Wednesday, September 27, 2023

[Botany • 2019] Microlicia longirostrata (Melastomataceae: Microlicieae) • A New Species from Goiás in central Brazil


 Microlicia longirostrata Romero, Fontelas & Versiane,

in Romero, Fontelas, Versiane et De-Paula, 2019. 
Photos: R. Romero

Microlicia longirostrata (Melastomataceae), a new species from Goiás, is described and illustrated, and a discussion on leaf anatomy is also provided. The new species resembles M. consimilis and M. psammophila, but differs from them in having an indumentum with both short-stalked, spherical, glandular trichomes and long-stalked, glandular emergences, polysporangiate anthers and antesepalous stamens with a very long beak (2‐2.5 mm long), and annular collenchyma on the adaxial region of the midrib.

Keywords: Endemism; Microlicieae; Niquelândia; leaf anatomy; savanna


 Microlicia longirostrata Romero, Fontelas & Versiane.
A. Flowering branch. B. Leaf abaxial surface, with detail of the apex. C. Flower bud. D. Flower. E. Hypanthium and sepals. F. Petal. G. Small stamen (antepetalous). H. Large stamen (antesepalous). I. Gynoecium. J. Capsule. K. Seed.
(A-J: Fontela et al. 142).

 Microlicia longirostrata from Goiás.
 A. Habitat. B. Habit. C. Detail of the branches and leaves. D. Flower bud.
(Photos: R. Romero).

Microlicia longirostrata R.Romero, Fontelas & Versiane, sp.nov.

Etymology—The specific epithet refers to the long length (2–2.5 mm long) of the rostrum on the larger (antesepalous) stamens. 


Rosana Romero, Jean Corrêa Fontelas, Ana Flávia Alves Versiane and Orlando Cavalari De-Paula. 2019. Microlicia longirostrata, A New Species of Melastomataceae from Goiás in central Brazil.  Systematic Botany. 44(2); 349-354. DOI: 10.1600/036364419X15562052252180