Sunday, January 31, 2021

[Botany • 2015] Hymenaea fariana (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) • A New Species of Hymenaea with A Revised Identification Key to the Genus in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest


 Hymenaea fariana R.D.Ribeiro, D.B.O.S.Cardoso & H.C.Lima 

in Ribeiro, Cardoso & Lima, 2015. 

Abstract
New species of the caesalpinioid legume genus Hymenaea (Detarieae s. str. clade) have not been discovered in the last 40 yr. This study describes and illustrates the striking new species Hymenaea fariana from the few known collections made in the Atlantic Forest biome of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. The new species has close morphological affinities to H. altissima, from which it is readily distinguished by the mainly shrubby to small tree habit and lanceolate to oblanceolate petals with a well-differentiated petal claw. An updated identification key to the Atlantic Forest species of Hymenaea is also provided.

Keywords:— Caesalpinioideae, Detarieae, Fabaceae, morphology, restinga costal forest, taxonomy.

Fig. 1. Hymenaea fariana R.D.Ribeiro, D.B.O.S.Cardoso & H.C.Lima.
A. Flowering branch. B. Bracteoles (adaxial and abaxial views). C. Floral bud. D. Petal when in floral bud. E. Flower. F. Petal from a mature flower. G. Gynoecium. H. Fruit [All from the holotype, R. D. Ribeiro et al. 825 (RB)].

Fig. 2. A. The more common shrubby habit of the new species  Hymenaea fariana. B-C. Inflorescences. D. Close-up of the flowers [All from the holotype, R. D. Ribeiro et al. 825 (RB)].
All photographs by José Eduardo Meireles.


Hymenaea fariana R. D. Ribeiro, D. B. O. S. Cardoso & H. C. Lima, sp. nov.

Etymology—The specific epithet of the new species honours Sergio Miana de Faria, a Brazilian scientist at Embrapa Agrobiologia in Serope´dica, Rio de Janeiro, who has greatly contributed to the study of nitrogen fixation in nodulating legumes.


Robson Daumas Ribeiro, Domingos Benício Oliveira Silva Cardoso and Haroldo Cavalcante de Lima. 2015. A New Species of Hymenaea (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) with A Revised Identification Key to the Genus in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Systematic Botany, 40(1);151-156. DOI: 10.1600/036364415X686440