Vernonanthura perangusta (Malme) Vega & Dematteis, 2010

Vega, Alvaro José & Dematteis, Massimiliano, 2010, The transfer of Vernonia perangusta to the genus Vernonanthura (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) and the correct name for Vernonanthura phosphorica, Phytotaxa 8, pp. 46-50 : 48-49

Vernonanthura perangusta (Malme) Vega & Dematteis , comb. nov. ( Fig. 2 )

Vernonia perangusta Malme (1933: 21) . Type: BRAZIL. Paraná: Fortaleza , in paludosis, 26 February 1910, P. Dusén 9552 (holotype S!) .

Erect shrubs, 30–50 cm high, with small xylopodia. Stems single, striate, loosely pilose, rarely glabrous, 1–3 mm diameter. Leaves coriaceous, sessile. Leaf blades linear, 4–7 cm long, 0.8–1.3 cm wide, denticulate, revolute at the margin, apically acute, attenuate at base, glabrous, glandular dotted beneath, uninervate. Inflorescence loosely corymbose, with 3–6(–8) heads. Bracts of the inflorescence linear, 2–4 mm long. Capitula pedunculate, peduncles (1–)2–4(–5) cm long, laxly pilose. Involucre turbinate, 7–9 mm long, 7–8 mm wide. Phyllaries in 5–7 series, coriaceous, glabrous or ciliate at margin, inner phyllaries linear-lanceolate, 5–7 mm long, the outer ones ovate-lanceolate to triangular, 2–4 mm long, commonly extending onto the peduncles. Florets violet. Corollas 7–9 mm long, lobes lanceolate, 2.5–3.5 mm long. Anthers 3–4 mm long. Styles 8–10(–12) mm long. Cypselas pilose, glandular dotted, 3–3.5 mm long. Pappus biseriate, inner bristles 5–6 mm long, outer scales 0.8–1.2 mm long. Pollen grains (after acetolysis) radially symmetrical, isopolar, oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal, polar axis 43.52–50.32 µm, equatorial diameter 43.52–48.96 µm, subechinolophate, 3-colporate, tectum continuous, densely microperforate, spines 4.2–6.8 µm long.

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Paraná: Ponta Grossa, Fazenda Cambijon, Fortaleza , 13 February 1949, A. C . Brade 19602 ( MBM); Mun. Piraí do Sul , Serra das Furnas, 30 March 1957, G . Hatschbach 3877 ( L, MBM, PACA) .

Notes: —This species was described by Malme (1933) in the taxonomic treatment of the Asteraceae of the Paraná state of Brazil. This taxon was not included in Vernonanthura by Robinson (1992, 1999). Vernonanthura perangusta closely resembles V. nudiflora ( Lessing 1829: 258) Robinson (1992: 72) , but differs in having smaller inflorescences and heads, in addition to a smaller number of florets. This species also has a superficial resemblance to Vernonia psilophylla De Candolle (1836: 28) with which it shares features of the phyllaries and leaf blade shape. That species belongs to the genus Lessingianthus , however, which differs considerably from Vernonanthura , especially in pollen type, inflorescence and capitula size ( Robinson 1992).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Vernonanthura perangusta. A. Plant. B. Capitulum. C–F. Phyllaries. C. Outer phyllary. D. Middle phyllary. E–F. Inner phyllaries. G: Corolla, showing anthers and style. A–G.Dusen 9552 (S).