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| Passiflora natalensis G.L.Silva & Mezzonato, in Silva, Roque, Queiroz et Mezzonato-Pires. 2024. |
Abstract
A new species of Passifloraceae sensu stricto, Passiflora natalensis, from the Atlantic Forest of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, is described. It differs from P. cincinnata mainly by these five characteristics: i) the presence of two to three smooth and lustrous glands in the base of the petiole; ii) always 5-lobed leaves, with the presence of one or two pairs of horizontal slits in the leaf blade’s central lobe; iii) none, one or two pairs of horizontal slits in adjacent lobe, iv) absence of the operculum, a rare characteristic in Passiflora species and, v) a sparsely pubescent ovary. Commentaries concerning its morphological traits and similar species, geographic distribution, ecology, preliminary conservation status, and photos are provided.
Keywords: biodiversity; Conservation Units; Northeast Region; Passiflora; Restinga
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| Illustration of Passiflora natalensis sp. nov. A-D. Leaf variations, adaxial view: A. One horizontal pair of slits in the central lobe. B. Two horizontal pairs of slits in the central lobe. C. Two horizontal pairs of slits in the central lobe and one horizontal pair of slits in the adjacent lobe. D. One horizontal pair of slits in the central lobe and two horizontal slits in the adjacent lobe. E. Detail glands on the petiole. F. Flower. G. Longitudinal section of the flower. H. Fruit. I. Habit. Illustration by Rhudson Cruz. |
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| Passiflora natalensis sp. nov. A. Habit. B. Petiolar glands. C. Leaf blade, adaxial view with horizontal slits in central and adjacent lobe (white arrows). D. Bracts. E. Flower. F. Longitudinal section of the flower. G. Fruit. Photos by Silva, G.L. |
Passiflora natalensis G.L.Silva & Mezzonato, sp. nov.
Type: BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Norte: Natal, Ponta Negra, Rota do Sol, outside Barreira do Inferno, stuck in cashew tree branches, 48 m, 5º53’45.1” S, 35º10’38.9” W, 20 June 2023, fl, fr, G.L. Silva 313 (holotype: RN! [RN00007336]; isotypes: CESJ!, RB!).
The new species differs from P. cincinnata by the presence of two to three smooth glands (vs. two, crateriform); leaf blades always 5-lobed from young stages to maturity in the same plant (vs. (3)-5-lobed), always having a pair or two of horizontal slits in the central lobe (vs. absent). It also differs by the sometimes present pair or two of horizontal slits in the adjacent lobe (vs. absent); eight filament series of the corona (vs. 13-17), two outer series (vs. four), six inner series (vs. 9-13), the sparsely pubescent ovary (vs. glabrous) and the absence of the operculum (vs. filamentous operculum) (Table 1).
Etymology ‒ The specific epithet honors the city of Natal and the “Parque Estadual Dunas de Natal” Natal Dunes State Park, where this new species was seen for the first time. The park is the state’s first Conservation Unit, created in 1977 and recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve IDEMA, 2021).
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| Passiflora natalensis compared to its most similar species, P. cincinnata. A-B: Passiflora natalensis sp. nov. A. Flower. B. Longitudinal section of flower with the absence of the operculum (white arrows where normally operculum can be found in Passiflora species). C-D. P. cincinnata: C. Flower. D. Longitudinal flower section with filamentous operculum (white arrows). Photos by Silva, G.L. |
Gláucia Lidiane da Silva, Alan de Araújo Roque, Rubens Teixeira de Queiroz and Ana Carolina Mezzonato-Pires. 2024. Passiflora natalensis, A New Species of Passiflora (Passifloraceae sensu stricto) from the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. Acta Botanica Brasilica. 38; DOI: doi.org/10.1590/1677-941X-ABB-2023-0282
Researchgate.net/publication/387327238_Passiflora_natalensis_a_new_species_from_the_Atlantic_Forest_of_NE_Brazil