Ruellia anamariae A.S. Reis, A. Gil & C. Kameyama, 2017

Reis, Agirlayne De Souza, Kameyama, Cíntia & Gil, André Dos Santos Bragança, 2017, Ruellia anamariae, a new species of Acanthaceae from northern Brazil, Phytotaxa 327 (3), pp. 276-282 : 277-281

Ruellia anamariae A.S. Reis, A. Gil & C. Kameyama , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Type:— BRAZIL. Pará: Parauapebas, FLONA Carajás, Serra dos Carajás, Serra Norte, N2, 06º33’18”S, 50º15’15”W, 700 m, 18 April 2016, A.R. Reis, A. Gil, C. Kameyama, A.K. Koch & C.F. Hall 46 (holotype: MG!, isotype: SP!).

Diagnosis: The new species is similar to Ruellia exserta Wasshausen & Wood (2003: 271) and R. beckii Wasshausen & Wood (2003: 271) in the shape and color of the corolla, but differs from R. exserta by the inflorescence of an unbranched terminal thyrsus with opposite dichasia and foliaceous bracts, each dichasium with up to 3 flowers (not secundiflorous spiciform thyrsi) calyx lobes oblong-lanceolate with acute apex (not oblong with obtuse apex), longer corolla 38–45 mm long (not ca. 28 mm long) and the stamens short exserted (not long exserted), and differs from R. beckii by its calyx lobes oblong-lanceolate with acute apex (not oblanceolate to obovate with retuse to obtuse apex) and its longer corolla 38–45 mm long (not ca. 38 mm long) ( Table 1).

Shrubs 1–5 m tall, erect, sometimes with longer branches scandent; stems herbaceous, woody at base, cylindrical to subquadrangular, fissured, geniculate, younger stems pubescent with stalked and subsessil glandular trichomes, and eglandular trichomes, older stems glabrescent, cystoliths inconspicuous. Leaves sticky; petioles 1.5–3 cm long, pubescent with glandular and eglandular trichomes; blades 9.5–21 × 4–9.7 cm, ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate, margin sinuate, base cuneate, slightly decurrent, membranaceous, discolored, both surfaces pubescent with glandular and eglandular trichomes, trichomes 0.5–2 mm long, denser on the veins and margins, many glandular trichomes lose their head, cystoliths inconspicuous. Inflorescence a terminal unbranched thyrsus compound by decussate dichasia, with 2–3 flowers per dichasium, rachis 29.5 cm long, pubescent; bracts 32–77 × 11–29 mm, leaf-like, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, both surfaces pubescent with glandular trichomes, margin ciliolate with glandular trichomes. Dichasia peduncles 5–22 mm long, pubescent with glandular trichomes; first order bracteoles 16–35 × 4.5–14 mm, obovate to oblong, apex obtuse, shortly cuspidate, surface similar to the bracts, other bracteoles gradually smaller. Pedicels 3–9 mm long, pubescent with glandular trichomes; calyx 14–20 mm long, 5–lobed, externally pubescent with glandular trichomes, internally pubescent with eglandular trichomes, ciliolate with glandular trichomes, lobes 9–14 × 2–3 mm, equal, oblong–lanceolate, apex acute; corolla pale greenish-yellow, 38–48 mm long, sub-infundibular, externally pilose with short eglandular trichomes, narrow unexpanded portion of the tube slightly laterally depressed, 17–22 mm long, 3.5–4 mm diam., expanded portion of the tube 17–22 mm long, 7–15 mm diam., suburceolate, lobes 5–10 mm long, strongly revolute, suboblong to subovate, apex shallowly emarginate, asymmetrical, internally pubescent on the lower half, with eglandular long whitish trichomes; stamens exserted 9–10.5 mm beyond the mouth of the corolla, weakly didynamous; free portion of the filaments 8–17 mm long, glabrous, anthers yellowish, oblong or suboblong, 8–10 mm long, dorsally puberulent with glandular trichomes; ovary 5–7 × 2–2.5 mm, pubescent with eglandular trichomes; style 34–35 mm long, pubescent at base, exserted; stigma bifid, 2–2.5 mm long, glabrous. Capsule lanceolate-elliptic to slightly clavate, 20–37 mm long, solid base 10–13 mm long, densely pubescent with eglandular trichomes. Seeds 12– 16, 4.5–5.1 × 3.4–4.2 mm, pentagonal to suborbicular, hygroscopic trichomes covering the entire surface; retinacula carinate, 4–5 mm long, apex bidentate.

