Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Richard) Vahl (1804: 208)

Cardoso, Pedro Henrique, Valério, Vanessa Imaculada Dos Reis, Neto, Luiz Menini & Salimena, Fátima Regina Gonçalves, 2021, Verbenaceae in Espírito Santo, Brazil: richness, patterns of geographic distribution and conservation, Phytotaxa 484 (1), pp. 1-43 : 30-31

10.2. Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Richard) Vahl (1804: 208) . (Figs. 3B, 7E)

Herbs 0.3‒1.2 m high, branches tetragonal, not winged, pubescent in both opposite faces, glabrescent in the other two. Leaves opposite, petiole 0.4‒1.4 cm long, blade 2.6‒8.1 × 1.3‒4 cm, chartaceous, ovate or oblong, apex acute, base attenuate, decurrent, nectaries near the base, margin entire near the base, crenate-serrate toward the apex, ciliate, adaxial surface puberulous to pubescent, abaxial surface pubescent. Inflorescences 9‒30 cm long, lax; bracts 3‒5 mm long, lanceolate, abaxial surface glabrescent, margin ciliate; calyx 3‒5.6 mm long, immersed in the depressions of the rachis, 4-toothed, 1 sinus adaxial, externally pubescent; corolla 5‒7.5 mm long, white or lilac. Fruit 3‒3.5 mm long, surrounded by the persistent calyx.

Distribution and habitat:— Stachytarpheta cayennesis is widely distributed throughout the North America and South America, and is found in all the Brazilian regions, being considered a ruderal species ( Lorenzi 1991, Aktins 2005, Cardoso & Salimena 2020c). In Espírito Santo, it was found in restinga, inselberg, and dense rainforest, often in disturbed areas. This species occurs in the following SPAs of this state: Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Parque Estadual de Mata das Flores, Reserva Natural da Vale, and Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi.

Phenology:— Collected with flowers and fruits along all the year.

Preliminary conservation assessment: —This is a ruderal species, presents wide distribution ( Lorenzi 1991, Aktins 2005), and was recorded inside PAs in South America. Considered “Least Concern” (LC) ( IUCN 2019).

Selected material:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Alfredo Chaves, 7 February 1999, fl., B. L . Stannard et al. 1001 ( K, SPF); Anchieta , 18 November 1987, fr., J. M. L . Gomes 271 ( CESJ, VIES); Alegre , 28 January 2009, fl. and fr., V. C . Manhães et al. 203 ( MBML); Barra de São Francisco , 21 November 2000, fl., L . Kollmann et al. 3283 ( CESJ, MBML); Castelo, Parque Estadual de Mata das Flores , 17 March 2014, fl., T. T . Carrijo et al. 2055 ( VIES); Conceição da Barra , 10 June 1992, fl. and fr., O. J . Pereira 3520 ( VIES); Divino de São Lourenço, Parque Nacional do Caparaó , 2007, fl., T . Chimalli s.n. ( CESJ 65364 , VIES 27816 ); Guarapari, 1 December 2013, fr., A. C. S. Dal col & J . Rodrigues Filho 219 ( CESJ, VIES); Linhares, Reserva Natural da Vale , 26 April 2011, fl. and fr., D. F . Lima et al. 155 ( CESJ, ESA); Mimoso do Sul , 20 April 2010, D. R . Couto 1580 ( VIES); Nova Venécia , 25 March 2010, fl., A. M . Assis et al. 2434 ( CESJ, MBML); Santa Leopoldina , 13 April 2008, fl. and fr., M . Simonelli et al. 1517 ( MBML); Santa Maria de Jetibá , 8 November 2008, fl., T. S . Lorencini et al. 93 ( CESJ, VIES); Santa Teresa, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi , 27 November 2001, fl., L . Kollmann & E . Bausen 5032 ( CESJ, MBML); São Mateus , 25 August 1996, fr., M. C. F . Jesus 72 ( CESJ, VIES); Vila Velha , 1 March 2012, fr., P. H . D. Barros et al. 81 ( CESJ, VIES); Viana , 28 June 2010, fl., P. T . Neves 41 ( CESJ, MBML), Vitória , 17 February 1981, fr., T. B. J . Pires s.n. ( CESJ 27022 ) .

Notes:— Stachytarpheta cayennensis is characterized by the branches pubescent in two opposite faces and glabrescent in the other two; leaf blade with nectaries near the base, pubescent abaxial surface; 4-toothed calyx with a long adaxial sinus, externally pubescent and white or lilac corolla, shorter than 1 cm. It is similar to S. polyura , a species not found in Espírito Santo, and according Atkins (2005) can be differentiated by the presence of 4-toothed calyx with a long adaxial sinus (vs. 5-toothed calyx and adaxial sinus absent or small in S. polyura ). Stachytarpheta cayennesis also is similar to S. restingensis , but this species present glabrous to puberulous branches; glabrous calyx, and corolla longer than 1 cm.

Illustrations in Cardoso et al. (2018b)