Pombalia insignis Paula-Souza, 2021

Paula-Souza, J., Lima, A. G. & Souza, V. C., 2021, THE VIOLETS OF THE BRAZILIAN SAVANNA: A REVISION OF THE POMBALIA LANATA COMPLEX (VIOLACEAE), WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES, Edinburgh Journal of Botany 78 (357), pp. 1-32 : 11-14

2. Pombalia insignis Paula-Souza , sp. nov.

Pombalia insignis is morphologically similar to Pombalia lanata (A.St.-Hil.) Paula-Souza but is distinguished by its larger flowers with anterior petal c.27–30 × 28–29.5 mm (versus 16–18.5 × 13–22 mm) and larger, c. 1.5 mm long, orange-brown connective appendages (versus smaller, 0.3–0.5 mm long, hyaline connective appendages). –

Type: Brazil, Goiás, Chapadão do Céu, Parque Nacional das Emas , cerrado queimado recentemente, próximo ao portão Jacuba, Abundante ao longo da estrada beirando a rodovia, 8 km da sede em Chapadão do Céu, 11 x 2006, J. Paula-Souza, G.O. Rom ã o & G.S. Leite 8215 (holotype SPF [ SPF188140 ], isotype BHO). Figures 2E,F , 4 .

Suffrutescent herb, 30–50 cm high, branched from a well-developed, bud-bearing underground root-like system, erect; stems velutinous to villous, internodes 9–24 mm. Stipule c.1.5 × 0.5 mm, triangular to linear, margin entire, hyaline and inconspicuous among the dense indument; leaves alternate, sessile; blade 20–39 × 9–14 mm, lanceolate to oval, oblong, less frequently oblanceolate, apex acute to obtuse, margin entire to subentire, base round, velutinous to villous, the hairs grouped in tufts. Flowers bright blue with a yellow spot at the base of the anterior petal, solitary, axillary; pedicel 8–10 mm long, velutinous to villous; bracteoles c.1.5 × 0.5 mm, linear, hyaline and inconspicuous among the dense indument; sepals slightly unequal, 7–8.5 × c. 2 mm, lanceolate, apex acute to subacuminate, margin entire, base truncate, villous; posterior petals c.7.5 × c. 3 mm, lanceolate to slightly oval, subfalcate, apex acute; lateral petals c.16 × 4 mm, oblong, slightly constricted in the middle, falcate, apex round to truncate, sparsely villous beneath; anterior petal 27–30 × 28–29.5 mm, including a claw c. 10 mm long, transversely oblong, apex truncate, base obtuse to truncate, smooth, villous beneath; filaments c. 1.5 mm long, anthers c. 1.5 mm long, connective appendages orange-brown, c. 1.5 mm long, apex truncate to emarginate, asymmetrical, the 2 anterior stamens each bearing a noduliform gland at the base of the anthers, villous; style 3.5 mm long, glabrous, ovary 4 mm long, villous, ovules unknown. Capsule 8–10 × 7–8 mm, ovoid or ellipsoid; seeds 2.8–3 × c. 1.8 mm.

Etymology. The epithet is the Latin word for ‘remarkable, outstanding’, in reference to the new species’ large and showy flowers compared with the other species of this group.

Distribution and habitat. Pombalia insignis has a restricted distribution, known only from a few populations in savannas of Emas National Park, Goiás state, Brazil (see Figure 3 ).

Phenology. Flowering and fruiting specimens were recorded in October.

Conservation status. This new species is considered endemic to Emas National Park, whose surroundings are mostly occupied by agricultural land and livestock. The limited geographical distribution (AOO, 8 km 2) and the intense anthropogenic pressures that may eventually cause decline in the quality of the species’ habitats indicate a status of Critically Endangered (CR) for Pombalia insignis , according to IUCN (2012) criteria B2b(ii,iii,iv).

Additional specimens examined. BRAZIL. Goiás: Chapadão do Céu /Mineiros, Parque Nacional das Emas , 17°49′– 18°28′S, 52°39′– 53°10′W, Batalha 3937, 5 x 1999 ( ESA) ; Heleno 2765, s.d. ( UFG) .

Pombalia insignis is morphologically similar to P. lanata in respect to its habit. However, the new species usually grows as larger plants, reaching up to 50 cm, and is unique for having orange-brown, large connective scales (see Figure 4B ), in contrast with the reduced (except for Pombalia strigoides ) and hyaline connective scales observed in the remaining species of the Pombalia lanata complex (e.g. Figures 6E , 8D ). Additional diagnostic features are listed in the Table.

Figures

Figure 2. A–D, Pombalia cristalina Paula-SouZa, sp. nov.: A and B, flowering branches; C, habit; D, detail of vegetative branch. E and F, Pombalia insignis Paula-SouZa, sp. nov.: E, flower; F, habit and type locality. Photographs: A and B, Henrique Moreira; C and D, Juliana de Paula-Souza; E, Marco Batalha; F, Gérson de Oliveira Romão.

Figure 3. Distribution of Pombalia cristalina, P. insignis, P. poaya, P. strigoides and P. velutina.

Figure 4. Pombalia insignis Paula-Souza, sp. nov.: A, habit; B, gynoecium; C1, posterior stamen; C2, anterior stamen; D, calyx; E, corolla. Drawn from Batalha 3937 by Rogério Lupo.

Figure 6. A–F, Pombalia lanata: A, habit; B, variation of size and shape of the corolla; C, gynoecium on the pedicel; D, calyx; E1–E3, variation of size, indument and shape of connective appendage of posterior stamens; E4–E8, variation of size, indument and shape of connective appendage of anterior stamens; F, typical configuration of the androecium in the Pombalia lanata complex. G, Pombalia atropurpurea: typical configuration of the androecium in the remaining hybanthoid lineages (an, anther; ca, connective appendage; fl, filament; gl, nectary gland; st, style). A–F, modified from Paula-SouZa et al., 2011, and reproduced with the permission of the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de Genève; G, drawn from Souza 3545. Illustration by by Rogério Lupo.

Figure 8. Pombalia poaya: A, habit; B, variation of size and shape of the corolla; C, gynoecium on the pedicel; D1, posterior stamen; D2 and D3, variation of size, indument and shape of connective appendage of anterior stamens; E, calyx. Drawn from Brochado & Filgueiras 06 (A, C, D1, D2 and E), Souza 2744 (B1) and Salles 204 (B2 and D3) by Rogério Lupo.