Phyllanthus subsect. Clausseniani

Mendes, Jone Clebson Ribeiro, Braga, João Marcelo Alvarenga, Fraga, Claudio Nicoletti de & Athiê-Souza, Sarah Maria, 2024, Phyllanthus novofriburgensis and P. pedrosae, two new species of Phyllanthus subsect. Clausseniani (Phyllanthaceae) from Southeastern Brazil, European Journal of Taxonomy 935, pp. 293-306 : 301-302

Key to species of Phyllanthus subsect. Clausseniani known from Southeastern Brazil (including two species found in Northeastern Brazil)

1. Stem and branches with trichomes ................................................................................................... 2

– Stem and branches glabrous ............................................................................................................. 5

2. Branches hirsute ................................................................................................................................ 3

– Branches mucilaginous-hyaline ........................................................................................................ 4

3. Leaf blades ovate 5‒13 mm long; stamens 3 completely free .............................. P. arenicola Casar.

– Leaf blades elliptical to orbicular 15−30 mm long; stamens 2 completely united ............................. ......................................................................................................................... P. piranii G.L.Webster

4. Subshrub 50‒80 cm tall, erect; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate, apex attenuate, adaxial surface scabrous; staminate sepals largely elliptical; staminate disk obtriangular with glandular surface; anthers with vertical dehiscence; pistillate sepals obovate to broadly obovate; capsule smooth, pink to reddish or rarely light green ................................................................................. P. acutifolius Poir. ex Spreng.

– Herb 14–30 cm tall, erect; leaf blade elliptical, apex acute to acuminate, adaxial surface sparsely mucilaginous-hyaline; staminate sepals rhombic to widely obovate; staminate disk cuneiform with papillose surface; anthers with oblique dehiscence; pistillate sepals slightly unguiculate; capsule strigose, light green ........................................ P. lilliputianus J.C.R.Mendes, J.M.A.Braga & Fraga

5. Branches angular to finely angular-flat ............................................................................................. 6

– Branches cylindrical ......................................................................................................................... 7

6. Branches finely angular-flat; leaf blades 3‒10 mm long, broadly elliptic to orbicular, base rounded to truncate, apex rounded sometimes obtuse-mucronate, coriaceous; staminate pedicel and fruit pedicel ˂ 3 mm long. ........................................................................................ P. caparaoensis G.L.Wesbter

– Branches angular; leaf blade 11‒16 mm long, ovate to elliptical, base cuneate, apex mucronate, membranaceous; staminate pedicel and fruit pedicel ≥ 10 mm long .................. P. pedrosae sp. nov.

7. Staminate and pistillate flowers with 6 sepals .................................................................................. 8

– Staminate and pistillate flowers with 5 sepals ................................................................................ 10

8. Stamens 3, connate forming a column ........................................... P. fastigiatus Mart. ex Müll.Arg.

– Stamens 3, completely free ............................................................................................................... 9

9. Shrub 100‒150 cm tall; leaf blade broadly elliptical to orbicular; staminate disk 6-segmented, obtriangular with faveolate surface; pistillate disc patelliform with alveolate surface ...................... ........................................................................................................................ P. claussenii Müll.Arg.

– Subshrub 50‒80 cm tall; leaf blade ovate to lanceolate; staminate disc 6-segmented, obovate with verrucose surface; pistillate disc cupuliform with glabrous surface ................................................... ........................................................................................................... P. hypoleucus (Miq.) Müll.Arg.

10. Branches fractiflex (zigzag) .............................................................................................................11

– Branches sometimes erect or sinuose ............................................................................................. 12

11. Shrub 80‒100 cm tall; leaf blade 2.5‒5 × 3‒4.5 mm, orbicular to subovate; inflorescence unisexual; staminate sepals biseriate, orbicular; anthers with vertical dehiscence .............. P. retroflexus Brade

– Herb 30–50 cm tall; leaf blade 15–25 × 10–15 mm, largely elliptical to oval-elliptical; inflorescence bisexual; staminate sepals uniseriate, obovate; anthers with horizontal dehiscence ............................................................... P. sobralii J.C.R.Mendes, J.M.A.Braga & Fraga

12. Leaf blade elliptical-falcate or oblong-obovate .............................................................................. 13

– Leaf blade broadly elliptical, orbicular, lanceolate or ovate ........................................................... 14

13. Branching non-phyllanthoid; leaf blade elliptical-falcate, base oblique, apex obtuse to rounded; stipules triangular, evident; staminate disc with glandular surface; anthers with vertical dehiscence; pistillate flower pedicel 6‒8 mm long ................................................................ P. itatiaiensis Brade

– Branching phyllanthoid; leaf blade oblong-obovate, base cuneate, apex obtuse-mucronate; stipules narrowly triangular, not evident; staminate disc with smooth surface; anthers with horizontal dehiscence; pistillate flower pedicel 4‒5 mm long .................................. P. mocotensis G.L.Webster

14. Leaf blade broadly elliptical to orbicular; staminate disc verruculose ............................................... .............................................................................................................. P. subemarginatus Müll.Arg.

– Leaf blade lanceolate to ovate; staminate disc tuberculate or papillose ......................................... 15

15. Staminate disc tuberculate, with a pore in each tubercle..................................................................... .................................................................................... P. tuberculatus Marques-Torres & M.J. Silva

– Staminate disc slightly papillose .................................................................................................... 16

16. Subshrub to shrub, erect; branching phyllanthoid; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate 35‒85 × 9‒35 mm, base acute, apex acuminate to long-acuminate; stipules 4‒5 mm long, narrowly triangular; staminate pedicel 7–8 mm long; fruit pedicel 20‒25 mm long; seeds 1.8‒2 mm long ...................................... ........................................................................................................................... P. glaziovii Müll.Arg.

– Herb to subshrub, pendulous; branching non-phyllanthoid; leaf blade lanceolate, base obtuse, apex obtuse sometimes mucronate; stipules ca. 2 mm long, triangular; staminate pedicel 1.8–2 mm long; fruit pedicel 2‒2.3 mm long; seeds 1‒1.2 mm long. ............................. P. novofriburgensis sp. nov.