Rhynchosia melanocarpa Grear, Mem.

Bezerra, Luísa Maria De Paula Alves, Cândido, Elisa Silva, Vargas, Wanderleia De, Torke, Benjamin Marland, Lewis, Gwilym Peter & Perez, Ana Paula Fortuna, 2024, Taxonomic revision of Rhynchosia Lour. (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Phaseoleae) in South America, Phytotaxa 643 (1), pp. 1-67 : 42

18. Rhynchosia melanocarpa Grear, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 31(1): 43. 1978.

Rhynchosia phaseoloides var. erecta Micheli, Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 28: 32. 1883. Type :— PARAGUAY, Ibitimi, November 1874, Balansa 1852 (Presumed holotype: G [not seen]; isotype: P 00708619 [digital image!]). Iconography: Rodriguésia 70: 13. 2019. ( Fig. 10 G–J )

Vine climbing or suffrutescent, twining, stems simple or few branched, pilose to pubescent, indumentum white to light yellow, with sparse yellow vesicular glands, but lacking bulbous-based trichomes. Stipules 2–4.4 × 1–2 mm, free, caducous, lanceolate, externally pubescent with yellow vesicular glands, but lacking bulbous-based trichomes. Leaves trifoliolate; petiole 3–8.5 cm long; leaf rachis 0.8–4.3 cm long; stipels persistent; leaflets 2.3–12.5 × 2–11.1 cm, ovate or deltoid to rhombic, surface not bullate, attenuate to acuminate at apex, truncate to cuneate at base, margin entire, pilose to pubescent, with yellow vesicular glands on abaxial surface. Inflorescences axillary, paniculate, 5–30 cm long, many-flowered, exceeding the length of the subtending leaf; bracts caducous; pedicels 2–4 mm long. Flowers 5–10 mm long excluding the pedicel; calyx 3–4 mm long, pubescent with yellow vesicular glands, but lacking bulbous-based trichomes, lobes lanceolate, not exceeding the corolla in length; standard petal 4.5–10 × 4–5 mm, oblong to obovate, rounded at apex, pilose to pubescent, with yellow vesicular glands, but lacking bulbous-based trichomes, claw 1–2 mm long, auricle ca. 0.5 mm long; wing petals 6–10 × 1–2 mm, oblong, claw 1–2 mm long, auricle ca. 0.5 mm long; keel petals 6–10 × 2–3 mm, falcate, claw 1–3 mm long; stamens 6–8 mm long; ovary 2.5–3.2 mm long, pubescent, with yellow vesicular glands. Fruits 1.4–2.1 × 0.5–0.6 cm, reddish-brown to black, strongly constricted between the seeds, oblong to ovate, glabrescent, with a few yellow vesicular glands, but lacking bulbous-based trichomes. Seeds 4–6 × 3–4 mm, suborbicular, bicolored, black and red, the red confined to the hilar area.

Nomenclatural and taxonomic notes: — Grear (1978) raised the variety R. phaseoloides var. erecta to species level. Since the epithet (erect) did not really represent the habit of the plant (twining) and had previously been used for a different species, R. erecta (Walter) DC. from the USA, a synonym for R. tomentosa , he named the species Rhynchosia melanocarpa because of its black fruits.

Rhynchosia melanocarpa is characterized by its leaves with prominent stipels ( Fig. 10 H ), the dark reddish-brown to black fruits, constricted between the seeds, and by the bicolored black and red seeds, the red confined to the hilar area ( Fig. 10 G ; Bezerra et al. 2019a). The species morphologically resembles R. erythrinoides and R. naineckensis in habit, inflorescence form and dark fruits constricted between the seeds ( Fig. 10 G–J ). They can be differentiated by the characters listed in Table 1 .

Reproductive phenology: —Flowering from February to April, June and September; fruiting in January, February and from April to October.

Distribution and habitat: — Rhynchosia melanocarpa occurs in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela ( Fig. 11 ), and grows in disturbed areas, and along forests edges and roadsides.

Conservation status: — Least Concern ( LC). Based on the criteria of the IUCN red list ( IUCN 2022), R. melanocarpa is assessed as LC because of its high EOO of 10,445,838 km 2 (GeoCAT, accessed in May 2022). The species is commonly encountered in several South American countries, especially Brazil, and is also well represented in herbaria .

