Staurogyne euryphylla Hossain (1972: 381)

Braz, Denise Monte & Monteiro, Reinaldo, 2017, Taxonomic Revision of Staurogyne (Nelsonioideae, Acanthaceae) in the Neotropics, Phytotaxa 296 (1), pp. 1-40 : 14-15

7. Staurogyne euryphylla Hossain (1972: 381) . Ebermaiera riedeliana var. latifolia Nees von Esenbeck (1847: 19) , non S. latifolia Bremekamp(1969: 76) . Type: — BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: “pr. Esperança”, June 1822, L. Riedel 70 (holotype: LE!). ( Fig. 3A–C , 9 )

Herb 15 − 40 cm tall, densely branched, sparsely pilose with simple trichomes, rarely also glandular. Petiole 2 − 8 mm long; blade elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 1.9 − 5 × 1 − 2 cm, apex acute, base acute to subobtuse, adaxially with sparse simple trichomes, sometimes restricted to veins, abaxially restricted to veins, usually with disc-shape trichomes. Inflorescence in dense, terminal and axillary, bracteate spike, terminal ones 2 − 3.5 cm long, sessile, axillary ones subcapitate, 1.3 − 1.8 cm long, peduncle up to 2 mm long; flowers opposite; rachis, bract and bracteoles sparsely glandular and simple pilose; bract and bracteoles green, bract elliptic, slight obovate to suborbicular, 4.9 − 8.9 × 2.4 − 6.5 mm, 3-nerved, bracteoles lanceolate-obovate, 3.8 − 6.2 × 0.8 − 1.9 mm. Flowers sessile or subsessile; calyx green, sparsely pubescent with glandular trichomes, subciliate, posterior segment 6.5 − 13 × 1.8 − 2.6 mm, 3-nerved, lateral pair of segments 3.8 − 5.1 × 0.3 − 0.4 mm, anterior pair of segments 5.9 − 6.1 × 0.9 − 1.1 mm; corolla white, usually with purple markings at limb and throat, 6 − 9.3 mm long, basal tube 1.5 − 2 mm long, anterior lobe 1.1 − 2.9 mm long, externally pubescent with scattered simple trichomes, rarely glandular, internally glabrous; posterior stamens 1.5 − 2.8 mm long, anterior stamens 2.1 − 3 mm long, staminode 0.4 − 0.9 mm long; ovules 13 − 15 per locule, posterior lobe of the stigma slightly concave to divided, rarely truncated. Capsule 6.5 − 7.9 × 2.3 − 2.9, sparsely glandular-pilose.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Barra do Piraí, Ipiababas, 13 Octoer 1986, Carauta 5384 (GUA). Nova Friburgo, Serra de Macaé de Cima , 7 July 1978, Viana 1333 et al. (GUA), 14 September 1891, Glaziou 19746 (B, C, G, K, P); Paracambi, P.N.M. Curió, 18 September 2009, Braz 294 &Araújo (RBR), 22 November 2010, Braz 338 & Souza (RBR) ; Rio de Janeiro, Represa dos Ciganos, 8 September 1966, Ichaso 68 (RB); Rio de Janeiro, Serra dos Pretos Fôrros , 30 September 1977, Martinelli 3140 et al. (RB); Jacarepaguá, Mata dos Três Rios, 24 June 1958, Pereira et al. 3897 (HB); Teresópolis, 1918, s.c. s.n. (RB 14908); Teresópolis, P. N. Serra dos Órgãos , 6 September 1970, Barcia s.n. (R198610), 14 July 1948, Rizzini 248 (RB).

Distribution and habitat:— Staurogyne euryphylla is endemic to the State of Rio de Janeiro, in the Atlantic Rain Forest, where it occurs in the central mountains and its surroundings, above 200 m elevation.

Phenology:— Collected with flowers and fruits mainly in September.

Taxonomic notes:— This is a small plant, that forms a carpet in the understory of the forest (Ichaso 68; personal observation) ( Fig. 3 A-C). It is also recognized by the relatively small leaves, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, by the elongated terminal inflorescence and the axillary ones shorter, the green bracts usually with acrodromous venation and a supraacrodromous pair of veins. Hossain (1972) established this new name when uplifting the variety Staurogyne riedeliana var. latifolia to the rank of species because S. latifolia Bremekamp (1969: 76) was already used, without any further comments beyond the citation of names. Staurogyne euryphylla is similar to S. parva Braz & Monteiro (2006: 583) in the green bracts and the small habit, but differs especially by the leaves 1.9 − 5 cm long (not 5.8 − 11.5 cm), the sparse (not dense) pubescent branches and the petioles 2 − 8 mm long (not 9 − 33 mm).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Staurogyne with infundibular corolla. A–C. S. euryphylla. D. S. fastigiata. (A–C photed by the authors; D photoed by R. Sartin)

FIGURE 9. Staurogyne euryphylla. A.Flowering branch. B. Flower, bract and bracteoles. C. Bract and bracteoles. D. Calyx. E. Anther in frontal view. F.Anther in dorsal view. G. Staminode. H. Stigma in lateral view. I. Corolla lobes (from Martinelli 3140).