Peritassa formidolosa Lombardi, 2021

Lombardi, Julio Antonio, 2021, A new species of Peritassa (Celastraceae) from Espírito Santo, Brazil, Phytotaxa 491 (1), pp. 79-84 : 79-82

Peritassa formidolosa Lombardi sp. nov. ( Figures 1 & 2 )

Type— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Cariacica, Reserva Biológica Duas Bocas, trilha do Pau-oco , até o riacho chegando até a grota na calha do rio, 20°16’48.07”S, 40°31’39.63”W, 560–650 m, 24 Oct 2019, J. A . Lombardi , G. M . Marcusso & F. M . Arantes 10676 (holotype HRCB!, isotypes BHCB!, CVRD!, MBM!, RB!, SPF!) .

Diagnosis— Peritassa formidolosa i s distinguished from the other species of the genus by the combination of characteristics of inconspicuous connective (vs. conspicuous connective in P. bullata A.C. Smith (1940: 513) , P. campestris ( Cambessédes 1829: 111) A.C. Smith (1940: 514) , P. dulcis ( Bentham 1852: 9) Miers (1872: 403) , P. flaviflora A.C. Smith (1940: 507) , P. killipii A.C. Smith (1940: 516) , and P. laevigata (Hoffmannsegg ex Link 1820: 68) A.C. Smith (1940: 508)) ; anthers with transverse dehiscence (vs. longitudinal dehiscence in P. campestris , P. dulcis , P. flaviflora , P. killipii , P. laevigata , and P. peruviana ( Miers 1872: 411) A.C. Smith (1940: 519) ; or oblique dehiscence in P. bullata , P. calypsoides ( Cambessédes 1829: 107) A.C. Smith (1940: 522) , P. glabra (A.C. Smith 1940: 500) Lombardi (2004: 320) , P. hatschbachii Lombardi (in Lombardi & Temponi 1999: 222), P. huanucana ( Loesener 1905: 163) A.C. Smith (1940: 521) , P. longifolia Lombardi (2004: 317) , P. manaoara Lombardi (2007: 29) , P. mexiae A.C Smith (1940: 517) , P. myrsinoides (A.C. Smith 1940: 499) Lombardi (2010: 123) , P. nectandrifolia (A.C. Smith 1939: 241) Lombardi (2010: 123) , P. petiolata (A.C. Smith 1939: 242) Lombardi (2010: 123) , P. pruinosa ( Seemann 1853: 90) A.C. Smith (1940: 520) , and P. sadleri Lombardi (2004: 315)) ; and campanuliform flowers (vs. tubuliform flowers in P. dulcis and P. laevigata , or rotate flowers in P. glabra , P. longifolia , P. manaoara P. mexiae , P. myrsinoides , and P. sadleri ).

Description— Liana, glabrous, branches terete, lenticeled. Leaves opposite; stipules 0.5–0.7 × 0,7–0,9 mm, triangular, fimbriate, caducous; petioles (4.5–)6–7(–7.6) cm, canaliculate, glabrous; blades 5.8–8.8(–10.2) × 1.7–3.5 cm, elliptic, base cuneate, apex acuminate, margin entire, chartaceous, drying olive-green or yellowish on both sides, venation brochidodromous, veins prominent on both sides, secondary and tertiary veins prominulous on both sides. Inflorescence paniculate, (0.7–)1.2–1.4 × (0.4–) 1.4–2.4 cm, with 6–45 flowers, at leafless nodes, sometimes axillary, peduncle obsolete or less often 0.9–5.6 mm, branches alternate or opposite, terete, green, bracts 0.5–0.7 × 0.7– 0.5 mm, triangular, margin minutely fimbriate; pedicels 1.5–2.5 mm, terete, green. Flowers ca. 3.5 mm wide at anthesis, campanuliform; sepals 5, ca. 0.8 × 1 mm, triangular, green, ±carnose, margin minutely fimbriate; petals 5, ca. 1.8 × 1.5 mm, elliptic, yellowish green, ±carnose, initially erect, becoming deflected by half, margin minutely fimbriate; disc pentagonal, short-tubular, ca. 0.3 mm high, carnose, free from reproductive parts, margin minutely denticulate; stamens 3, 1– 1.5 mm, initially erect, becoming deflected by half, filaments flattened, connective inconspicuous, anthers 0.5 × 0.6 mm, yellow, ellipsoid, apiculate, basifixed, dehiscence extrorse by longitudinal slits; pistil 0.9 × 0.9 mm, ovary depressed, 3-locular, with 2 axillary ovules in each locule, style ca. 0.5 mm in late anthesis, central, terete, stigmas ca. 0.3 mm diam. after anthesis, minutely and inconspicuously 3-lobed, lobes acute, noticeable only in late anthesis, appressed in bud. Fruits and seeds not seen.

Phenology— It was recorded with flowers in October.

Distribution and habitat― Only one collection site of Peritassa formidolosa is known, within the protected area of the State Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, Espírito Santo, including ca. 2.910 ha. of preserved Atlantic Forest in the boundaries of the town of Cariacica ( Figure 3 ). It was found on the branches of a felled tree across a creek within the forest.

Conservation status— Peritassa formidolosa is here considered as Least Concern [LC] under the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2019). This species is only known from its type locality, but since the latter is inside a protected area there are no plausible threats.

Vernacular name— Not known yet.

Etymology— The specific epithet formidolosa (definition: frightening, fearsome, dreadful; WordSense.eu Online Dictionary 2020) refers to the dark times that humanity faces, through deception, environmental plunder, and disease, at the time, April-June 2020, when this text was written.

Taxonomic notes— Peritassa formidolosa is distinct from the other species of the genus that occur in the Southwestern Brazil due to the combination of the characteristics listed in the diagnosis. The combination of anthers with inconspicuous connective and longitudinal dehiscence is unique in the genus.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Peritassa formidolosa (J.A. Lombardi 10676). Image of the holotype. (Image by the author).

FIGURE 2. Peritassa formidolosa (A–B J.A. Lombardi 10676). A. Lateral view of flower, B. Adaxial view of stamen. (Drawings by the author).

FIGURE 3. Peritassa formidolosa. A. Geographical location of the State Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, within the boundaries of the town of Cariacica, Espírito Santo, Brazil. B. Delimitation of State Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, the red dot marks the collection site within the reserve. C. The Atlantic Forest in State Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, view from the dam reservoir.(A: prepared by Gabriel Mendes Marcusso; B: adapted from Google Earth Pro; C: photo by Gabriel Mendes Marcusso).