Monday, July 16, 2018

[Botany • 2018] Hippeastrum lunaris & H. mauroi • Two New Critically Endangered Species of Hippeastrum (Amaryllidaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado


Hippeastrum lunaris Campos-Rocha & Meerow

in Campos-Rocha, Meerow & Dutilh, 2018. 
Abstract
Monographic work on the genus Hippeastrum in Brazil has revealed two new species endemic to the Cerrado biome, here described and illustrated. Hippeastrum lunaris is a species restricted to the region of Chapada dos Veadeiros; H. mauroi is so far found only in Chapada dos Guimarães. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and taxonomic comments on the conservation status of these species are provided, in addition to comparisons with morphologically similar species. An identification key to the species of Hippeastrum occurring in the Brazilian Cerrado is presented, accompanied by photographs of these species in their natural habitats.

Keywords: Endemism, Hippeastreae, taxonomy, threatened species, Monocots




Hippeastrum lunaris Campos-Rocha & Meerow sp. nov. 
 Hippeastrum lunaris is similar to H. morelianum Lemaire (1845: 37) and can be separated readily by underground bulb (vs. exposed) and the paraperigone of free and loose fibrae (vs. fimbrae partially connate). It appears related to H. leucobasis (Ravenna 1978: 90) Dutilh in Meerow et al. (1997: 18) but differs by the staminal filaments shorter than the perigone and its trifid stigma (vs. filaments exceeding the perigone and a capitate stigma in H. leucobasis). 

Type:— BRAZIL. Goiás: Colinas do Sul, campo sujo com mata inundável adjacente, área a ser inundada, 18 December 1996, L.B. Bianchetti 1502 (holotype CEN [photo!]; isotype UB!; UEC!).


Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the Vale da Lua, to where the species is confined. The area is so named because of its rock formations along the banks of the ribeirão São Miguel, considered similar to lunar craters

FIGURE 2. Hippeastrum lunaris.
 A, B. Flowering plants in habitat. C. Details of leaves and inflorescence. D. Detail of flower.
Photos A: J. Costa. B–D: H. Moreira.

    


FIGURE 5. Hippeastrum mauroi.
 A. Plants flowering ex situ. B. Flower, lateral view. C. Flower, frontal view. A: A. Campos-Rocha & G. Bellozi 1215.
Photos A: A. Campos-Rocha. B, C: M. Peixoto.

Hippeastrum mauroi Campos-Rocha & Dutilh, sp. nov. 

Hippeastrum mauroi is similar to H. puniceum and H. reginae (Linnaeus 1759: 977) Herbert (1821: 31) but can be distinguished from both by its uniflorous inflorescence (vs. 2–4, except rarely one in H. puniceum), different color pattern at the base of the tepals, the paraperigone devoid of fimbrae (vs. fimbrae present), and the style up to 1/2 of the perigone length (vs. 2/3 or more).

 Type:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Chapada dos Guimarães, área de Cerrado ralo próxima ao Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães; florescimento em cultivo no Jardim Botânico Plantarum, 21 August 2013, A. Campos-Rocha & G. Bellozi 1215 (holotype UEC!).

Etymology:— The specific epithet is in honor of our friend Mauro Peixoto, who collected and introduced us to this and so many other plants new to science. Mauro has a unique knowledge about Brazilian native plants, a result of decades of study and observation in the field, having collaborated actively with various scientists over the years.


 Antonio Campos-Rocha, Alan William Meerow and Julie Henriette Antoinette Dutilh. 2018. Two New Critically Endangered Species of Hippeastrum (Amaryllidaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado. Phytotaxa. 360(2); 91–102.  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.360.2.1