20. Adesmia subtropicalis Cobra, Phytotaxa 521(3): 219–226 (2021).

Type:— BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Sul: Soledade, Road RS-332 from Soledade to Espumoso, 03 November 2019, {fl.}, Monteiro, T. C., Silva, I. C. C., Gissi, D. S., Bezerra, L. M. P. A. & Fortuna-Perez, A. P. 223 (holotype: BOTU barcode 35076; isotypes HAS; ICN; MBM; PEL; RB; UEC) .

Prostrate to ascendant stoloniferous subshrubs with adventitious roots from stem branch nodes. Stem hirsute, indumentum of sparse white tector hairs intermixed with abundant long ochraceous glandular setules. Stipules 5– 10× 1–3 mm, triangular to narrowlY triangular, pubescent to pilose. Leaves with (7–)8–10(–12) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.5–2.5 cm long, rachis 0.7–5 cm long, pubescent to pilose; leaflets 4–14× 1.5–4 mm, elliptic to oblong, apex obtuse to mucronate, base acute to rounded, margin entire, pubescent to glabrous on both surfaces. Raceme axillary or terminal, rarely with an axillary flower at the base of the inflorescence, 4–12 cm long, hirsute; bracts 6–13 mm long, lanceolate to narrowly triangular, pilose to hirsute; flowers sessile to short pedicellate, pedicel 0–2(–5) mm long, hirsute. Flowers 10–15 mm long; calyx 8.5–12 mm long, externally pubescent to hirsute, internally hirsute with white tector hairs; lobes 5–9 mm long, linear to narrowlY triangular; standard petal 10–12× 7–8.5 mm, orbicular to wide-oboVate, apex emarginate, externallY pubescent, claw 4–6× 1.5–2.5 mm, internallY pubescent to glabrous on the basal and median portion; wing petals 8–10× 2–3 mm, oboVate, claw 3–4 mm long; keel petals 8–9.5× 2.5–3.5 mm, falcate, claw 3–5 mm long; stamens 7.5–10 mm long, anthers orbicular to elliptical; gynoecium 9–12 mm long; ovary 3.3–4.5 mm, hirsute, 3–6-ovulate. Hemicraspedium 10–16 mm long, straight, dark brownish to black, pubescent to pilose, black-based glandular setules at the centre of each article, fruit with (3–)4–5 articles, these 2–2.5× 2.5–3.5 mm, orbicular to elongate. Seeds black, 1.5–2× 1.5–2 mm, orbicular, with a thin white aril surrounding the hilum.

Distribution and Habitat— To date, Adesmia subtropicalis is only known from the Rio Grande do Sul state, in South Brazil (Fig. 33), where it is found in shrubby grasslands and on rocky slopes.

Phenology— The species flowers from November to December (April), and fruits from November to January.

Conservation status— Endangered (EN) B2ab(iii). The conservation status of the species was recently assessed (Monteiro et al. 2021b).

Etymology— The specific epithet is a reference to the species habitat preference in subtropical southern Brazil.

Notes— Adesmia subtropicalis was recently described (Monteiro et al. 2021b) and morphologically resembles A. punctata, differing by its bracts 6–13 mm long, calyx lobes 5–9 mm long, and flowers 10–15 mm long (vs. bracts 3–6.5 mm long, calyx lobes 3–6 mm long, and flowers 8–10 mm long in A. punctata). Adesmia subtropicalis also differs from A. punctata by the black fruits and the seeds with an aril (vs. brown fruits and seeds without aril in A. punctata). The species has been recorded as co-occurring with A. punctata in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, even though A. punctata usually has a more southern distribution, along the Uruguayan-Brazilian border (Monteiro et al. 2021b).

Additional Specimens Examined — BRAZIL. RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Itaara, Reserva Biológica do Ibicuí-Mirim, Campo dos Barcelos, à direita da barragem, 01 November 1988, Abruzzi, M. L . 1641 (HAS 24431; BOTU 34586). São Francisco de Assis, na rodovia para Santa Maria, 23 October 1986, Mattos, J . 30528 (HAS 84722); na rodovia de Manoel Viana para São Francisco de Assis, 23 October 1986, Mattos, J . 30125 (HAS 84528). Passo Fundo, na Fazenda Nacional Florestal, April 1981, Mattos, N . & Rosa, H. M. s.n. (HAS 84553). Soledade, Próximo à saída para Espumoso, 19 December 2008, Iganci, J. R. V . et al. 590 (RB 558614) .