Staurogyne veronicifolia (Nees) Kuntze (1891: 497)

Braz, Denise Monte & Monteiro, Reinaldo, 2017, Taxonomic Revision of Staurogyne (Nelsonioideae, Acanthaceae) in the Neotropics, Phytotaxa 296 (1), pp. 1-40 : 36-37

27. Staurogyne veronicifolia (Nees) Kuntze (1891: 497) . Ebermaiera veronicifolia Nees von Esenbeck (1847: 18) . Neotype (designated by Braz & Monteiro 2011b: 177): — BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Alfredo Chaves, São Bento de Urânia, 8 October 1994, G. Hatschbach 61140 & J.M. Silva (neotype: MBM!). ( Fig. 24 )

Herb 10 − 90 cm tall, rarely branched, sparsely pilose with simple trichomes, dense toward the apex. Petiole 2 − 7 mm long; blade elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 1.7 − 4.1 × 0.5 − 1.7 cm, apex acute to slightly acuminate, base acute to cuneate, rarely obtuse, adaxially usually glabrous, rarely with sparse simple trichomes, abaxially restricted to veins, sometimes with disc-shape trichomes. Inflorescence in dense, terminal, subcapitate, bracteate spike-like raceme, 1.4 − 2.6 cm long, peduncle undefined; flowers opposite, rarely subopposite; rachis sparsely simple pilose; bract and bracteoles green, with simple trichomes restricted to the veins, bract ovate-elliptic to ovate, 7.7 − 13.5 × 5.1 − 7.5 mm, 1(3)-nerved, bracteoles elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 2.5 − 6.8 × 0.8 − 2.8 mm. Pedicel 0.5 − 1.2 mm long; calyx greenish, glabrescent or simple trichomes restricted to the veins, ciliate, posterior segment 9.5 − 12 × 2 − 4.3 mm, 3-nerved, lateral pair of segments 7 − 10.1 × 0.9 − 1.6 mm, anterior pair of segments 7 − 11.1 × 1.3 − 2.5 mm; corolla white to light-green, 8 − 12.8 mm long, basal tube 1.8 − 2.5 mm long, anterior lobe 2.7 − 3.8 mm long, externally and internally sparsely simple and glandular pilose, rarely glabrescent or internally with dense pubescence; posterior stamens 1.5 − 4 mm long, anterior stamens 2.7 − 5.2 mm long, staminode 1 − 1.5 mm long; ovules 11 − 16 per locule, posterior lobe of the stigma slightly divided. Capsule not found.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Cachoeira do Itapemirim, Vargem Alta, Morro de Sal , 2 August 1948, Brade 19428 ( RB) ; Castelo, Forno Grande, 12 August 1948, Brade 19237 ( RB, U) .

Distribution and habitat:— Staurogyne veronicifolia is endemic to the State of Espírito Santo, in the Atlantic rainforest of Southeastern Brazil, usually occurring at high elevations.

Phenology:— It was collected with flowers in August and October and with immature fruits in October.

Taxonomic notes:— Staurogyne veronicifolia is characterized by the erect slender stem, rarely branched, the subcapitate terminal inflorescence, with green bracts, and the ciliate calyx. Staurogyne veronicifolia is close to S. riedeliana especially in the habit and leaf size, but differs by the terminal subcapitate (not elongated) inflorescence, the bracts 1-nerved (not usually 3-nerved) and just simple trichomes (not glandular) present in the calyx. Also with restricted occurrence in the State of Espírito Santo, Staurogyne parva differs from S. veronicifolia by the leaves elliptic-lanceolate (not elliptic to ovate-elliptic), 5.8 − 11.5 cm long and hairy (not 1.7 − 4.1 cm, with pilosity restricte to the veins), the terminal inflorescence elongated (not subcapitate) and the bracts, bracteoles and calyx with glandular trichomes (not eglandular).

Figures

FIGURE 24. Staurogyne veronicifolia. A.Flowering branch. B. Flower, bracts and bracteoles. C. Bract and bracteoles. D. Calyx.E.Anther in frontal view. F.Anther in dorsal view. G. Staminode. H. Stigma in lateral view. I. Corolla lobes (A–B, E–G, I from Hatschbach & Silva 61140; C–D, H from Brade 19428).