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| Syagrus aristeae B.F.Sant’Anna-Santos, in Sant'Anna-Santos, Carvalho et Soffiatti, 2023. |
Abstract
The Syagrus glaucescens species complex occurs in the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. In addition to Syagrus duartei Glassman, S. glaucescens Glaz. ex Becc. and S. evansiana Noblick, a fourth undescribed species was previously identified by its morphology, leaf anatomy and geographical isolation. Here we formally describe this species as new to science and compare it with Syagrus evansiana, its closely related species. We also provide a distribution map, illustrations, photographs, taxonomic notes, and an IUCN conservation status assessment of Endangered.
Keywords: Arecaceae, Palmae, Serra do Cabral State Park, Syagrus aristeae, Syagrus evansiana, Syagrus glaucescens complex
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| Syagrus aristeae B.F.Sant’Anna-Santos, sp. nov. A, Solitary habit; B, asymmetrical tip; C, unbranched inflorescence; D, branched inflorescence. E–J, staminate flower: E, staminate flower, opened; F, detail of calyx; G and H, petals; I, dorsal view of stamens; J, ventral view of stamens and pistillode. K–S, pistillate flower: K, pistillate flower (front view); L–N, sepals; O–Q, petals; R, pistil; S, staminodal ring. T, Stigma; U, three endocarp pores; V, four endocarp pores. Drawn from the holotype, Sant’Anna-Santos 388 (DIAM), by G. Surlo. |
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| Syagrus aristeae B.F.Sant’Anna-Santos, sp. nov. A, Landscape photograph of the type locality in the Serra do Cabral State Park: individuals (white rectangles) growing in the rocky outcrops (Ro); B, specimen (black arrow) growing in the rocky outcrop (Ro); C, specimen (black arrow) growing on the sandy soils near rocky outcrops (Ro); D, pinnae irregularly arranged in the leaf rachis; E, dark-green adaxial (Ad) and glaucous abaxial (Ab) surfaces of the pinnae; F, the asymmetrical tip (white arrow); G, the long tapering tip (white arrow); H, abaxial side of the leaf rachis with white tomentum (To); I, leaf sheath with fibrous margins; J, pinnae consumed (white arrow) by locusts: abaxial surface (Ab); H, pinnae consumed (white arrow) by locusts: adaxial surface (Ad). Photographs: B. F. Sant’Anna-Santos. |
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| Syagrus aristeae B.F.Sant’Anna-Santos, sp. nov. A, Habitat photograph of the typelocality in the Serra do Cabral State Park: individual flowering (white circle); B, branched inflorescence; C, detail of branched inflorescence: floral visitor on the peduncular bract (PB); D, rachillae with pre-anthesis flowers stored in ethyl alcohol: triads (a central pistillate flower flanked by two staminate flowers) on the lower portion of the rachilla (black line) and isolated staminate flower occupying the upper half of the rachilla (blue line); E, deeply grooved peduncular bract (PB); F, prophyll (Pr); G, unbranched inflorescence; H, fruits (Fr): epicarp covered with crackled plates. Photographs: B. F. Sant’Anna-Santos. |
Syagrus aristeae B.F.Sant’Anna-Santos, sp. nov.
Similar to Syagrus evansiana Noblick but differs by its size (100–165 cm vs 60–100 cm tall); abaxial side of petiole and rachis with tomentum and leaf rachis 94–145 cm long (vs glabrous and 21–92 cm long); peduncular bract glabrous (vs with indument); inflorescence axis 18–29.5 cm long (vs 4.5–17 cm long); the rachillae of the apex and base of the inflorescence being almost the same size (vs different sizes); staminate flowers 10–15.9 mm long and stamens 5.9–9 mm long (vs flowers 8–10 mm long and stamens 3.5–4 mm long); pistillate flowers of the apex and base of the inflorescence being almost the same size (vs different sizes); pistil 5.8–7.7 cm long and glabrous (vs 10–11 cm long with lepidote indument from base to nearly the base of the stigmas); stigmas 3 (vs 3–5), epicarp covered with crackled plates (vs with a thick brown indument).
Etymology. Named in honor of Professor Aristea Alves Azevedo, one of the most prominent Brazilian botanists and the first woman hired as a professor by the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) in the 1970s. Recently, she received the Peter Henry Rolfs Medal of Merit in teaching, one of the UFV’s highest honours. She mentored many botanists in plant anatomy, an inarguable source for the taxonomy of Arecaceae. Moreover, her former mentees carry out relevant research in plant conservation in Brazil, including for several botanical families of the campos rupestres of Minas Gerais.
B.F. Sant'Anna-Santos, L.F.L. Carvalho and P. Soffiatti. 2023. A New rupicolous Palm from the Campos Rupestres, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Edinburgh Journal of Botany. (80); DOI: 10.24823/ejb.2023.1974
