Microlicia candolleana (Melastomataceae): a new endemic species to the Espinhaço range, Minas Gerais, Brazil Romero, Rosana Versiane, Ana Flavia Alves Phytotaxa 2016 2016-05-20 261 3 275 281 42Y69 R. Romero & Versiane R. Romero & Versiane 2016 [136,669,158,185] Magnoliopsida Melastomataceae Microlicia Plantae Myrtales 1 276 Tracheophyta species candolleana sp. nov.    Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Serra do Cipó, estrada Lagoa Santa-Conceição do Mato Dentro, km 118, solo pedregoso,  23 February 1995,  N. M. Castro 428( holotype HUFU!; isotypes BHCB!, K!, P!, RB!, UEC!). Erect subshrub or shrub, 0.5–1 mtall, few branched. Branches quadrangular, 4-winged; older branches leafless. Branches, leaves, pedicels, hypanthium and sepals with indumentum of spherical, golden glands, glutinous. Leaves sessile, ascending, spreading, discolorous, drying green or brownish; blade oval-lanceolate, 5.5–12 × 3–9 mm, apex acute, base cordate or rounded, margin entire or slightly crenulate, 3–7-nerved from base, nerves evident on both surfaces, the marginal pairs not reaching the apex. Flowers solitary, lateral and terminal, condensed at the apex of the branches, 5-merous, zygomorphic as a result of the position of stamens and style; pedicel 0.5–1 mmlong, with sparse trichomes. Hypanthium oblong to oblong-campanulate, slightly striate, 3–5 × 2–5 mm, drying green-brownish; calyx tube 0.5–0.8 mmlong; sepals subulate, 3–7 × 0.5–1 mm, apex acute, sepals longer or with the same length hypanthium. Petals oblong, 5.5–12.5 × 3–5.5 mm, pink or purple, apex rounded to acute, margin entire, glabrous. Stamens 10, dimorphic in size and shape, thecae tetraesporangiate; larger stamens 5, filaments 2.5–5 mmlong, anthers oval-oblong, 3–3.5 mmlong (including beak), pink, beak 0.5–0.7 mmlong, connective prolonged 1.5–3.5 mmlong, ventral appendage 1.5–2 mmlong, expanded, truncate, retuse to slightly bilobed; smaller stamens 5, filaments 2.5–5.5 mmlong, anthers oval-oblong, 2–2.5 mmlong (including beak), yellow, beak 0.2–0.5 mmlong, connective prolonged 0.5–1.5 mmlong, ventral appendage ca. 0.2 mmlong, retuse to bilobed. Ovary oblong, 2–3.5 × 2–2.5 mm, superior, 3-locular, glabrous; style terete, 3.5–10 mmlong, pink, stigma punctiform. Capsule oblong to subglobose, 5–6 × 3–4 mm, brown, with ovary apex slightly exposed, dehiscing into 3 valves from the apex, hypanthium covering the entire ovary and peeling off as the fruit matures. Seeds 1–1.5 × ca. 0.5 mm, half slightly curved to one side, pale brown, numerous, testa foveolate.   Distribution and habitat:—Endemic to Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil, occurring in rocky fields on sandy soil with outcrops, ca. 1,200 melevation ( Fig. 3).  Microlicia candolleanais a well-collected species with 27 herbarium samples collected during the last 80 years.  Additional specimens examinated:—  BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Serra do Cipó, Santa Luzia, km 116,  13 January 1934,  H. L. Mello Barreto7019( BHCB, HUFU, UEC);  ibidem,  15 January 1951,  A. Macedo2966( US);  ibidem,  18 August 1957,  M. Magalhães9709( US);  ibidem, Chapéu de Sol,  December 1958,  A. P. Duarte4539( US);  ibidem, between km 111 and 128 on road from hotel Chapéu de Sol,  4000 ft.,  20 December 1959,  B. Maguire& C. K. Maguire44708 A( NY, US);  ibidem, km 118,  14 February 1963,  A. P. Duarte7652( NY);  ibidem,  16 March 1964,  E. Pereira8905( US); ibidem, ca. 120 km(ca.  145 km Nof Belo Horizonte),  1,200 melev.,  14 February 1968,  H. S. Irwinet al. 19983( MO, NY, UB, US);  ibidem, ca. 120 km(ca. 145 Km  Nof Belo Horizonte),  1,300 melev.,  15 February 1968,  H. S. Irwinet al.20157 ( NY, UB, US);  ibidem, 32 kmnorth of Almeida,  16 January 1972,  L. B. Smith& E. S. Ayensu15945( US);   Ibidem, Jaboticatubas,  17 January 1972,  G. Hastchbachet al. 28676( MBM, US);   Ibidem,  17 January 1972,  G. Hastchbachet al.28727 ( MBM, US);  ibidem, ca.  1,125 m,  18 February 1972,  W. R. Anderson36236( NY, UB, US);  ibidem, Santana do Riacho,  24 October 1974,  G. Hastchbachet al. 35311( MBM, US);  ibidem, 2 kmbeyond Chapéu de Sol,  3300 ft.,  30 January 1980,  R. M. King& F. Almeda8360( MO, US, UB);  ibidem, estrada da usina,  9 January 1981,  N. M. Castros.n. ( HUFU 266);  ibidem, ca.  4–5 km Nof Chapéu de Sol,  3000 ft.,  15 January 1981,  R. M. King& L. E. Bishop8462 ( MO, UB, US);  ibidem, near Hotel Chapéu de Palha, ca.  1,200 melev.,  16 January 1989,  S. S. Renner2122( US);  ibidem, Santana do Riacho, Estrada Lagoa Santa-Conceição do Mato Dentro, km 110,  8 June 1989,  A. A. A. Barbosas.n.