Distribution and Habitat:— Ruellia anamariae is endemic to the state of Pará, known only for the municipalities of Parauapebas and São Geraldo do Araguaia ( Fig. 3 ). In Parauapebas, R. anamariae was found in Serra dos Carajás, Serra Norte (N1, N2, N3, N4), where it grows in low forest, and in transition areas between open vegetation and forest on weathered ironstone outcrops, called “canga”. In São Geraldo do Araguaia it was found in Serra das Andorinhas, growing in forests.

Conservation Status: — Ruellia anamariae , so far, has been collected only in Serra dos Carajás and Serra das Andorinhas, with an extent of occurrence of 741.437 km 2, an area of occupancy of 20 km 2 at five locations. In some of the locations in Serra dos Carajás its habitat has been or will be destroyed by iron ore mining., reducing both their area of occupation and their habitat, therefore, according to IUCN Red List ( IUCN 2016), R. anamariae might be classified as endangered [EN B1 ab (iii), B2 ab (iii)].

Phenology: —Flowering and fruiting from April to August.

Etymology: —The epithet “ anamariae ” honors the Brazilian botanist Ana Maria Giulietti Harley. Along her successful and long career, Ana has enthusiastically coordinated several flora research projects in Brazil and supervised many graduated students. Currently, she is one of the coordinators of the project Flora of the cangas of the Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brazil ( Viana et al. 2016), conducted by the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG) and Instituto Tecnológico Vale (ITV).

