Sapium sceleratum Ridley (1890: 60)

Cordeiro, Wesley Patrício Freire De Sá, Melo, André Laurênio De, Athiê-Souza, Sarah Maria, Esser, Hans-Joachim & Sales, Margareth Ferreira De, 2018, Reinstatement of Sapium sceleratum (Euphorbiaceae), an endemic species from Northeast Brazil, and new circumscription of Sapium argutum, Phytotaxa 348 (1), pp. 23-31 : 24-26

1. Sapium sceleratum Ridley (1890: 60)

Type [lectotype, designated by Kruijt (1996: 36)]:— BRAZIL. Fernando de Noronha: above Portuguese Bay, 17 Sep 1887, Ridley, Lea & Ramage 110 (BM barcode BM947508 [digital image!], isolectotypes BM barcode BM947509 [digital image!], K barcode K600876 [digital image!], K barcode K600877 [digital image!], G, GH barcode GH48752 [digital image!]).

= Sapium sideratum Taubert ex Pax & K. Hoffmann (1912: 234) , nom. illeg. superfl.

= Sapium cicatricosum Pax & K. Hoffmann (1924: 203) , syn. nov.

Type (holotype):— BRAZIL. Bahia: “ Bahia, Lapa, am Rio S. Francisco”, Nov 1913, Lützelburg 740 (B destroyed, F-19536 [negative!], photo MO).

Shrub or tree, 1.5–6 (–10) m high, generally tortuous; branches glabrous, frequently dichotomous, in vivo branches cylindric, smooth, vinaceous to grayish-brown, slightly angular when dry, grayish-brown, often deep striated. Leaves spirally arranged, generally aggregated near terminal region of branches, internodes 4–6(–10) mm long; stipules 1.3– 1.8 × (1.4–) 1.6–2 mm, quite persistent, triangular, apex acute, margin fimbriolate; petiole 0.3–0.5 × 0.12–0.14 cm, in vivo swollen base, canaliculate, vinaceous; acropetiolar gland 0.8–1.5 × 0.6–0.8 mm, cylindrical, vinaceous; leaf blade chartaceous, rarely coriaceous, 6–11 × 1.5–2(–3) cm, lanceolate, sometimes elliptic, in vivo dark-green, glossy, dorsal and ventral side same color, in sicco olive-green, base rounded to obtuse, apex acute to acuminate, margin serrate, teeth 0.6–0.8 mm long, apex setaceous, hyaline in vivo, brown when dry, apical and basal side straight, 6–11 teeth per centimeter in the median margin, space between teeth in the median region 0.7–0.9 mm, frequently 7–12 teeth with an apical cylindrical gland, generally concentrated in the upper median region; secondary veins in 15–18 pairs, weakly brochidodromous, their arches 0.5–1.3 mm distant from the margin, starting at angles of 70–80°, intersecondary and tertiary veins generally inconspicuous. Thyrses spiciform, 5–6.5 × 0.11–0.13 cm, terminal, unisexual or bisexual; bract glands yellow-greenish in vivo, brown when dry. Staminate cymules 23–28, 6–9-flowered; bracts ca. 1.2 × 1–1.5 mm, broadly triangular, apex obtuse, margin fimbriolate; glands 0.8–1.7 × 0.6–1.5 mm, ellipsoid; calyx yellowish-green, partially fused up to 0.7 mm length, free lobes ca. 0.6 × 1 mm, apex rounded; filaments 0.4–0.7 mm long, anthers ca. 0.7 × 0.7 mm, globose, yellow. Pistillate cymules 1–3(–4) at base, 1-flowered; bracts 1–1.8 × 1–1.2 mm, triangular, apex acute, margin fimbriolate; glands 1.8–2 × 1.6–2 mm, discoid to ellipsoid; sepals 2, rarely 3, basally free, 1.4–1.6 × 0.8–1.2 mm, trullate, margin entire, covering more than half of ovary; ovary 1.5–1.7 × 1–1.4 mm, 2(–3)-locular, ovoid, 2(–3)-costate; style 0.3–0.6 mm long, stigmas 2, rarely 3, 1.8–2.8 × 0.3–0.4 mm. Fruit a capsule, 1–2(–4) per peduncle, 6.2–7 × 6.8–8 mm, dehiscent, remaining columella 7–7.8(–10) mm long. Seeds ca. 5 × 4.2 mm, ovoid, apex acute, base rounded, covered by a red aril. Fig. 1 .

