Drosera chimaera Gonella & Rivadavia

Gonella, Paulo Minatel, Sano, Paulo Takeo, Rivadavia, Fernando & Fleischmann, Andreas, 2022, A synopsis of the genus Drosera (Droseraceae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 553 (1), pp. 1-76 : 31

8. Drosera chimaera Gonella & Rivadavia in Gonella et al. (2014: 34). Figures 6c, 11d–f

Type: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Cristália, em afloramento de arenito ao lado de banco de areia na margem direita do Rio Itacambiruçu , 695 m alt., 07 September 2011, Gonella et al. 500 (holotype SPF-208500!; isotypes BHCB!, P-00847863!, RB-623119!) .

Perennial, rosetted, acaulescent. Leaves semi-erect, with circinate vernation, narrowly to broadly oblong-lanceolate, petioles much shorter than the lamina (less than 1/3 of leaf length), adaxial petiole surface glabrous, abaxial leaf surface sparsely eglandular-pilose; stipules rectangular in outline, apical half fimbriate. Scape erect at the base and densely eglandular-pilose (especially on basal third), becoming densely glandular-pilose towards apex, often bifurcating, bearing flowers with petals up to 6 mm long, pink; gynoecium 3-carpelate, styles bifurcated at the base. Seeds ovoid, 0.4 × 0.2 mm, testa reticulate (based on Gonella et al. 2014).

Illustrations: — Gonella et al. (2014: 36, fig. 16—habit and details).

Distribution: — Brazil (Southeast: MG), endemic. Restricted to the northern portion of the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, in the municipalities of Grão Mogol and Cristália (Fig. 6c).

Habitat: —Moist clayish sandy soils or cracks in quartzite at river margins, sometimes shaded by riparian vegetation, around 700 m a.s.l.

Phenology:— Found with flowers in July, September and October.

Conservation status: —Endangered (EN) B1a, b(iii) + B2a, b(iii). This designation is based on the estimated EOO of 2.4 km 2 and AOO of 8km 2, the occurrence range completely out of any protected area, and the fragile habitat that is highly susceptible to disturbance. The species is known only from three to four small populations that are highly susceptible to habitat changes due to deforestation for charcoal and sand extraction for construction. The known populations of D. chimaera lie close to the limits of the Grão Mogol State Park, but the species has not been recorded from this protected area so far.

Notes: —Sterile rosettes of D. chimaera are reminiscent of smaller-sized D. latifolia , but both species are readily distinguished in fertile specimens by scape indumentum which is densely eglandular-pilose at the basal half (Fig. 11e; vs. glabrous to glabrescent), and by smaller, ovoid seeds. Inflorescence indumentum, flower morphology and seed shape are very similar to those of D. tomentosa Saint-Hilaire (1826: 261) var. tomentosa , but D. chimaera is easily distinguished by the longer narrowly to broadly oblong-lanceolate semi-erect leaves (Fig. 11d, e).

Specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Cristália, margem direita do Rio Itacambiruçu (type locality), July 2010, Peres Júnior 26 ( UB) , 12 August 2010, Gonella 359 ( SPF) . Grão Mogol, Serra de Grão Mogol, August 1960, Mendes Magalhães 18091 ( UB) ; estrada para Francisco Sá, 15 October 1988, Harley et al. 25067 (K, SPF) ; Capim Puba, 727 m alt, 13 August 2010, Gonella 360 ( SPF) , 07 September 2011, Gonella et al. 489 ( BHCB, RB, SPF) .