Selected Specimens Examined:— ARGENTINA. Misiones: Iguazú, Pedro , Bossetti , Propriedad Pérez Companc , Faja Ecologica , borde del selva, 21 May 1999 (fr.), H. A. Keller 56 ( NY) ; San Ignacio , interior de selva entre peñones, dossel de yvyra katu y sotobosque de melastomatáceas, 19 January 2012 (fr.), H. A. Keller & C. J. Keller 10602 ( UEC) . BOLIVIA. Beni: Fátima de Chimane , à 700m du village, 9 July 1987 (fr.), A. Fournet 782 ( NY) ; Rurrenabaque , 9 October 1921 (fr.), H. H. Rusby 58335 ( NY) . La Paz: Coroico , 11 September 1894 (fl.), Bang 2427 ( NY) ; Iturralde , along Rio Madre de Dios, 9 km (by air) NE of Puerto Heath, 26 August 1985 (fr.), M. Nee 31588 ( NY) . Pando: Madre de Dios, Santo Domingo, 3 hours by boat aboe Riveralta on Río Madre de Dios , 10 September 1981 (fr.), J. C. Solomon 6206 ( NY) . Santa Cruz: Chiquitos, Valle de Tucavaca entre Santiago y Santo Corazón, km 50 de Santiago , 25 April 2008 (fl./fr.), J. R. I. Wood et al. 24475 ( UB) ; “ Del Lara, monte del Palometillas ”, 3 September 1916 (fr.), F. Iteiubach 2908 ( NY) . BRAZIL. Amazonas: Boca do Acre, Rio Purus , 19 September 1966 (fr.), G. T. Prance et al. 2390 ( INPA, NY) . Ceará: Crato, Serra do Araripe , June 1934 (fl./fr.), Luetzelburg s.n. ( IPA) . Distrito Federal: 45 km. S.W. of Brasília, rd. to Anápolis , 6 September 1964 (fr.), H. S. Irwin & T. R. Soderstrom 6063 ( NY) ; Brasília , 5 October 1961 (fr.), E. P. Heringer 9445 ( UB) ; Chapada da Contagem , 4 February 1968 (fl./fr.), H. S. Irwin et al. 19503 ( NY, UB) . Goiás: BR 153 Brasília–Belém, imediações do município Ceres , 21 August 1978 (fl./fr.), A. Allem & G. Vieira 2080 ( CEN) ; Campinaçu, estrada Minaçu para o canteiro de obras da AHE cana brava, faz. Fortuna , margem esquerda do Rio Tocantins, 4 October 2020 (fr.), T. B. Cavalcanti et al. 2641 ( CEN) ; Gallery forest ca. 45 km S. of Caiapônia, road to Jataí , 28 June 1966 (fl.), H. S. Irwin et al. 17917 ( NY, UB) ; Luziânia, Rodovia Brasilia – Cristalina, BR 040, km 48, s.d. (fr.), L. Coradin et al. s.n. ( CEN) ; Margem do rio Corumbá , 29 September 1968 (fl./fr.), E. P. Heringer s.n. ( UB) ; Monte Alegre de Goiás, Fazenda Nica 13º08’57’’S 46º39’32’’W, 15 June 2000 (fr.), M. L. Fonseca et al. 2303 ( RB) ; Padre Bernardo, Fazenda Rio Verde , 6 September 1976 (fr.), D. C. Giacometti s.n. ( FLOR) . Maranhão: Loreto, 20–25 km S of city of Loreto, on trail between Fazenda Aldeia e Fazenda Morros , 12 April 1962 (fl./fr.), G. Eiten & L. T. Eiten 4292 ( UB) . Mato Grosso: 75 Km N. of Xavantina , 550 m alt., 5 June 1966 (fl.), H. S. Irwin et al 16645 ( NY, UB) ; Expedition Base Camp: 12º 49’ S, 51º 46’ W, 44 Km along road North from base camp., 1 November 1968 (fr.), R.M. Harley et al. 10980 ( NY, UB) ; Tapurah, beira da MT-010. ca de 24 Km ENE de Tapurah, 12º38’04’’S, 56º20’06’’W, 09 June 1997 (fl.), V. C. Souza et al. 17551 ( UEC) ; ibid., estrada do Capixaba , 20km ENE de Tapurah, 12º37’25’’S, 56º21’51’’W, 11 June 1997 (fl.), V. C. Souza et al. 17643 ( UEC) ; Xavantina on the Rio das Mortes. 14º42’S 52º21’W, 450-500 m alt., 27 August 1968 (fr.), G. Eiten & L. T. Eiten 8417 ( SP, UB) . Mato Grosso do Sul: Along road from Bonito to Miranda (MS-178), 2 September 2017 (fr.), P. Acevedo-Rodríguez 16633 ( NY) . Minas Gerais: Brasilândia de Minas, Fazenda Brejão , 12 July 2000 (fr.), J.A. Lombardi 3971 ( MBM) ; Belo Horizonte, Caetano Furquim , 23 May 1935 (fr.), M. Barreto 5652 ( UB) ; ibid., Matta do Açude , 4 September 1971 (fr.), M. Barreto 5651 ( BHCB) ; Carmo do Rio Claro , 18 March 1920 (fr.), P. A. Correa s.n. ( SP) ; Paracatu, rod. Brasilia-Belo Horizonte , 3 June 1960 (fl./fr.), E. P. Heringer 7549 ( UB) ; Uberlândia, Fazenda Irara, Mata semi-decídua, 01 December 2010 (fr.), B. C. Vargas & G. M. Araújo 196 ( UEC) ; Volta