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| Paepalanthus magistrae Sano, F.N. Costa, Trovó & Echtern., in Sano, Costa, Trovó et Echternacht, 2015. |
ABSTRACT
We describe and illustrate Paepalanthus magistrae, a remarkable new species of Eriocaulaceae from Northeastern Brazil. The species is placed into Paepalanthus subsect. Dichocladus by the presence of trimerous flower, elongated dichotomous branched stem, and small rigid leaves. Within the section it may be easily distinguished by its leaves with glabrescent adaxial surface and lanose abaxial surface. As the species is narrowly distributed and known from a few populations, it is considered endangered.
Key words: Caatinga; Paepalanthoideae; Serra das Confusões National Park; taxonomy
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| Paepalanthus magistrae – a. branch detail; b. leaf abaxial surface; c. leaf adaxial surface; d. involucral bract abaxial surface; e. floral bract abaxial surface; f. pistillate flower; g. gynoecium; h. staminate flower; i. staminate flower with sepals removed and opened corolla (Drawings from the holotype by Klei Sousa). |
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Paepalanthus magistrae – a. habit; b. habit detail. Scale bars – a. 2.5cm; b. 1cm. (photos from CNCFlora) |
Paepalanthus magistrae Sano, F.N. Costa, Trovó & Echtern. sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Paepalanthus magistrae differs from all the other species of P. subsect. Dichocladus by its leaves with glabrescent adaxial surface and lanose abaxial surface. It is morphologically differentiated from Paepalanthus bonsai Trovó & Sano, the most closely related species, also by its leaves with round apex, spathe tip acute, longer scapes, spherical capitula, and involucral bracts completely glabrous.
Etymology: The epithet magistrae - belonging to the master - is a tribute to Prof. Ana Maria Giulietti Harley, who has guided three generations of specialists in Eriocaulaceae. As in this species, she has her roots in the Caatinga. To her we offer our gratitude and our acknowledgement.
Habitat, Distribution, and Conservation: Paepalanthus magistrae is known from a few populations growing on rock crevices in mountains of Serra das Confusões, Piauí (Fig. 1). The species occurs within the Capivara National Park and is considered endangered according to criteria B1a and B2a of IUCN (2011). Additional populations may be found in the vicinities, as the area is poorly sampled.
Paulo Takeo Sano, Fabiane Nepomuceno Costa, Marcelo Trovó and Lívia Echternacht. 2015. Paepalanthus magistrae (Eriocaulaceae), A remarkable New Species in honor of Ana Maria Giulietti-Harley. Rodriguésia. 66(2);. DOI: 10.1590/2175-7860201566202