Phenology:— Flowering specimens (fl) were collected from January to June and from September to December. Fruiting specimens (fr) were found from February to June and from September to December.

Distribution and habitat: — Sapium sceleratum is endemic in Northeastern Brazil and has a disjunct occurrence, occurring in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and on the mainland, in caatinga vegetation in the states of Bahia, Pernambuco and Piauí, between altitudes of 300 and 700 m a.s.l. It is cultivated in Brasília (Distrito Federal). The species can be found in areas of open shrub-tree vegetation, growing in clay-sandy soils, often with boulders or even associated with rocky outcrops.

Selected specimens:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Abaré, Reserva legal de Pedra Branca, 30 Mar 2007 (fl, fr), Oliveira 2783 ( UFP!) ; Nova Glória, Reserva legal de Rodelas, 30 Mar 2007 (fr), Oliveira 2708 ( UFP!) ; Senhor do Bonfim, 40°14’58”W, 9°57’45”S, 24 Feb 2000 (fr), Giulietti 1789 ( HUEFS!), on the BA-130 highway to Juazeiro, 40°15’W, 9°55’S, 25 Feb 1974 (fr), Harley 16324 (IPA!, M [digital image!]). Distrito Federal: Brasília, Universidade de Brasília , 22 Oct 1976 (fl), A. Allem 280 ( ICN!) ; Pernambuco: Fernando de Noronha , 18 Abril 1990 (fl, fr), Mello, E. 5483 (R!) ; entre Salgueiro e Serra Talhada , 10 May 1971 (fr), Heringer 686 ( IPA!) ; Fernando de Noronha, 4 Apr 1993 (fr), Miranda 1001 ( HST!) ; Fernando de Noronha, Forte de São Pedro , 14 Apr 1999 (fl, fr), Miranda 3273 ( HST!) ; Fernando de Noronha, Morro do Francês , 15 Oct 2003 (fl, fr), Miranda 4214 ( HST!) ; Fernando de Noronha, Morro do Francês , 2 Jun 1993 (fr), Miranda 925 (ALCB!, HST!) ; Fernando de Noronha, Pedra do Bode , 1 Oct 2002 (fl), Miranda 4025 ( HST!) ; Fernando de Noronha, Forte de São Pedro , 15 Dec 1999 (fl, fr), Miranda 3632 ( HST!) ; Fernando de Noronha, Forte de São Pedro , 22 Feb 2000 (fl), Miranda 3647 (HST!, HUEFS!) ; Fernando de Noronha , 5 Mar 1993 (fl, fr), Félix 5615 (HST) ; Ibimirim, Fazenda FASA, Rodal 33 ( IPA!) ; Petrolina , área do CPATSA, 40°31’11”W, 9°08’50”S, 26 Jan 1983 (fr), Fotius 3313 (HUEFS!, IPA!) ; Petrolina, Serra da Santa , 27 May 1982 (fr), Lima et al. 323 ( IPA!) ; Salgueiro, Fazenda Negreiros , 8°6’21,9’’S, 39°11’1,3’’W, 20 Jan 2009 (ster), Maciel 639 ( HVASF!) ; Sertânia, Copiti, 37°21’34,65’’W, 20°7’32’’S, 7 Jul 2009 (ster), Oliveira 4205 ( HVASF!). Piauí: Paulistana , Fazenda Tigre , 1 Oct 1974 (fl), Lima 13298 ( HST!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Sapium sceleratum.A.Branch.B–C.Acropetiolar glands.D. Leaf margin.E–F.Leaf shapes and veins pattern.G.Inflorescence base. H. Staminate flower. I. Pistillate flower showing calyx covering more than half of the length of the ovary. J. Pistillate sepal. A–C. A. M. Miranda 3273 (HST). D. A. M. Miranda 4214 (HST). E–H. Carvalho Sobrinho et al. 1840 (HVASF).