Fosterella bodoquenensis Leme & Forzza, 2019

Leme, Elton M. C., Forzza, Rafaela C., Halbritter, Heidemarie & Ribeiro, Otávio B. C., 2019, Contribution to the study of the genus Fosterella (Bromeliaceae: Pitcairnioideae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 395 (3), pp. 137-167 : 149-154

3. Fosterella bodoquenensis Leme & Forzza , sp. nov. ( figs. 9 A to G)

Diagnosis:— This new species differs from F. penduliflora (C.H. Wright) L.B. Smith (1960: 172) by having the leaf blades densely lepidote abaxially with peltate, long fimbriate trichomes (type II) [vs. sparsely lepidote with peltate, dentate trichomes (type III)], inflorescence bearing up to secondary branches (vs. with primary branches only), primary branches more numerous (16–20 vs. 6–15 in number), and shorter floral bracts [1–2.5 mm vs. 2–4 (–10) mm].

Type:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Bodoquena, Fazenda Boca da Onça, near Cachoeira Boca da Onça, 236 m elevation, 20°44’21” S, 56°44’04” W, 10 August 2013, E. Leme & V. Leme 8786 (holotype RB!, isotypes CGMS!, SEL!, US!).

Description:— Plants acaulescent, flowering 85–95 cm tall, propagating by basal shoots. Leaves ca. 15 in number, all alike, fasciculate, subspreading; sheath subreniform, ca. 2.5 × 4.5 mm, thick, whitish toward the base and green distally, abaxially and distally densely white lepidote with peltate trichomes, adaxially glabrous or nearly so, margins densely and coarsely white lepidote with long fimbriate trichomes; blade narrowly lanceolate, inconspicuously narrowed at the base, thin in texture mainly at the margins and toward the apex, the central portion and base slightly thickened, flat, apex slenderly caudate, 28–47 × 2.2–3.3 cm, green, finely nerved, abaxially densely white appressed lepidote with peltate, long fimbriate trichomes (type II), adaxially glabrous, margins entire, undulate, densely and coarsely white lepidote with long fimbriate trichomes mainly toward the base. Peduncle erect, 40–43 cm long, 2.5–4 mm in diameter, distinctly exceeding the leaves, green to dark reddish, sparsely lepidote at the base and glabrous toward the apex; peduncle bracts 20–50 × 3–8 mm, narrowly lanceolate, attenuate, then slenderly caudate, erect, membranaceous, paleaceous, nerved, densely white lepidote by peltate, long fimbriate trichomes, equaling to slightly exceeding the internodes, margins entire, densely and coarsely white lepidote with long fimbriate trichomes. Inflorescence shortly paniculate, with secondary branches, erect, ca. 45 cm long, 20–30 cm in diameter; main axis 2–2.5 mm in diameter, straight, glabrous, dark reddish-green; primary bracts resembling the upper peduncle bracts, entire, 5–20 × 1.5–3 mm, distinctly shorter than the stipe of the branch; primary branches 16–20 in number, forming an internal angle of 45˚ with the main axis, laxly arranged, sometimes with 2 branches arising from the same node, 11–20 cm long; stipe slender, 10– 40 × 1 mm, naked; rachis 0.5–1 mm in diameter, dark reddish-green, glabrous, straight to slightly flexuous, internodes 5–13 mm long, the terminal branch resembling the lateral branches; secondary bracts resembling the floral bracts, distinctly shorter than the stipe of the branch; secondary branches 1–3 in number, 4–8 cm long, laxly to subdensely 5–13 flowered; floral bracts triangular-ovate to ovate, acuminate, 1–2.5 × 0.7–1 mm, entire, membranaceous, reddishgreenish, soon dry, glabrous, shorter than the pedicel. Flowers 12–13 mm long (with extended petals), 5–13 mm apart, downward secund at anthesis; pedicel 2–3.5 mm long, ca. 0.7 mm in diameter, strongly curved downward, green, glabrous; sepals subtriangular-ovate, acute, 2.5–3 × 1.5 mm, green with reddish margins and apex, glabrous, membranaceous; petals oblanceolate, apex narrowly rounded to slightly emarginate, 7–8 × 2 mm, strongly recurved at anthesis but not recoiled, erect afterward, white, membranaceous, naked; stamens shorter than the petals, but exposed at anthesis; anther sublinear, 1.5–2 mm long, basifixed, base bilobed, apex distinctly apiculate, distinctly recurved to recoiled at anthesis; pollen broadly ellipsoidal, sulcate, sulcus broad, without exine elements, margins well defined to sharply cut, with an irregular marginal entire area without microreticulate exine elements, exine microreticulate; ovary ovoid, green; ovules apiculate; stigma simple-erect with tendency to conduplicate, white, distinctly exceeding the anthers, lobes short, erect, margins inconspicuously crenulate. Capsules ovoid, apex acute, green, ca. 5 × 3 mm; seeds narrowly fusiform, terete, bicaudate, ca. 2 mm long.

