Passiflora pottiae Cervi & Imig, 2013

Cervi, Armando Carlos & Imig, Daniela Cristina, 2013, A new species of Passiflora (Passifloraceae) from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Phytotaxa 103 (1), pp. 46-50 : 47

Passiflora pottiae Cervi & Imig , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 , A–D)

A Passiflora subrotundata Masters differt caule velutino, folia integris ovalata vel ovato-lanceolata, petiolo 4–6 glandulis stipitatis alternis praedito, corola 6 seriebus filamentorum disposita, petalis et sepalis albis cum maculis lilacinis.

Type:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Terenos, Fazenda Modelo , Embrapa , Varjão next to Ferrovia Campo Grande- Ponta Porã , 20º33’30.49’’S; 54º47’26.18’’W, 512 m, 09 March 2012, V. J . Pott , A . Pott , & S. N . Moreira 11411 (holotype CGMS!, isotypes MBM!, UPCB!) .

Vines, sub-woody, villous with silver or gold trichomes. Stems cylindrical or sub angled, striated, green with vinaceous portions. Stipules persistent, subreniform, 1–1.7 × 0.6–1.0 cm, inserted laterally on the stem, foliaceous, apex acute, mucronate, mucron 1–2 mm long, base subcordate, margin entire, sometimes sparsely glandular-toothed near the base, abaxial surface villous, adaxial surface glabrous and glossy. Petiole cylindrical, grooved on the adaxial side, 2–3.5 cm long, 4–6 short-stipitate glands, alternate and scattered along the petiole. Leaves simple, entire, ovate, 6–11(15.5) × 4–7(9.5) cm, apex acute, base cordate to subpeltate, sub-coriaceous, 5-nerved from the base, secondary nerves reticulate. Tendrils well-developed, villous. Peduncles solitary, 2.5–4.5 cm long, pedicels 0.4–1 cm long. Bracts 3, verticillate, ovalate, 1.5–1.7 × 1–1.2 cm, apex acute, base subcordate, persistent. Flowers 5–8 cm diam; calyx tube campanulate, 0.5–0.7 × 1–1.2 cm, glabrous; sepals oblong-lanceolate, 2.5–2.8 × 0.8–1 cm, apex obtuse, slightly concave, dorsal awns 1–2 mm long, margin entire, green with a central dark green rib on the abaxial surface, white adaxial surface, with lilac hints; petals oblong - lanceolate, 2–2.7 × 0.7–1 cm, apex obtuse, white with lilac hints on both sides. Corona filaments in 6 series, 2 external series of cylindrical filaments 1.0– 1.6 cm long, purple on the base, middle portion with a narrow strip white and lilac on the apex; the following 3 series of filiform filaments, juxtaposed, 1–3 mm long, capitates at the apex, purple, erect; the last series, filiform filaments 4–5 mm long, capitate or bifurcated at the apex, purple, erect; operculum with membranous base, nearly 2 mm, projected horizontally and filamentous to the apex, filaments 5–7 mm long, purple, erect, encircling the androgynophore, dentiform processes on the base of the filamentous portion, facing the inside of the calyx tube; limen membranaceous, cupuliform, 2–2.5 mm long, adhering to the base of the androgynophore, apex free and wavy; nectariferous ring situated at the middle of the calyx tube, 1 mm long, arched apex; androgynophore 1.3–1.5 cm long; staminal filaments 0.7–0.8 cm long, styles 1–1.4 cm long, glabrous, light green with purple spots. Ovary ellipsoid, glabrous, light green. Fruits and seeds not seen.

Additional specimen examined:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Fazenda Modelo da Embrapa Gado de Corte. Área de Varjão near the ferrovia, 20º 33’ 30,49’’ S; 54º 47’ 26, 18’’ W, 512 m, 30 October 2010, S. N . Moreira & V. J . Pott 363 ( CGMS!)

Distribution and habitat:— Passiflora pottiae is known only from Mato Grosso do Sul, municipality of Terenos. It was collected in a moist field near a springhead path, on organic soil and flat terrain. It was very rare at the site.

Eponymy:—The specific epithet is in honor of the botanist and researcher of the Pantanal, Msc. Valli Joana Pott, collector of the type.

Additional notes:— Passiflora pottiae is related to P. subrotunda , but is easily differentiated from this species. Passiflora pottiae is villous, has larger subcoriaceous leaves that are ovate in shape, with an acute apex, and petioles with four to six glands. On the other hand, P. subrotunda is totally glabrous, has smaller suborbicular or cordate membranaceous leaves that are rounded and usually emarginate at the apex,,and petioles with only two glands. The flowers of P. pottiae have oblong-lanceolate sepals and petals, corona filaments in six series, an operculum with a membranaceous base and a filamentous apex, and dentiform processes facing the inside of the calyx tube, while the flowers of P. subrotunda have linear sepals and petals, filaments in only two series, a membranaceous operculum that is erect, finely crenulated, and without dentiform processes.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Passiflora pottiae. A. Habit and detail of a flowering branch. B. Detail of a bract. C. Detail of the stipules. D. Flower detail in transverse section. Drawn by Diana Carneiro.