Myriopus candidulus (Miers) Feuillet (2008: 264)

Melo, José Iranildo Miranda De, Paulino, Renan Da Cruz, Oliveira, Regina Célia De & Vieira, Diego Daltro, 2018, Flora of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil: Boraginales, Phytotaxa 357 (4), pp. 235-260 : 253

3.1. Myriopus candidulus (Miers) Feuillet (2008: 264) . ( Fig. 6A–H )

≡ Messerschmidia candidula Miers (1868: 202) .

Scandent or erect subshrubs to shrubs, up to ca. 1.5 m tall, or scandent or erect subshrubs; branches whitish, with sericeous to tomentose indumentum on vegetative and reproductive parts. Leaves alternate; blade 1–8 × 0.4–3.5 cm, membranaceous, bicolor, lanceolate to ovate, apex acute or acuminate, margin entire, base attenuate; adaxially pubescent, abaxially tomentose, cinereous, trichomes whitish, venation brochidodromous; petiole 2–4 mm long, villous. Inflorescences 0.8–6.5 cm long, terminal, paniculiform, pyramidal, congested, peduncle to 3 cm long. Flowers ca. 5 mm long, subsessile; calyx ca. 3.5 mm long, whitish, lobes unequal, tube ca. 1.5 mm long, densely villous, lobes extending the corolla tube by ca. 3 mm, villous; corolla white to yellow, ca. 4 mm long, densely villous, tube cylindrical, dilated at base, 2–3.5 mm long, lobes ca. 2 mm long, ovate. Stamens inserted at ca. 1 mm from the tube base; anthers ca. 1 mm long, globose. Ovary ca. 1.5 mm long; style ca. 1 mm long; stigma ca. 1 mm long, with a thickened disc surrounded by a conical appendix, elongate. Drupe ca. 1.5 mm diam., subglobose, 4-lobate, pilose; seed 1 per lobe, ca. 1.5 mm long, suborbicular, smooth.

Notes:— Myriopus candidulus is easily distinguished from other species presented in this study, by the whitish sericeous to tomentose indumentum of its scandent or erect branches, and by the paniculiform, pyramidal, congested terminal inflorescences. Illustrations of this species can be found in Vieira et al. (2015).

Geographic distribution:— Occurs in Venezuela and Brazil (Tropicos continuously updated) and Guyana ( Feuillet 2008). In Brazil, in the North, Northeast, and Southeast regions, with the southernmost distribution limit in São Paulo State ( Flora do Brasil 2020 under construction). B6, C7, D7.

Habitat:— Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, and in coastal dunes, frequently forming dense populations on red latosoils and sandy soils, at altitudes from 8 to 115 m.

Phenology:— Collected in flower in February, August, and September; in fruit in February.

Selected material examined:— BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Norte: Baía Formosa, 06º22’26”S, 35º01’24”W, September 2004, fl., M.R. Barbosa et al. 3040 (JPB). Canguaretama, 06º19’30”S, 35º10’30”W, February 1981, fl. fr., O.F. Oliveira et al. 1661 (MOSS). Natal, 06º49’00”S, 35º11’00”W, September 1980, fl., O.F. Oliveira et al. 1328 (MOSS). São José de Mipibu, 06º07’56”S, 35º14’06”W, 100 m, February 2011, fl. fr., J.L. Costa-Lima et al. 347 (JPB, UFRN). Touros, 05º16’00”S, 35º30’30”W, August 1981, fl., O.F. Oliveira et al. 2004 (MOSS).

Figures

FIGURE 6. A–H. Myriopus candidulus: A. Reproductive branch; B, C. Leaves, adaxial surface; D. Calyx; E. Gynoecium; F–H: Fruit. F. Fruit, within an inflorescence; G. Lateral view; H. Frontal view. (Drawn by R.R. Pessoa).