Taxonomic relationships: — Ruellia anamariae is characterized mainly by its habit, a tall shrub, the sticky leaves with densely glandular and eglandular trichomes, the terminal thyrsus inflorescence with opposite dichasia, the suburceolate expanded part of the corolla with lobes strongly revolute, emarginate and asymmetrical, and the stamens shortly exserted, 9–10.5 mm beyond the mouth of the corolla. The new species is most similar to R. exserta , that also occurs in Serra dos Carajás, in color, shape and size of the corolla, but R. exserta differs from the former in the lianescent habit, inflorescence and long exserted stamens, and a wider distribution, also occurring in the states of Mato Grosso and Rondônia. Ruellia beckii is a Bolivian species that also resemble R. anamariae in corolla color, inflorescence structure, and somewhat in the corolla shape, but it differs in the lianescent habit, calyx segments and long exserted stamens.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— BRAZIL: Pará: Parauapebas, Serra dos Carajás, Mina do N4 antes da exploração, vegetação rupestre, May 1984, N.A. Rosa, M.F.F. Silva , R.P. Bahia 5150 (MG!) ; Parauapebas , N4–WS, floresta ombrófila densa, 6°04’21”S, 50°11’45”W, 470 m, 20 April 2012, A.J. Arruda, F.M. Santos, L.J. Arruda, T.J. Battituci 992 (BHCB!) ; Parauapebas, N4–WS, margem de Buritiranal , próximo a mata baixa sobre canga, 6°6’49”S, 50°11’04”W, 687 m, 20 April 2012, A.J. Arruda, F.M. Santos, L.J. Arruda, T.J. Battituci 978 (BHCB!) ; Parauapebas , N3, vegetação rupestre sobre canga, 6°01’44”S, 50°12’07”W, 656 m, 21 April 2012, A.J. Arruda, F.M. Santos, L.J. Arruda, T.J. Battituci 1009 (BHCB!) ; Parauapebas , N1, mata baixa, 6°2’41”S, 50°16’04”W, 697 m, 21 June 2012, L.V. C. Silva, T.B. Jorge, F.M.G. Santos, R.A. Pereira 1265 (BHCB!) ; Parauapebas, FLONA Carajás, Serra dos Carajás, Serra Norte , próximo ao acesso N3, coletada na beira da estrada, floresta ombrófila 6°01’38”S, 50°12’42”W, 737 m, 28 April 2015, A. Gil, P.L. Viana, C.S. Nunes, N.F. O. Mota, A.L. Ilkiu-Borges 480 (MG!) ; Parauapebas, FLONA CARAJÁS, Serra dos Carajás , Serra Norte N2, coletada na borda de mata baixa, transição com canga aberta, 6°3’21”S, 50°15’15”W, 28 April 2015, A. Gil, P.L. Viana, C.S. Nunes, N.F. O. Mota, A.L. Ilkiu-Borges 450 (MG!) ; Parauapebas, Floresta Nacional de Carajás, Serra dos Carajás, Serra Norte –N2, canga arbustiva, 6º03’16”S, 50º15’14”W, 678 m, 14 June 2015, N.F.O. Mota, A.V. Scatinga 3363 (MG!) ; Parauapebas, FLONA de Carajás—Serra dos Carajás , borda de mata adjacente à canga, 6º03’69”S, 50º12’37”W, 22 June 2015, J.R. Trindade, N.F. O. Mota, A.M. Giulietti, R.M. Harley 221 (MG!) ; Parauapebas, Floresta Nacional de Carajás — Serra dos Carajás, Serra Norte —N4, transição de canga para mata baixa sobre canga, 6º06’18”S, 50º10’57”W, 715 m, 26 June 2015, N.F.O. Mota, R.M. Harley, A.M. Giulietti & J.R. Trindade 3429 (MG!) ; Parauapebas, Serra Norte dos Carajás , platô N4, vegetação de campo rupestre, 6°05’23”S, 50°11’32”W, 24 August 2015, L.C.B. Lobato 4444 (MG!) ; Parauapebas, FLONA Carajás , platô N2, mata baixa sobre canga, 6º03’28”S, 50°15’09”W, 670 m, 31 August 2015, P.L. Viana, R.M. Harley, A. Gil, A.L. Ilkiu-Borges 5769 (MG!) ; Parauapebas [Marabá], Serra dos Carajás, Serra Norte , km–134, 14 May 1982, R. Secco, C. Sperling, M. Condon, B.G. Ribeiro, A. Mesquita, L. Marinho 203 (MG!) ; [Marabá], Serra dos Carajás , N–4, próximo a transição para mata, campo rupestre, solo de canga e na mata de terra firme, 19 March 1984, A.S.L. Silva, N.A. Rosa, R.P. Bahia, M.R. Santos 1900 (MG!, INPA!) ; [ Marabá ], Serra dos Carajás, vegetação rupestre quase na transição com a mata, 05 May 1985, N.A. Rosa, M.F.F Silva, R.P. Salomão 4760 (MG!) ; [Marabá], Serra dos Carajás, Serra Norte , N4, 30 May 1986, M.P.M. Lima, G.M. Barroso et al. 37 (MG! RB!) ; [Marabá], Serra dos Carajás , 6°00’S, 50°18’W, platô a 700 m, 21 May 1969, P. Cavalcante 2074 (MG!) ; Serra dos Carajás , ilha de mata baixa no cerrado, 28 August 1972, N.T. Silva, B.S. Ribeiro 3627 (IAN!) ; São Geraldo do Araguaia, Santa Cruz do Araguaia, margem esquerda do Rio Araguaia , 6°14’S, 48°26’W, 13 June 1995, I. Aragão, M.N. Bastos 217 (IAN!, MG!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ruellia anamariae, A. habitat. b. bracteoles and flower. c. calyx glandular trichomes. d. corolla and stamens. e. corolla lobes. f. a pair of stamens. g. anther. h. gynoecium and disc. i. immature closed capsule. j. open capsule and seeds. k. pentagonal seed. L. suborbicular seed. Drawn by João Silveira based on A.S. Reis et al. 46 (MG), M.P.M. Lima et al. 37 (MG) and P. Cavalcante 2074 (MG).

FIGURE 2. Ruellia anamariae. A. in its natural habitat; B. upper portion of the inflorescence; C. flower. D. immature fruit. B‒C. from the holotype, A.S. Reis et al. 46 (MG). (Photos A and D by Nara Mota; B and C by Climbiê Hall).

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Ruellia anamariae.