Fleischmannia hassleri H. Rob., 2015

Robinson, Harold, 2015, The genus Fleischmannia in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae), PhytoKeys 57, pp. 61-92 : 63

Fleischmannia hassleri H. Rob. sp. nov.

Type.

Paraguay: Centralis, in regione lacus Ypacaray, Feb. 1913, Hassler, Plantae Paraguariensis 1913 (holotype US). (Figure 1 )

Description.

Erect or leaning subshrubs to 0.6-1.0 m tall, with internodes 3-5 cm long, longer distally; with branches ascending at less than 45° angles. Leaves opposite, petioles 5-10 mm long; leaf blades triangular with subtruncate to truncate bases, mostly 2-3 cm long, 1.0-1.8 cm wide, smaller at more distal nodes, with ca., 7 teeth on each margin, apex acute, densely puberulous on both surfaces, with numerous small glandular dots abaxially, triplinervate from narrow basal acumination, secondary veins strongly ascending. Inflorescence terminal on slender elongated stems and branches, cymiform with branches ending in small clusters of heads; peduncles 1-3 mm long, densely puberulous; capitula ca. 6 mm high, ca. 4 mm wide before spreading; involucral bracts ca. 22. 1.5-4.0 mm long, 1.0-1.2 mm wide, 1 or 2 basal involucral bracts short and oval, acute, puberulous outside, median and inner bracts stramineous, membranous with scarious margins and tips, blunt, with pair of large longitudinal veins and often weak 3rd or 4th veins; florets 17-20 in a capitulum; corollas purple, ca. 3 mm long, basal tube ca. 0.5 mm ling, throat ca. 2 mm long, lobes ca. 0.5 mm long; anther thecae ca. 1 mm long; style branches slender, achenes ca. 1.2 mm long, ribs slightly yellow when submature, smooth except for a few small scabrae; pappus whitish, ca. 3 mm long, with ca. 32 bristles, not broader near the base.

Paratypes: Paraguay. Villamein? common in thickets, Jorgensen 54268 (US). Dept. Cordillera, Compañia Yoypó-jú, disturbed sandy soil, with sandstone outcrops, among herbs, grasses and bushes in abandoned quarry, edge of disturbed forest. 3 March 1985, Bordas 3669 (US). Dept. Central, Nemby (Barrio Industrial, Segunda Etafa) in advancing disturbed forest, in clearings, leaning on other plants. 13 March 1986, Bordas 3750 (US). Dept. Central, border Tavarory-Acosta ñu, creek, affluent of Paraguay River, gallery forest, 25°27'S, 57°32'W, 10 June 1993, E. Zardini & V. Jara 36127 (AS, MO, US). Caaguazú, Feb. 1905, Hassler 9069 (US).

Specimens have usually been determined in the past as Fleischmannia prasiifolia with which it shares many characteristics such as ascending branches, short peduncles in the inflorescence, purple color of the corollas and achenes with somewhat paler ribs. The new species differs by the smaller more densely pubescent leaves and smaller clusters of heads, and it occurs far to the east of the distribution of Fleischmannia prasiifolia and at generally lower elevations. The presence of minute glandular dots on the abaxial leaf surfaces would also seem to be a distinction, but minute stipitate glands occur in Fleischmannia prasiifolia var. glandulifera as noted in the Bolivian treatment.

Figures

Figure 1. Fleischmannia hassleri H. Rob., holotype (US).