Ameroglossum fulniorum E.M.Almeida, A.M.Wanderley & L.P.Felix, 2021

Almeida, Erton M., Christenhusz, Maarten J. M., Wanderley, Artur Maia, Cordeiro, Joel Maciel P., Melo, José Iranildo Miranda De, Batista, Fabiane Rabelo Da Costa & Felix, Leonardo P., 2021, An overview of the Brazilian inselberg genus Ameroglossum (Linderniaceae, Lamiales), with the description of seven new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 746, pp. 1-25 : 13-14

Ameroglossum fulniorum E.M.Almeida, A.M.Wanderley & L.P.Felix sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77216328-1

Figs 2D , 4d–g

Diagnosis

This species is similar to A. manoelfelixii in having lustrous, purple-tinged vegetative parts and scarlet flowers, but it differs in having inflorescences in simple dichasia (vs compound dichasia), peduncle winged (vs peduncle not winged) and white trichomes on the lower lip of the corolla (vs trichomes violet). It differs from the other species of Ameroglossum by the deep vinaceous colour of its vegetative parts.

Etymology

The specific epithet is dedicated to the Fulni-ô Amerindians whose territories are located in the Serra do Comunaty where the type material was collected. Members of the Fulni-ô ethnic group have conserved many of their traditional cultural values, being one of the few indigenous groups in north-eastern Brazil that have conserved their original language, Yaathe or Ia-tê, from the Macro-Jê linguistic branch.

Material examined

Type BRAZIL – Pernambuco • Águas Belas, Quilombo ; 09°04ʹ11ʺ S, 37°00ʹ43ʺ W; 903 m a.s.l.; 21 Aug. 2012; E.M. Almeida & A.M. Wanderley 439; holotype: EAN!; isotype K !.

Description

Saxicolous chamaephyte up to 80 cm, occasionally with secondary branching along the stem. Young branches purplish, lustrous, quadrangular, not winged, glabrescent, trichomes aciculate; brownish when mature, slightly inclined to incumbent, subquadrangular. Leaves opposite, decussate; leaf blade 6.0– 14.5 × 1.2–3.9 cm, purplish when young, later greenish, lustrous, narrowly elliptic to elliptic, rarely narrowly trullate, slightly bullate; adaxial side glabrous; abaxial side glabrescent with papillose trichomes, principally the youngest leaves, rarely with recurved trichomes; apex sharply acuminate, flat to reflexed; margin flat to revolute, ciliate. Inflorescences in simple dichasia. Peduncle purplish, subcylindrical, winged, glabrescent, with papillose trichomes; primary peduncle 0.70–1.80 × 0.10–0.14 cm, secondary peduncle 0.3–0.8 × 0.1 cm. Pedicel 0.50–1.20 × 0.10–0.15 cm, purplish, glabrescent, with papillose trichomes, ventral side without wings. Bracts 0.10–0.30 × 0.05–0.08 cm, purplish, glabrescent, with papillose trichomes, margin glabrous. Calyx purplish, abaxial side glabrescent, with trichomes recurved and papillose, adaxial side densely covered by papillose trichomes, margin glabrous; sepals lanceolate, dorsal sepal 1.2–1.7 × 0.3 cm, lateral ones 1.0–1.3 × 0.2 cm, ventral ones 1.0–1.2 × 0.2–0.3 cm. Corolla 5.0– 5.6 cm long, scarlet, externally glabrescent, with trichomes glandular and papillose, internally glabrous; tube 4.0– 4.2 cm long; upper lip 1.3–1.8 × 0.9–1.1 cm; lower lip 1.3–1.5 × 0.4–0.5 cm, inner perianth with trichomes filiform, white; lobes revolute, median lobe 0.2–0.3 × 0.1 cm. Stamens included, adnate to the median third of the corolla tube; filaments violet, dorsal ones 2.00–2.70 × 0.08 cm, ventral ones 2.20–2.60 × 0.08 cm; thecae 0.15 cm diam.; staminodium 0.2–0.5 cm, adnate to the proximal third of the corolla tube, glabrous. Ovary 0.60–0.80 × 0.24–0.30 cm; style 4.2–5.1 cm, occasionally exserted, glabrous. Capsule 1.5–2.1 × 0.7–1.0 cm, purplish. Seeds 0.10 × 0.04 cm.

Distribution

Only two populations of A. fulniorum sp. nov. are known growing near Águas Belas, Serra do Comunaty, in the Agreste mesoregion of Pernambuco State, Brazil. Elevation ca 900 m.

Ecology

Like other species of Ameroglossum , the occurrence of A. fulniorum sp. nov. is restricted to granite outcrops. Flowering and fruiting in August.

Population and threats

Only two populations of A. fulniorum sp. nov. are currently known, which together comprise approximately 40 widely spaced adult individuals. Due to the isolation of those populations and their restricted distributions, together with environmental pressure from trampling by domestic animals and the occasional passage of wildfires, this species is highly threatened.

Figures

Fig. 2. Reproductive branches and floral details of different taxa of the genus Ameroglossum Eb.Fisch., S.Vogel & A.V.Lopes. A. A. alatum sp. nov. B. A. asperifolium sp. nov. C. A. bicolor sp. nov. D. A. fulniorum sp. nov. E. A. genaroanum sp. nov. F. A. intermedium sp. nov. G. A. manoelfelixii L.P.Felix & E.M.Almeida. H. A. pernambucense Eb.Fisch., S.Vogel & A.V.Lopes. I. A. xukuruorum sp. nov.

Fig. 4. a–c. Ameroglossum bicolor sp. nov. (Almeida et al. 1229). a. Reproductive branches. b. Flower. c. Corolla opened, showing the stamens. d–g. Ameroglossum fulniorum sp. nov. (Almeida & Wanderley 439). d. Reproductive branches. e. Leaf, adaxial side. f. Flower. g. Corolla opened, showing the stamens.