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Serra da Bodoquena, Fazenda Santa Clara , 3 March 2003, T.B. Breier 842 (UEC, RB) ; Bodoquena, P.N. Bodoquena, nos afloramentos calcáreos verticais ao longo da margem direita do Rio Salobra , 222 m elev., 20º46’49.4” S, 56º44’32.2” W, 23 September 2017, E. Leme et al. 9296 (RB) ; estrada para Fazenda Remanso, afloramentos e matas ciliares do Rio Salobra , 6 December 2010, G. Martinelli et. al. 16921 (RB) ; Bodoquena, Rio Salobrinha , 20º40’43”S, 56º46’52” W, 7 September 1998, G.A. Damasceno Júnior et al. 1716 (COR, UB) ; Bonito, Serra da Bodoquena, Fazenda Baía das Garças , Cachoeira do Rio Aquidaban , 12 November 2002, G. Hatschbach et al. 74128 (CESJ, ESA, HUEFS, MBM, RB, US) ; trilha para a Cachoeira do Aquidaban , 12 November 2002, A. Pott et al. 10660 ( CGMS) ; Bonito, Estância Mimosa, próximo a última cascata, escadas de madeira, Rio Mimoso , 15 October 2002, V. J. Pott & A. Pott 5903 ( CGMS) ; Road Bonito to Campo dos Índios, MS 382, início da descida para Serra da Bodoquena , 9 October 2003, G. Hatschbach et al. 76079 (HUEFS, MBM, W) ; Jardim, Fazenda São Frei Galvão, afloramentos calcáreos verticais ao longo da margem esquerda do Rio Perdido , 373 m elev., 21º27’49.3” S, 56º48’32.3” W, 22 September 2017, E. Leme 9283 (RB) ; Porto Murtinho, Fazenda Alto Salobra, próximo aos limites do P.N. Bodoquena, estrada para Fazenda California, 20º55’15” S, 56º40’33” W, 3 December 2010, G. Martinelli et al. 16869 (RB) ; Corumbá, Morro do Urucum , 11 November 1977, H.C. de Lima et al. 132 (RB) ; idem, 26 November 1994, I. M. Bortolotto 15 ( COR) .

Distribution and habitat:— Fosterella bodoquenensis is growing saxicolous on calcareous formation inside humid forest along rivers and near waterfalls ( figs. 9 A to D) in the region of Bodoquena, Mato Grosso do Sul state, about 200–400 m elevation. It can be occasionally observed growing on iron rich soils in the region of Corumbá, in the same state, not far from the border with Bolivia. In contrast, its close relatives, F. penduliflora , as well as F. elviragrossiae Ibisch et al. (2008: 188) , according to Peters (2009), are known exclusively from Bolivia and Argentina, where they grow in dry to humid, deciduous to evergreen lowland and montane forests at 200 to 2650 m elevation.

Etymology:—The epithet refers to the county of Bodoquena, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, where this new taxon was discovered.

Observations:—Specimens of F. bodoquenensis are relatively common in herbarium collections despite almost always misidentified as F. hatschbachii . Using the identification key provided by Ibisch et al. (2008) F. bodoquenensis keys out close to F. penduliflora . On the basis of the morphological delimitation of F. penduliflora provided by Peters (2009), this new species differs from it by leaf blades densely lepidote abaxially with peltate, long fimbriate trichomes (type II) [vs. sparsely lepidote, with peltate, dentate trichomes (type III)], inflorescence bearing secondary branches (vs. with primary branches only), primary branches more numerous (16–20 vs. 6–15 in number), as well as by the shorter floral bracts [1–2.5 mm vs. 2–4 (–10) mm].

