Muellera fernandesii M.J.Silva & A.M.G.Azevedo, 2011

Silva, Marcos José Da & Tozzi, Ana Maria Goulart De Azevedo, 2011, Three new endemic species of Muellera (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae) from Brazil, Phytotaxa 29, pp. 41-50 : 42-44

Muellera fernandesii M.J.Silva & A.M.G.Azevedo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Species Muellera montanae proxima , sed petiolis rachidisque adaxialiter forte subquadrangulatis canaliculatisque, floribus robuste pedicellatis, alis oblongo-falcatis, fructis oblongis opacisque et in zona seminalis subapplanatis recedit.

Type: — BRAZIL. Ceará: Alcântaras, localidade de Bom Jesus, Serra da Meruoca , 15 December 1990 , Fernandes s.n. ( holotype UEC! [ UEC144832 ], isotype EAC! [ EAC 16784])

Small tree c. 6 m; bark grey; mature branches cylindrical, grayish, glabrous; young branches ferrugineous-tomentose, greyish to reddish and with rounded, diminute, cream-coloured lenticels; stipules caducous. Leaves 7-foliolate; pulvinus 2.9–3.0 mm long, ferrugineous-tomentose; petiole 1.1–3.2 cm long, rachis 2.5–3.2 cm long, both conspicuously subquadrangular and canaliculated above, ferrugineoustomentose; petiolule 3–4 mm long, rugose transversally. Leaflets 3.1–6.5 cm long, 1.7–3.3 cm wide, opposite, predominantly elliptical, rare ovate-elliptic or elliptic-obovate, base cuneate, apex acute to retuse, yellowishestrigillose on both surface, subchartaceous; discolorous, venation brochidodromous, secondary veins prominent on lower surface, each forming an angle of 35–45 o with the midvein, yellowish and outstanding on both surface; tertiary veins reticulate. Pseudoracemes axillary, solitary, pauciflorous, congested and shorter than leaves, peduncle 1.3–1.5 cm long; rachis 4.3–7.3 cm long., both angulate, ferrugineous-tomentose; primary bracts (at base of inflorescence) 0.9–1.0 mm long, 0.8–0.9 mm wide, broadly ovate, rigid, yellowishtomentose; secondary bracts (bract at the base of pedicel) 1.0 × 1.1 mm long, ovate, apex obtuse, yellowishtomentose, persistent; tertiary bracts and bracteoles not seen; bracts primary and secondary with secretory cavities. Flowers whitish, calyx and corolla without secretory cavities; pedicel 5–6 mm long, cylindrical, robust, ferrugineous-tomentose; calyx 3.8–3.9 mm long, 4.3–4.4 mm wide, campanulate, shortly ferrugineous-tomentose externally, base cuneate; vexillary lobe bifid, the 3 carenal lobes, triangular, acute at the apex; standard 7.8–9.0 long, 8.7–8.9 mm wide, suborbicular, apex emarginate, base cuneate, glabrous internally and shortly sericeous on the central-apical region of the dorsal face, claw 3.9–4.0 mm long; wings 6.9–7.0 long, 3.8–4.0 mm wide, oblong, apex obtuse, base truncate on the vexillary margin, sericeous on the central-apical region of the dorsal face, claw 3.1–3.2 mm long.; keels petals 5.9–6 long, 4–4.9 mm wide, falcate, umbonate, apex obtuse, base truncate on the vexillary margin, claw 4.8–5.0 mm long; staminal tube 7.0– 7.1 mm long. 1.7–1.8 mm wide, submembranaceous, glabrous, slightly bicallose basally; anthers ovoid, glabrous; ovary 7–8 mm long, linear, sericeous, style conspicuously curved, sericeous, stipe ca. 2 mm long; ovules 6, reniform. Fruit 5.2–10.6 cm long, 1.2–1.5 cm wide, 2–4 seeded, indehiscent, oblong to lanceolate without constrictions between the seeds, base cuneate, apex obtuse, chartaceous, vexillary margin nerviform, yellowish to ferrugineous-tomentose, stipe 3–5 mm long. Immature seeds 4.9–5.0 mm long, 2.3–2.8 mm wide, reniform, light brown to dark, smooth, the hilum subterminal, pronounced.

Distribution and ecology: —This species is probably endemic to the northeastern region of Brazil, found in the state of Ceará, where it grows in mountain areas (e.g. Serra da Meruoca), covered by “Brejo” forest, in the vicinity of the Acarau and Coreau rivers basins.

Etymology: —The epithet honors Brazilian botanist Afrânio Gomes Fernandes, of the Universidade Federal do Ceará, collector of the type specimen, and for his contributions to the knowledge of Brazilian legumes.

Phenology: —Fruiting from December to January.

Relationships and characterization: —This species is morphologically similar to Muellera montana (A.M.G.Azevedo ex M.J.Silva & A.M.G.Azevedo) M.J.Silva & A.M.G.Azevedo , with which it shares the aspect of the leaflets, the short-campanulate calyx, and the delicate flowers with petals without secretory cavities. However, M. fernandesii can be recognized by a set of characteristics that includes leaves with petioles and rachises strongly subquadrangular and canaliculate above, flowers with robust pedicels, the carenal lobes of the calyx triangular, oblong-falcate wings, and oblong, compressed fruits, that are opaque in the seminal region. In Muellera montana the leaves have petioles and rachises subcylindrical and discreetly canaliculate above, the flowers have a slender pedicel, the carenal lobes of the calyx are narrowly triangular, the wings are elliptic, and the fruits are broadly elliptic to oblong-elliptic with a turgid seminal region.

Conservation status: — Muellera fernandesii has been evaluated as VU D2 (Vulnerable with a limited distribution; IUCN 2001), and the individuals were not abundant where collected.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— BRAZIL. Ceará: Mun. Alcântaras, localidade de Bom Jesus, Serra da Meruoca, 12 January 1991, Fernades s.n ([ EAC 16783, UEC144831 ]); Idem, localidade de Algodões, 10 December 1976, Fernandes s.n ([ EAC 3062 , UEC 144833 ]) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Muellera fernandesii. A. Fruiting branch. B. Leaflet. C. Calyx opened out. D. Standard. E. Wings. F. Keel petals. G. Staminal tube. H. Open staminal tube. I. Anthers (dorsal and ventral views). J. Gynoecium. K. Fruit. L. Seed (A–K. A. Fernandes 3062; L. A. Fernandes 16783)