Justicia espiritosantensis Aoyama & Indriunas, 2022

Aoyama, Elisa Mitsuko & Indriunas, Alexandre, 2022, Justicia espiritosantensis (Justicieae-Acanthaceae), a new species from Brazil, Phytotaxa 543 (3), pp. 188-192 : 189-191

Justicia espiritosantensis Aoyama & Indriunas , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Affinis Justicia wasshauseniana Profice inflorecentiis longis, bracteis saepe spathulatis pilosis, thecis obliquis inferioris longe calcaratis superiorisque muticis apices pilosis sed peduncules ad 4 cm, foliis majoribus, ca. 30 × 14 cm, eucamptodromibus, basis decurrentibus, dense pilosibus (vs. peduncules ad 8 cm, foliis minoribus, ca. 12 × 8.5 cm, brochidodromibus, basis acuminatibus ad acutis, sparse pilosis) differt.

Type:— Brazil, Espírito Santo, Santa Teresa, Mata do Banestes , 19º55’60” S, 40º35’24” W, 16 September 1999, Demuner 1 (holotype MBML!; isotype RB!) .

Shrubs (0.6−)1.0−2.0−(−2.5) m high, young stems densely pubescent with yellowish trichomes. Leaves shortly petiolate, petioles (0.3−)0.5−1.0(−2.0) cm long, densely pilose, blades wide elliptic to elliptic, 19−35 × 6−14 cm, base long decurrent to abrupt decurrent, apex mostly shortly acuminate, pilose in both surfaces, especially abaxially, conspicuous cystoliths, densely pilose on the midrib, brochidodromous with prominent secondary veins, margin entire, slightly undulate, ciliate to densely ciliate with short trichomes. Inflorescence compound, composed of spicate secund units, nodes evident; branched up to 2/3 of the total length, basal branches opposite, secundiflorous, 4-flowered, flowers sessile; distal portion with congest sessile flowers, with glomerate aspect, 13−30 cm long, peduncle 1.5−4 cm long, rachis 10.5−28 cm. Bracts narrowly spathulate to oblanceolate, ca. 0.5 cm long, slightly acuminated, externally pilose with pedunculated glandular trichomes, ciliate; bracteoles similar to the bracts in shape, but longer, up to 1.0 cm long. Flowers with calyx 5-lobed, lobes subulate, ca. 0.3 cm long, ca. 0.1 cm wide at the base, pilose with eglandular trichomes; corolla white, cream, rose, pale lilac to greenish with purple or vinaceous maculae, ca. 1.3 cm long, tube ca. 0.6 cm long, throat ca. 0.2 cm long, superior lobe acute, ca. 0.5 × 0.3 cm, inferior 3-lobed, lobes rounded, central lobe 0.2-0.25 × 0.1 cm, lateral lobes, ca. 0.1 × 0.1 cm; stamens 2, inserted near the midpoint of throat, filaments ca. 0.3 cm long, anthers bithecae, thecae to 0.15 cm long, vinaceous, the superior muticous, the inferior oblique, calcar ca. 0.5 mm long, hyaline; style and ovary pilose with minute eglandular trichomes. Capsule to 1.2 cm long, stipe to 0.6 cm long, head to 0.6 cm long, pilose. Seeds 4, discoid, to 0.2 cm, rugulose.

Phenology: —Specimens collected with flowers in March, May to July, and September to October; fruits in February, May, August, and October.

Distribution and habitat: — Justicia espiritosantesis occurs in the State of Espírito Santo generally in areas of altitude from 150 to 750m, in humid environments close to watercourses, predominantly in shaded areas of forests and valley bottoms ( Fig. 2 ).

Etymology:― The epithet refers to Espírito Santo State, in Brazil, from which all known specimens were collected.

Conservation status: ― Justicia espiritosantensis is considered Vulnerable (VU) - B1ac(iii), based on the limited EOO (extent of occurrence) of <20,000 km 2 (9,447 km 2); and Endangered - EN B2ac(ii), sense AOO (area of occupancy) of <500 km 2 (40 km 2), and it has a small and fragmented number of locations ( IUCN, 2019). The AOO and EOO was evaluated using the GeoCat software ( Bachman et al. 2011), using information from 18 locations of 25 specimens from databases (Reflora - Virtual Herbarium and INCT - Virtual Herbarium of Flora and Fungi).

Additional specimen examined (paratypes): — BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Castelo, Parque Estadual de Mata das Flores , 29 October 2013, Carrijo 1851 ( VIES) ; Itapemirim , dans le bois, 26 June 1877, Glaziou 8840 ( P, K) ; Itarana, Jatiboca , 07 August 2002, Kollmann 5684 ( MBML, RB) ; João Neiva, Alto Bergamo. -40.482167, -19.747722, 355m, 04 October 2007, Kollmann 10073 ( MBML, RB) ; Marilândia, Alto Liberdade , 13 September 2007, Vervloet 3487 ( MBML, RB) ; Santa Leopoldina, Colina Verde (Morro do Agudo), propr.: Dona Maria. -40.432222, -20.093889, 150m, 15 March 2007, Demuner 3209 ( MBML, RB) ; São Lourenço, Mata de encosta. -40.620556, -19.931111, 26 August 1998, Kollmann 440 ( MBML, RB) ; Santa Teresa, Mata do Banestes , 09 February 2006 Kollmann 8751 ( MBML, RB) ; Fazenda Caioaba, propr.: Claúdio Virloni. -40.473056, -20.054722, 150m, 24 October 2007, Demuner 4397 ( MBML, RB) ; São Gabriel da Palha, Norte Rio Doce. Mata Rio S. Gabriel , September 1950, Vieira 06 ( RB) .

Remarks: — Justicia espiritosantensis resembles J. wasshauseniana Profice (see Fig. 5 in Profice, 2013) due to the long thyrsoid inflorescences, with spathulate to oblanceolate pilose bracts and stamens with oblique thecae, inferior long calcareted and upper muticous. A comparative species analysis is shown in Table 1 .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Justicia espiritosantensis Aoyama & Indriunas sp. nov. A. Flowering stem. B. Inflorescence with buds and one open flower. C. Bract. D. Bracteoles. E. Calyx. F. Open corolla. G. Anther. H. Ovarium. I. Stigma. J. Fruit within calyx. Figures A to I from Demuner 1 (RB) and J from L. Kollman 8759 (RB) drawing by Igor Azevedo and Lilian Brito.

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Justicia espiritosantensis Aoyama & Indriunas sp. nov.