Drosera villosa Saint-Hilaire (1826: 267)

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 : 64

31. Drosera villosa Saint-Hilaire (1826: 267) . Figures 6a, 22e, f

Lectotype (designated here):— BRAZIL. MINAS GERAIS: Serra nigra, Capitainerie des Mines [Serra Negra (current municipality of Rio Preto), Minas Gerais], s.d. [January/ February 1817 according to the protologue], Saint-Hilaire C 1-75 (P-578095!, isolectotypes K-000432549! (single plant at the top center), P-578097!, P-578099!).

Perennial, rosetted, acaulescent. Leaves semi-erect, with circinate vernation, petioles often as long as the lamina and always exceeding more than half of the lamina length (petiole:lamina ratio higher than 1/2), transversely elliptic in cross section and densely eglandular pilose on both surfaces, lamina narrowly oblong to narrowly lanceolate; stipules rectangular in outline, apical 1/2 fimbriate. Scape erect at the base, basal third densely eglandular-pilose; flowers relatively small to medium-sized (petals 5–8 mm long, pink) with short styles (2.5–3.0 mm long); gynoecium 3- carpelate, styles bifurcated at the base. Seeds fusiform, 0.7–0.8 × 0.2 mm, with reticulate testa (based on Gonella et al. 2014).

Illustrations: — Ferrero & Mello-Silva (2011: 17, figs. 2A–C—habit and details); Gonella et al. (2014: 9, fig. 3—habit and details). All other previous illustrations of “ D. villosa ” depict D. latifolia (see under that species’ entry).

Distribution: — Brazil (Southeast: MG), narrowly endemic to two small neighboring highlands, the Serra Negra and Serra do Ibitipoca, which are part of the Serra da Mantiqueira mountains in southeast Minas Gerais (Fig. 6a).

Habitat: —River margins, seepages, and springs in campo rupestre vegetation, between 1200–1750 m a.s.l. Often growing in Sphagnum and other moss carpets overlying wet rocks, but also occurring in humid sandy soils and in cracks of sandstone.

Phenology: —Found in flower from October to February.

Conservation status: —Vulnerable (VU) D2. Per Gonella et al. (2014) where this species was designated VU, the restricted geographical distribution (AOO= 16 km 2, EOO= 33.3 km 2) makes this species prone to stochastic events that could dramatically reduce its suitable habitats, most notably climate change. Despite its occurrence measurements qualifying this species for placement in more severe threat categories, the fact that all known populations are found inside two State Parks (Serra do Ibitipoca and Serra Negra da Mantiqueira), along with their apparent stability over past decades, allows for placement in this less severe category.

Notes: — Drosera villosa is most similar to D. latifolia , from which it is distinguished by characters discussed under that species.

Since Diels (1906), the name D. villosa was adopted in a broad circumscription that also included D. ascendens and D. latifolia . The affinity was re-circumscribed by Gonella et al. (2014), following the original species concepts by Saint-Hilaire (1826). Gonella et al. (2014) reported rare hybrids between D. villosa and D. tomentosa var. glabrata at the Serra do Ibitipoca, where both taxa occur syntopically (see ‘Natural Hybrids’ below).

Specimens examined: —For a complete listing, see Gonella et al. (2014: 12).