( HUFU 2238);  ibidem,  10–20 km NEde Cardeal Mota, camino a Conceição do Mato Dentro, 19°20’S, 43°35’W,  15 May 1990,  M. M. Arboet al. 4180( CTES, SPF, US);  ibidem,  7 km NEde Cardeal Mota, camino a Conceição do Mato Dentro, 19°20’S, 43°35’W,  8 February 1991,  M. M. Arboet al. 4617( CTES, US);  ibidem,  11 km NEde Cardeal Mota, camino a Conceição do Mato Dentro, 19°20’S– 43°35’W,  8 February 1991,  M. M. Arboet al. 4679( CTES, US);  ibidem, Santana do Riacho, próximo do córrego do Palácio,  16 February 1995,  H. C. de Sousa69( HUFU, OUPR);  ibidem, Santana do Riacho, rodovia Belo Horizonte-Conceição do Mato Dentro, ca. 4 kmapós o Córrego Chapéu de Sol,  12 January 1996,  V. C. Souzaet al. 10182( ESA, HUFU, UPCB);  ibidem, Jaboticatubas, entre km 112 e 113 na estrada para Conceição do Mato Dentro, 19°10’S, 43°30’W,  31 May 1998,  F. Almedaet al. 7758( HUFU);  ibidem, Rodovia Cardeal Mota-Conceição do Mato Dentro, km 110, 19º17’21”S, 43º34’14”W,  1,250 melev.,  30 June 2015,  R. Romeroet al. 8614( HUFU).   FIGURE 1.  Microlicia candolleana. A.Branch. B.Leaf abaxial surface showing indumentum of spherical glands. C.Floral bud. D.Flower branch. E.Petal with rounded apex. F.Petal with acute apex. G–J.Lateral views of the stamens showing variations in the ventral appendage. G.Small stamen with retuse appendage. H.Large stamen with truncate appendage. I.Small stamen with bilobed appendage. J.Large stamen with bilobed appendage. K.Gynoecium. L.Capsule covered by the hypanthium that peels off at maturity (A–E, H, and K from N.M. Castro 428; F from H.S. Irwin et al. 19983; I from A.A.A. Barbosa s.n.(HUFU 2238); J from W.R. Anderson et al. 36236; L from M.M. Arbo et al. 4180).   FIGURE 2. A–C.  Microlicia candolleana( R. Romero et al. 8614). A.Habitat next to the highway MG 010, Cardeal Mota to Conceição do Mato Dentro. B.Vegetative branch showing sessile and ascending leaves. C.Mature flower without petals and stamens. (Photos: R. Romero).  Conservation status:—Based on georeferenced data from cited collections, the area of occupancy was calculated using GeoCAT ( Bachman et al.2011). Due to the restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy (AOO= 12 km²),  M. candolleanashould be considered endangered EN B1b(iii)+2b(iii) according to the IUCN Categories and Criteria (2012). Most collections of  M. candolleanawere made in areas of rocky fields from Serra do Cipó next to the highway MG 010. Only one collection was made within the confines of the National Park of Serra do Cipó, a natural reserve maintained by federal government. At least inside this conservation unit, the species is protected since the region has suffered the environmental impacts of tourism and the growing iron extraction ( Gontijo 2003).   Etymology:—The specific epithet was chosen to honor Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1771–1841), the Swiss botanist that authored the first seven volumes of  Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis, a monumental work of 17 volumes which deals with all known seed plants including taxonomy and biogeography.   Discussion:—  Microlicia candolleanaR. Romero & Versianeis morphologically similar to  M. amplexicaulis Cogniaux (1883: 82)and  M. obtusifoliaCogn. exR. Romero (2003: 116), which are also endemic to Espinhaço range in Minas Gerais state. The latter two are subshrubs occurring exclusively in rocky fields from Diamantina Plateau. The three species have an indumentum of spherical, golden glands on the branches, leaf blade, and pedicels. Recent studies have revealed that these glands have a short stalk ( Romero et al.2015, 2016b).   