Cryptanthus viridipetalus Leme & L.Kollmann, 2013

Leme, Elton M. C. & Kollmann, Ludovic J. C., 2013, Miscellaneous New species of Brazilian Bromeliaceae, Phytotaxa 108 (1), pp. 1-40 : 24-26

Cryptanthus viridipetalus Leme & L.Kollmann , sp. nov. ( Figs. 14 A–D , 16 A–D )

This new species differs from Cryptanthus warren-loosei by the longer caulescent habit, more numerous leaves, smaller floral bracts only slightly exceeding the ovaries, shorter sepals with densely and minutely crenulate-lacerate margins, and by the green petals toward the apex. The leaves densely arranged at the distal portion of the stem, the leaf blades with comparatively longer marginal spines, the shorter flowers and the green petals toward the apex, also distinguish it from C. bibarrensis .

Type: — BRAZIL. Espírito Santo, Boa Esperança, Pedra da Botelha , nearby foothill, 159 m elevation, 18º 26.94’ S, 40º 22.56’ W, 12 September 2009, E . Leme 8016, L . Kollmann & R . Oliveira (holotype RB!, isotype HB!) .

Plants terrestrial, caulescent, stems 10–25 cm long, 1.3–1.7 cm in diameter, propagating by axillary shoots developed at the base of the inflorescence. Leaves 20–30 in number, spreading at anthesis, densely arranged at the distal portion of the stem, forming a round rosette; sheaths inconspicuous, whitish, abaxially distinctly rugose, coarsely white lepidote toward and spinulose at distal end; blades sublinear-lanceolate, apex acuminate-caudate, 20–25 × 1.8–2.5 cm, slightly narrowed toward the base, coriaceous, without any distinct thicker central zone, green with reddish-bronze marginal and apical area, flat or nearly so toward the apex, densely and coarsely white lepidote abaxially, trichomes neither completely obscuring the leaf color nor distinctly contrasting with the glabrous adaxial surface, margins undulate, sparsely spinose except for the densely spinose apex; spines narrowly triangular, spreading to slightly antrorse, 2–9 mm apart, the basal ones 2–3 mm long, the upper ones 0.5–1.5 mm long. Inflorescence 2–2.5 cm long, 3–3.5 cm in diameter, sessile; primary bracts foliaceous; flower fascicles ca. 6 in number, the basal ones ca. 25 mm long (excluding the petals), ca. 1 cm wide, often 2-flowered; floral bracts hyaline and sparsely lepidote, membranaceous, about equaling to slightly exceeding the ovary, margins entire, the floral bracts in the flower fascicles triangularlanceolate, acute, cymbiform, carinate, ca. 13 × 5 mm. Flowers 31–33 mm long (with extended petals), sessile, slightly fragrant, those of the upper central part of the inflorescence staminate and forming a distinct head, those of the flower fascicles perfect; sepals ca. 10 mm long, connate for ca. 6 mm, green to whitish toward the base; the lobes suborbicular, acute and apiculate, lepidote, rugulose, ca. 4 × 4 mm, symmetrical, obtusely carinate, densely and minutely crenulate-lacerate; petals narrowly subspathulate, apex rounded to subacute, ca. 23 × 5 mm, green toward the apex, distinctly exceeding the stamens, suberect to spreading at anthesis, connate at the base for ca. 6 mm, bearing 2 inconspicuous callosities at the base of the free blades; filaments ca. 15 mm long, equally adnate to the petal tube, terete, white; anthers ca. 2 mm long at anthesis, dorsifixed near the base, base and apex obtuse; pollen subglobose, sulcate, exine reticulate, lumina polygonal; stigma conduplicate-patent, slightly exceeding the anthers, lobes with crenulate margins; ovary of the perfect flowers broadly ovoid, 8–9 × 7 mm, trigonous, white, glabrous; epigynous tube lacking; ovules few, obtuse; placentation apical. Fruits unknown.

Distribution and habitat:— Cryptanthus viridipetalus is a terrestrial species growing at partial shady sites under tree-like or shruby vegetation, developing on shallow soils in the Atlantic Forest domain. It was observed forming large and dense group of plants near the foothill of an inselberg known as Pedra da Botelha, in the low elevated tablelands in the county of Boa Esperança, northern Espírito Santo state.

Etymology:—The name of this new species highlights the color of the petals which are green toward the apex, an unusual characteristic for a genus known by taxa with typically pure white petals.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):–– BRAZIL. Espírito Santo, Boa Esperança, Pedra da Botelha , nearby foothill, 159 m elevation, 18º 26.94’ S, 40º 22.56’ W, 12 September 2009, L . Kollmann 12103, E . Leme & R . Oliveira ( MBML!, VIES!) .

Observations:— Cryptanthus viridipetalus is closely related to two species from Bahia, C. warren-loosei Leme (1993: 17) and C. bibarrensis Leme (2002: 86) . It differs from C. warren-loosei by the longer caulescent habit (stems 10–25 cm vs. to 10 cm long), with more numerous leaves (20–30 vs. ca. 15), smaller floral bracts (ca. 13 × 5 mm vs. ca. 18 × 15 mm), shorter lobes of the sepals (ca. 4 mm vs. 6–7 mm long), with densely and minutely crenulate-lacerate margins (vs. entire to inconspicuously and irregularly denticulatecrenulate margins), and by the green petal blades (vs. white).

The differences to C. bibarrensis are: leaves densely arranged at the distal portion of the stem (vs. equally arranged along the stem), leaf blades with comparatively longer marginal spines (2–3 mm vs. 0.5–1.2 mm long), shorter flowers (31–33 mm vs. ca. 45 mm long), and green petals blades (vs. white).

Figures

FIGURE 14. A–D. Cryptanthus viridipetalus (Leme et al. 8016). A. Population at the type locality. B. Habit. C. Details of the flowers. D. Landscape view of the type locality with a population of Encholirium sp. in the foreground and the inselberg known as Pedra da Botelha in the background surrounded by treelike vegetation developed on shallow rocky soil.

FIGURE 16. A–D. Cryptanthus viridipetalus (Leme et al. 8016). A. Basal portion of the leaf. B. Flower. C. Sepal. D. Petal with calli and one outer and inner stamen each. E–H. Neoregelia desenganensis (Leme & Ilha 7588). E. Leaf blade apex. F. Flower. G. Sepals. H. Petal with calli and one outer and inner stamen each. Scale bars = 1 cm.