Grande, Rod. Recepção-Barragem , 18 September 2002 (fr.), F. L. R. Filardi et al. 43 ( VIC) . Paraná: Campo Mourão , 11 November 2003 (fr.), M. G. Caxambú 163 ( MBM) ; Cianorte, Fazenda Lagoa , 28 April 1996 (fl./fr.), G. Hatschbach 14267 ( NY) ; Jaguariaíva, Chapada Santo Antônio , 26 November 1968 (fr.), G. Hatschbach 20396 ( MBM) ; São Jerônimo da Serra, Estrada da Reserva Indígena , 24 March 1988 (fl.), M. Silveira et al. s.n. ( UEC) . Pernambuco: Ipubi, Serra Branca , 6 May 1971 (fr.), E. P. Heringer 573 ( RB) . São Paulo: Águas de Santa Bárbara, Estado Ecológico de Santa Bárbara , 25 April 1990 (fl.), J. A. A. Meira Neto s.n. ( UEC) ; Araras , 25 July 1930 (fl./fr.), A. Nunes s.n. ( SP) ; Atibaia, 2.6 km. alongroad east of Igreja de Sao Joao Batista at Praça Claudino Alves in Atibaia , 22 June 1960 (fr.), G. Eiten & L. T. Eiten 2035 ( NY) ; Botucatu, Rubião Junior , 26 September 1978 (fr.), P. L. Bicudo s.n. ( NY) ; Campinas , May 1918 (fr.), D. C. Novaes s.n. ( SP) ; Indaiatuba , 05 January 1954 (fr.), A. S. Grotta s/nº ( UEC) ; Lençois Paulista , estrada de terra, 12 June 1995 (fr.), J. Y. Tamashiro et al. 1075 ( SP) ; Mogi Guaçu, Martinho Prado, Reserva Biológica da Fazenda Campininha , 27 May 1998 (fr.), L. P. Queiros 5098 ( RB) ; ibid., Martinho Prado Júnior, Reserva Biológica da Fazenda Campininha , 5 September 1980 (fl./fr.), W. Mantovani 854 ( SP) ; ibid., 21 Ocotober 1977 (fl.), J. Y. Tamashiro et al. 6530 ( SP) ; ibid., 25 May 1981 (fl./fr.), W. Mantovani 1855 ( SP) ; Mogi Mirim , 25 May 1927 (fl./fr.), F. C. Hoehne s.n. ( NY, SP) ; Onda Verde, Faz. São João , 29 June 1994 (fl./fr.), J. Y. Tamashiro et al. 285 ( SP) ; Paulo de Faria, ca. de 12 km de Paulo de Faria em direção a Orindiúva , 14 October 1994 (fr.), A. A. Souza et al. 123 ( SP) ; Tatuí , 21 October 1953 (fl./fr.), M. Kuhlmann 2885 ( SP) . Rio Grande do Norte: Martins, Sítio do Sr. Clesinho, entrada na saída para Umarizal , ca. 2 Km da entrada, 29 April 2012 (fr.), J. G. Jardim 6207 ( NY) . Tocantins: Dianópolis , próximo à velha britadeira, 29 September 2003 (fr.), T. B. Cavalcanti et al. 3298 ( CEN) ; Guarai, km 919 BR 153, Brasília–Belém , 26 August 1978 (fr.), A. Allem & G. Vieira 2128 ( CEN) . PARAGUAY. s.loc., 1901/2 (fl./fr.), E. Hassler 5064 ( NY) . Alto Paraná: Puerto Presidente Stroessner , km 12, em bosque alto, 16 October 1980 (fr.), J. F. Casas & J. Molero 9140 ( NY) ; Reserva Biológica Tati Yupi , s.d. (fr.), A. Schinini & G. C. Marmori 27277 ( MBM) . PERU. Huánuco: Pachitea, Dep. Honoria, Bosque Nacional de Iparia : Region de bosque seco tropical (sensu Tosi 1960) a lo largo del Rio Pachitea cerca del campamento Miel de Abeja (1 km. arriba del pueblo de Tournavista o unos 20 km arriba de la confluencia con el Rio Ucayali, 7 March 1967, J. Schunke 1724 ( NY) ; ibid., 28 June 1967 (fl.), J. Schunke 2093 ( NY) . Madre de Dios: Tambopata , 19 February 1991 (fl.), P. Baca 91 ( NY) . San Martín: Lamas, Alonso de Alvarado , caminho a Roque, 3 km de San Juan de Pacayzapa , 28 Abril de 1973, J. Schunk 6076 ( NY) . VENEZUELA. Anzoátegui: Northeast of Bergantín , 12 March 1945 (fr.), J. A. Steyermark 61477 (F V0368651F) . Apure: Pedro Camejo, E side of the Galeras de Cinaruco, 6 km N of the southernmost tip, along Quebrada El Porvenir , ca. 53 airline km NE of Puerto Páez, 21 February 1979 (fr.), G. Davidse & A. C. González 15553 ( NY) .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Rhynchosia species. A, B. R. lineata. C–F. R. mantaroensis var. cuprinervia. G–J. R. melanocarpa. K–N. R. minima. (A, B by A. Mailhos); (C–F by R. Ripley) and (G–N by T. C. Monteiro).

FIGURE 11. Geographical distribution of Rhynchosia mantaroensis var. mantaroensis, R. mantaroensis var. cuprinervia, R. melanocarpa and R. mineira in South America.