Keraunea capixaba Lombardi, 2014

Lombardi, Julio Antonio, 2014, The Second Known Species of the Recently Described Genus Keraunea (Convolvulaceae), Phytotaxa 181 (1), pp. 54-58 : 54-57

Keraunea capixaba Lombardi , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 , 2 ).

Resembles Keraunea brasiliensis in the 3-flowered inflorescences with bracteoles adnate to pedicels, but differs by its almost completely glabrescent vegetative and reproductive parts (vs. conspicuously hairy branches, leaves, bracteoles and calyx), bigger calyx lobes (11–14 x 2.3–3 mm vs. 2.8–3.8 x 0.6–0.9 mm), longer corolla tubes (4.9– 7.4 mm vs. ca. 0.5 mm), larger corolla lobes (20.4–24.5 x 7.4–10 mm vs. 3.5–4 x 1.5–1.7 mm), and umbeliform rather than corymbose inflorescence.

Type:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Jaguaré, perto da Comunidade São Jorge de Paduá , sentido para Fátima, 95 m, 18°54’29”S 40°08’44.9”W ,

25 September 2013 (fl), G . S . Siqueira 891 (holotype, CVRD; isotypes, HRCB, K, SP) .

Lianas; extension branches fistulose, longitudinally ridged, glabrous, axillary buds ovoid, flattened; bud-scales 2–4 mm long, semi-circular, ciliate; spur branches (axillary to main axis) determinate, 3.5–6.0 cm long, bearing 3–5 leaves, glabrous; axillary buds inconspicuous; elongating extension and spur branches with basal scales or reduced leaves, 2.5–8 mm long, ciliate. Leaves alternate, simple; petioles canaliculated to winged, 0.5–1.6 cm on extension branches, 0.5–1.7 cm on spur branches, glabrescent to glabrous; blades on extension branches 8.4–15.7 x 2.7–7.9 cm, elliptic to ovate, base rounded, cuneate to decurrent, margin entire, apex acute, mucronate, chartaceous, veins impressed; blades on spur branches 2.5–10.9 x 1.8–5.8 cm, elliptic, rhombic to asymmetric, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acute, membranaceous, veins plane; both blade types with brochidodromous nervation, secondary veins 4–9 on each side of the midrib, ascending at ca 45 ° from the midrib, conspicuous, tertiary veins conspicuous, quaternary veins inconspicuous, glabrous. Inflorescences umbelliform, terminal on short leafy spur branches, 3-flowered, typically only two of the three flowers bracteolate at anthesis; pedicels 10–24 mm long, glabrous; bracteole adnate to pedicel, from the middle of pedicel to calyx base, bracteole elliptic, 32–40 x 17–23 mm, acute, cuneate to oblique, slightly decurrent at base, glabrous. Calyx green, tube 3–4 mm long, campanulate, glabrous, lobes five, 11–14 x 2.3–3 mm, narrowly triangular, sparsely ciliate, glabrous on both surfaces. Corolla at anthesis 2.5–2.8 x 3–3.5 cm diam., white or white with the midpetaline area slightly cream and tube internally reddish, tube 4.9–7.4 mm long, campanulate, glabrous; lobes five, 20.4–24.5 x 7.4–10 mm, elliptic, rounded at apex, margin revolute, convolute at base, glabrous on both surfaces, papyraceous. Stamens five, 20.2–21.8 mm long, adnate with petals at filaments base, alternipetalous, glabrous, white; filaments 5.8–6.3 mm long, free part 0.7–2 mm; anthers 13.6–16 mm long, basifixed, introrse, connective inconspicuous, apex acuminate. Disc absent or inconspicuous; gynoecium superior 10.6–11.9 x 1.1–1.5 mm, glabrous; ovary elliptic, 2-locular, locules biovulate, ovules pendulous; style persistent, 7.8–10 mm long, circular, branched at apex or branches connate, branches subequal, 1.2–2.3 mm long; stigmas two, ca. 0.1 mm diam., slightly capitate. Infructescence 1–3-fruited; fruit adnate to the accrescent bracteole; bracteole 54–62 x 30–33 mm. elliptic, papery; calyx persistent; immature fruits green; mature ones not seen; seeds not seen.

Phenology:—Flowering in September, fruiting starts in October.

Distribution and habitat:― Brazil (Espírito Santo), borders of secondary or disturbed seasonal forests (‘mata de tabuleiro’) in the Atlantic Rain Forest, on coastal plains, at ca. 100 m. The species is apparently restricted to a small area of occurrence located in the north of the state of Espírito Santo on two highly disturbed localities adjacent to the Biological Reserve of Sooretama, but not collected inside this conservation unit, so this new species is evaluated as EN according to the following IUCN criteria (2012): extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 500 km 2 ( B 2a) and population size estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals (D). Vernacular name:—Canema branca.

Taxonomic relationships:— Keraunea capixaba is morphologically similar to K. brasiliensis in having 3-flowered inflorescences with bracteoles adnate to the flower pedicels. However, K. capixaba , is almost completely glabrous, with hairs only on the sepal margins, while K. brasiliensis is conspicuously hairy. Both species also differ in inflorescence type, bracteole insertion, size of the flower parts, and habitat ( Table 1).

Etymology:—The specific epithet “capixaba” is a Brazilian word of indigenous origin, for people born or things native to the state of Espírito Santo.

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Jaguaré, perto da Comunidade São Jorge de Paduá, sentido para Fátima , 95 m, 18°54’29”S 40°08’44.9”W, 25 September 2013 (fl), D. A . Folli 7117 ( CVRD, HRCB, MO, NY, RB); 16 October 2013 (y fr), G. S . Siqueira 893 ( BHCB, CVRD, HRCB, K, MBML, MO, NY, RB, SPF); Sooretama, rodovia ES-358, distrito de Bom Jardim, 19º02’20.31”S 40º14’48.23”W, 1 September 2012 (fl, y fr), A. M . Assis 3340 ( HRCB, MBML) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Keraunea capixaba. A. Distal portion of spur branch. B. Detail of flower. (A–B, Siqueira 891). Drawings by the author.

FIGURE 2. Keraunea capixaba. A. Flowering branch. B. Immature fruit. (A, Siqueira 891, C, Siqueira 893). All photos by Geovane S. Siqueira.