Exploring Sisyrinchium (Iridaceae) diversity in the Atlantic Forest Biome: three new species in S. sect. Viperella Inácio, Camila Dellanhese Lozano, Eduardo Damasceno Antunes, Kelly Báez-Lizarazo, Mabel Rocio Eggers, Lilian Phytotaxa 2022 2022-03-25 541 2 153 164 C.D.Inacio & E.D.Lozano C. D. Inacio & E. D. Lozano 2022 [136,739,628,655] Liliopsida Iridaceae Sisyrinchium Plantae Asparagales 1 154 Tracheophyta species caratuvense sp. nov.   Diagnosis:—  Sisyrinchium caratuvenseis comparable to  S. marchio,but differs by the presence of basal and cauline leaves (vs. cauline only), smaller flowers ( 12−15 mmvs. 17.9−27.2 mmin diam.) and narrower lower ( 1.3−1.8 mmvs. 3.3−7.9 mmwide) and upper valves ( 0.7−1.5 mmvs. 2.3−5.6 mmwide) of the spathes.   Type:—  BRAZIL. Paraná: Campina Grande do Sul, Cume do Pico Caratuva,  15 January 2019(fl, fr),  E.D. Lozano et al. 4314( holotype MBM!, isotypes ICN!, RB! SPF!).  Perennial herb, erect to caespitose, 15–34.5(–44) cm tall. Rhizomeshort, roots fibrous and slender. Basal leaves, 1−3, plane, 49−140 × 1.3−3.3 mm, glabrous, acute to attenuate, margin entire, sheath 22.1−46 mmlong, margin entire. Cauline leaves, 2−6, plane, ensiform to falcate, 17–62(–82) × 1.3–2.9(–3.5) mm, glabrous, attenuate, margin entire, sheath 9.2−20.7 mmlong, margin ciliate. Angle between leaves and stem 2−25 degrees. Stemnarrowly winged, 12−32.5(–41) × 0.12−0.2 cm, internodes 34−76 mmlong. Inflorescenceterminal. Rhipidium1−2-flowered, pedunculate, peduncle 27−67 mmlong. Spathesbivalved, lower valve 18.6−21.5(–29.3) × 1.3−1.8 mm, upper 14−21.3 × 0.7−1.5 mm, glabrous, acute to acuminate, membranaceous margin only on upper valve. Pedicelshorter than spathes, 11.5−17.7 mmlong, glabrous. Perigondisk-shaped, yellow, 12−15 mmin diam. (measurement from photos). Tepalssubequal, 6.5−7 × 2.5−2.6 mm, free, oblanceolate, acuminate, concolorous, glabrous. Filamentsyellow, basally connate for 1.5−2 mm, then 0.5−0.7 mmfree, ascending to patent, glabrous. Anthersyellow, versatile, 1.8−2.6 mmlong. Ovaryobovoid, 1−1.8 × 0.7−1.1(−1.5) mm, glabrous. Styleyellow, 2.2 mmlong, style branches 0.6−0.9 mmlong, alternate to the stamens, ascending to patent. Capsuleglobose to subglobose, 3.3−3.9 × 3.4−3.9 mm, dull brownish yellow, glabrous. Seeds not seen.   Distribution and Habitat:—  Sisyrinchium caratuvenseis only known from within the boundaries of the Pico Paraná StatePark, at the summit of the Camapuã, Caratuva, Ciririca and Tucum peaks. These mountains are located along the Serra do Ibitiraquire, between the municipalities of Antonina and Campina Grande do Sul, in the eastern portion of the Paraná state, in the Atlantic Forest Biome, Brazil( Fig. 3). This region is well known for recent discovery of new endemic species such as  Baccharis umbellataG.Heiden & Ribas ( Heiden & Ribas 2012)and  Mimosa tucumensisBarneby exRibas, M.Morales & Santos-Silva( Morales et al. 2012). This new species occurs in high altitude grasslands, at an elevation range of 1735–1850 m. It can be found where vegetation is open and there is little competition for light. It grows over histosols, and can be found among rock outcrops.  Phenology:—  Sisyrinchium caratuvenseblooms from November to March and bears fruits immediately after flowering.  Conservation Status:—Vulnerable (VU, D2) according to the IUCN Red List guidelines ( IUCN 2019). Although the species is solely known from restricted areas in mountain tops with a small extent of occurrence (EOO < 100 km 2) and area of occupancy (AOO < 10 km 2), its distribution is included in a State Park, favouring its conservation. However, stochastic events (such as intense fires or drought) could drive the species to CR (Critically Endangered) in a short time.   Etymology:—The species epithet refers to the typelocality, the Caratuva peak in the Paraná state, the second highest mountain peak in southern Brazil.   Paratypes:— BRAZIL. Paraná: Campina Grande do Sul, Serra do Ibitiraquire, Pico Caratuva, 6 February 2010(fl), E.D. Lozano 214(MBM!); Campina Grande do Sul, Serra do Ibitiraquire, Pico Ciririca, embaixo das placas, 28 March 2004(fl), M.B. Scheer & A.Y. Mocochinski 553(MBM!); Campina Grande do Sul, Serra do Ibitiraquire, Morro Camapuã, 3 February 2000(fl, fr), O.S. Ribas et al. 3063(MBM!); Campina Grande do Sul, Morro Camapuã, 2 March 2013(fl), P. Larocca & G. Felitto 51(MBM!); Campina Grande do Sul, Serra dos Órgãos [Serra do Ibitiraquire], Morro Tucum, 19 November 1999(fl), J. Cordeiro et al. 1635(HUCS!, MBM!).  Taxonomic relationships:—The first collection of  S. caratuvensewas identified as  S. vaginatum, a misdetermination that pervades most of herbarium specimens bearing cauline leaves, due to the synonymization proposed by some researchers ( e.g.Chukr & Capellari Jr. 2003), and to the poor recognition of many species described by Ravenna. Although bearing similar flowers, characters such as presence of basal leaves, size of cauline leaves, length of sheaths, length of the lower valve of the spathes, and length of style and style branches can be used to differentiate  S. caratuvensefrom  S. vaginatum.   FIGURE 1.Habit of  Sisyrinchium caratuvenseC.D.Inácio & E.D.Lozano. From E.D. Lozano et al. 4314(ICN). Drawing by Rafaella Marchioretto. The species most similar to  S. caratuvenseis  S. marchio( Vellozo 1829: 273) Steudel (1841: 596).  Sisyrinchium caratuvensecan be distinguished from it by the presence of basal leaves, narrower stem ( 1.2–2 mmvs. 3.2–6.8 mmwide), ciliate margin of the leaf sheaths (vs. entire margin), and narrower lower ( 1.3–1.8 mmvs. 3.3–7.9 mmwide) and upper valve of the spathes ( 0.7–1.5 mmvs. 2.3–5.6 mmwide). Moreover, several flower features present smaller measurements in relation to flowers of  S. marchio( e.g.flower diameter, tepals length and width, free filament length, anther length and style branches length, Table 1).  Sisyrinchium caratuvenseis endemic to  Serrado Itabitirique, while  S. marchioand  S. vaginatumhave a wider distribution ( Eggers & Inácio 2020). 3738406307 2019-01-15 E Brazil Cume do Pico Caratuva Campina Grande do Sul 1 154 1 Parana holotype 3738406318 [268,519,848,870] 2019-01-15 E Brazil Cume do Pico Caratuva Campina Grande do Sul 1 154 1 Parana holotype