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| Nicotiana gandarela Augsten & Stehmann, in Augsten, Meyer, ... et Stehmann, 2022. Photos by J.R. Stehmann. |
Abstract
Nicotiana gandarela Augsten & Stehmann (Solanaceae), sp. nov., a small ’tobacco’ known only from one locality at Serra do Gandarela, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically characterized by its rosulate basal leaves, red corolla with a short tube not inflated at the apex, and the peculiar habitat, a shaded site under a rocky outcrop ledge along a forested stream. Phylogenetic analyses based on a combined dataset of nuclear (ITS) and plastid (ndhF, trnLF, and trnSG) DNA sequences revealed that the species belongs to the Nicotiana sect. Alatae and is sister to the clade with the remaining species in the section. A key for the identification of Brazilian species of the section is given. The unusual habitat, the small population size, and the intense pressure of mining activities in the surroundings made the species assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), needing conservation efforts to avoid its extinction.
Keywords: Endemism, IUCN, Minas Gerais, mining, molecular phylogeny
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| Nicotiana gandarela Augsten & Stehmann A peculiar habitat of the species, the shaded sites in the base of the shaded ledge B seedlings growing in the site C habit highlighting the rosulate leaves and the scapose inflorescence D, E flowers in lateral and frontal view F 2-valvate capsule with many seeds. G seed with sinuous anticlinal walls (Scanning Electron Microscopy) D–G were obtained from plants of the type population (Augsten and Stehmann 1078, BHCB). Photos by J.R. Stehmann. |
Nicotiana gandarela Augsten & Stehmann, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Nicotiana gandarela differs from all other species of the Nicotiana sect. Alatae by its short corolla tube (< 15 mm), vivid red corolla limb, and unusual shaded, cave-mouth habitat.
Etymology: The specific epithet “gandarela” is a noun in apposition and refers to Serra do Gandarela, the mountain range complex where this species is found.
Mariana Augsten, Pablo Burkowski Meyer, Loreta B. Freitas, João A. N. Batista and João Renato Stehmann. 2022. Nicotiana gandarela (Solanaceae), A New Species of ‘Tobacco’ highly Endangered from the Quadrilátero Ferrífero in Brazil. PhytoKeys. 190: 113-129. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.190.76111
