, internallY pubescent distallY; wing petals 6–7×1.5 –2.5 5 mm, oboVate, claw 1.5–2 mm long; keel petals 5.5–6.5× 2–3 mm, falcate, claw 1–2 mm long; stamens 5.5–6 mm long, anthers elliptical; gynoecium 6.5–7.5 mm long; ovary 7–9-ovulate, pubescent. Hemicraspedium 10–23 mm long, falcate, light brownish, pubescent, sparse stiff setules at the centre of each article, fruit with 7–9 articles, these 1–1.5× 2–2.5 mm, discoid. Seeds brownish, 1× 1 mm, orbicular, without an aril.

Distribution and Habitat— Burkart (1949) cited the occurrence of Adesmia smithiae from the coast of Patagonia, at Bahia Blanca to the north of Santa Cruz province, extending to the pre-Andean mountain range to the north of Mendoza province. The species is endemic to Argentina ( Fig. 31 ), and is common between dunes, in sandy or rocky soils.

Phenology— Flowering between September and October, and fruiting from October to November.

Conservation status— Vulnerable (VU) B2ab(iii). With an EOO estimated at 484.507, 877 km ² and an AOO of 36 km ², Adesmia smithiae is known from less than 10, relatively fragmented, locations. The conservation status of the species was recently assessed as Least Concern in a detailed study of the threat level to Argentinian endemic species ( Salariato et al. 2021).

Etymology— The epithet smithiae honours Sir James Edward Smith, English botanist, founder and first president of the Linnean Society.

Notes— First described by de Candolle (1825b), Adesmia smithiae is a morphologically well-delimited species, with discoid hemicraspedium articles and axillary solitary flowers that occupy the first axil of the stem, upwards. Burkart (1949) cited short apical inflorescences on some individuals, these not seen in this study probably due to the low sampling of Argentinian species.

The species became taxonomically confusing after the description of Adesmia smithiae var. misera , a Chilean taxon with linear leaflets and axillary solitary flowers ( Phillipi 1864). The variety described by Phillipi is most related to Adesmia tenella Hook. & Arn. , and is today recognized as Adesmia tenella var. misera (Phil.) Skottsb. ( Skottsberg 1947) .

Adesmia smithiae closely resembles A. securigerifolia and A. bonariensis by its retuse leaflets and solitary axillary flowers, as well as sharing the coastal zone of Argentina as its main habitat (although A. smithiae is also found as far inland as Mendoza). Although A. smithiae was not sampled in our phylogeny, the species is geographically sympatric and shares morphological characteristics with those mentioned above.

Additional Specimens Examined — ARGENTINA. BUENOS AIRES: Bahia Blanca, Patagonia, 1832, Darwin , C. 92 ( K!). Chubut: Biedma , Pto. Pirimides, 26 November 1967, Correa , M. 3943 ( TEX [photo!]) .

Figures

FIGURE 31. Geographical distribution of Adesmia securigerifolia Herter and A. smithiae DC.