Microlicia candolleanaand  M. amplexicaulishave sessile leaves, oval-lanceolate blade with indumentum of spherical, golden glands, visible nerves on both surfaces, pedicellate flowers with pink petals and dimorphic stamens with tetrasporangiate and bicolorous anthers. However,  M. amplexicaulisdiffers in having flowers with a longer pedicel, hypanthium strongly striated and triangular sepals ( Cogniaux 1883) ( Table 1).   TABLE 1. Comparative features between  M. amplexicaulis,  M. obtusifolia ,and  M. candolleana.      M. amplexicaulis   M. obtusifolia   M. candolleana  Lateral veins Visible Invisible Visible  Leaf margin Not hyaline Hyaline Not hyaline  Petiole (mm) Absent Absent or up to 0.5 Absent  Pedicel (mm) 2.5–6 Absent or 0.5–0.8 0.5–1  Hypanthium and sepals indumentum Spherical, golden glands Spherical long-stalked glandular trichomes Spherical, golden glands  Sepals shape Triangular Subulate Subulate  Sepals length (mm) 2–3.5 3.5–5.5 3–7  Distribution Diamantina Plateau Diamantina Plateau Serra do Cipó   FIGURE 3. Distribution of  Microlicia candolleana(red circle).   Microlicia candolleanaalso resembles  M. obtusifoliasince they have oval-lanceolate leaves, branches, both surfaces of the leaves, and pedicels with indumentum of spherical, golden glands, flowers with pink petals, and subulate sepals. The stamens are also dimorphic with tetrasporangiate and bicolorous anthers. However, the indumentum of spherical long-stalked glandular trichomes on the hypanthium apex and sepals easily distinguishes  M. obtusifoliafrom  M. candolleana(see Romero 2003). 1995-02-23 N, M, HUFU, BHCB, K, P, RB, UEC Brazil Lagoa Santa-Conceicao do Mato Dentro Serra do Cipo 1 276 2 Minas Gerais holotype 1934-01-13 H, L, BHCB, HUFU, UEC Mello Barreto Brazil Santa Luzia Serra do Cipo 1 276 1 Minas Gerais [772,1319,1130,1157] 1951-01-15 A Macedo United States of America US 1 276 1 1957-08-18 M Magalhaes United States of America US 1 276 1 [611,1354,1166,1193] 1958-12 A, P Duarte United States of America Chapeu de Sol 1 276 1 1959-12-20 B, C, K, A, NY Maguire United States of America 1219 Chapeu de Sol 1 276 1 [356,1037,1238,1265] 1963-02-14 A, P, NY Duarte United States of America 1 276 1 1964-03-16 E Pereira United States of America US 1 276 1 1968-02-14 N, H, S, MO, NY, UB Irwin United States of America 1200 145 km N of Belo Horizonte 1 276 1 1968-02-15 N, H, S, NY, UB Irwin United States of America 1300 Km 1 276 1 1972-01-16 L, B, E, S Smith & Ayensu United States of America Almeida 1 276 1 [288,1228,1382,1409] 1972-01-17 G, MBM Hastchbach United States of America Jaboticatubas Ibidem 1 276 1 1972-01-17 G, MBM Hastchbach United States of America Ibidem 1 276 1 1972-02-18 W, R, NY, UB Anderson United States of America 1125 US 1 276 1 [247,1207,1454,1481] 1974-10-24 G, MBM Hastchbach United States of America Santana do Riacho 1 276 1 1980-01-30 R, M, F, MO, UB King & Almeda United States of America 1006 Chapeu de Sol 1 276 1 1981-01-09 N, M Castro United States of America 1 276 HUFU 266 1 1981-01-15 N, R, M, L, E, MO, UB King & Bishop United States of America 914 4 - 5 km N of Chapeu de Sol 1 276 1 1989-01-16 S Renner United States of America 1200 Hotel Chapeu de Palha 1 276 1 1989-06-08 A Barbosa United States of America Estrada Lagoa Santa-Conceicao do Mato Dentro Santana do Riacho 1 276 HUFU 2238 1 1990-05-15 NE, M, CTES, SPF Arbo United States of America -19.333334 Conceicao do Mato Dentro 1272 -43.583332 1 276 1 1991-02-08 NE, M, CTES Arbo United States of America -19.333334 Conceicao do Mato Dentro 1272 -43.583332 1 276 1 1991-02-08 NE, M, CTES Arbo United States of America -19.333334 Conceicao do Mato Dentro 1272 -43.583332 1 276 1 1995-02-16 H, C, HUFU, OUPR de Sousa United States of America Palacio Santana do Riacho 1 276 1 1996-01-12 V, C, ESA, HUFU, UPCB Souza United States of America Santana do Riacho Corrego Chapeu de Sol Belo Horizonte-Conceicao do Mato Dentro 1 276 1 1998-05-31 F, HUFU Almeda United States of America -19.166666 Conceicao do Mato Dentro 1273 -43.5 Jaboticatubas 1 276 1 2015-06-30 R, HUFU Romero United States of America 1250 -19.289165 Rodovia Cardeal Mota-Conceicao do Mato Dentro 21 -43.570553 1 276 1