When using the identification key presented by Peters (2009), F. bodoquenensis is morphologically closer to E. elviragrossiae , but differs from it by taller stature when flowering (85–95 cm vs. up to 35 cm tall), leaf blades glabrous adaxially (vs. lepidote towards the base), peduncle bracts equaling to exceeding the internodes (vs. much shorter than the internodes), inflorescence shortly paniculate (vs. racemose or compound racemose), with secondary branches (vs. with primary branches only), primary branches more numerous (16–20 vs. to 3 in number), longer sepals (2.5–3 mm vs. ca. 1.5 mm long), and longer petals (7–8 mm vs. 4–5 mm long).

According to trichomes (type II) architecture of the abaxial surface of leaf blades of F. bodoquenensis it is closer related to F. elviragrossiae (trichomes of type II) than to F. penduliflora (trichomes of type III). However, based on other morphological differences, this new species is easier differentiated from F. elviragrossiae than from F. penduliflora , as indicated above.

4. Fosterella hatschbachii L.B. Smith & R.W. Read , Bradea 6: 137. 1992, emend. Leme & Forzza. Type:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Aquidauana, Piraputanga, base sombria dos paredões de arenito, 16 October 1972, G. Hatschbach 30497 (holotype US!, isotypes HB!, MBM!, NY!). ( figs. 10 A to G)

Description:— Plants acaulescent, flowering 42–75 cm tall, propagating by basal shoots. Leaves 10–15 in number, all alike, fasciculate, subspreading, slightly shorter than to exceeding the peduncle; sheath inconspicuous, subreniform, 12–15 × 30–35 mm, membranaceous to thick, distinctly nerved, green, abaxially and distally densely white lepidote with long dentate to filamentous trichomes, adaxially glabrous, margins bearing whitish coarse filamentous trichomes; blade narrowly linear-lanceolate, inconspicuously narrowed at the base, apex long caudate, thin in texture throughout, slightly channeled, without any thicker channel to bearing a slightly thicker channel toward the base, 25–50 × 1.6–3.9 cm, green, finely nerved, abaxially densely white tomentose with subpeltate, long filamentous trichomes (type V), adaxially glabrous, margins entire, slightly to distinctly undulate, glabrous. Peduncle erect, 20–38 cm long, 1.5–3.5 mm in diameter, green to reddish, glabrous; peduncle bracts 10–45 × 2–5 mm, narrowly subtriangular-attenuate, caudate, or with an ovate base and a long filiform to narrowly lanceolate-caudate blade, erect, membranaceous, paleaceous, nerved, bearing filamentous trichomes, margins entire, all longer than the internodes or the upper ones distinctly shorter than the internodes. Inflorescence shortly paniculate, with third order branches or sometimes with fourth order branches in late inflorescence development, erect, 12–30 cm long, 8–15 cm in diameter, sometimes producing new primary branches from the same node; main axis 1–2 mm in diameter, glabrous, green to reddish; primary bracts resembling the upper peduncle bracts, entire, 5–16 × 1–2 mm, distinctly shorter than the stipe; primary branches 4–13 in number, suberect, laxly arranged, 6–16 cm long, 10–27-flowered; stipe slender, 15–40 × 1 mm, naked; rachis ca. 1 mm in diameter, nearly straight, greenish to reddish, glabrous, the terminal branch not at all distinct from the lateral branches; secondary bracts resembling the floral bracts; secondary branches usually 1–2 in number, 5–8 cm long, bearing 3–12 flowers; floral bracts ovate, acuminate to acute, 2–3.2 × 1–1.5 mm, entire, membranaceous, greenish to reddish, glabrous, shorter than to exceeding the pedicel. Flowers 10–12 mm long (with extended petals), 3–9 mm apart, nutant-secund mainly after anthesis; pedicel 1.5–3 mm long, ca. 0.6 mm in diameter, strongly curved downward, green, glabrous; sepals ovate, acute, 3 × 1.8–2 mm, greenish except for the reddish apex, glabrous, membranaceous; petals narrowly oblong, apex inconspicuously cucullate, obtuse or slightly emarginate, 7–9 × 2–2.5 mm, strongly recurved at anthesis but not recoiled, erect afterwards, whitish or whitish with the central-apical part pale reddish-wine colored, membranaceous; stamens distinctly shorter than the petals, but exposed at anthesis; anther narrowly oblong, 2–3 mm long, basifixed, base bilobed, apex apiculate, distinctly recurved to recoiled at anthesis; pollen ellipsoid, yellow, sulcate, sulcus broad, without exine elements, margins sharply cut, bearing a narrow entire marginal area without microreticulate exine elements, exine microreticulate; ovary ovoid, green; ovules shortly caudate; style shorter than the petals; stigma simple-erect, white, distinctly exceeding the anthers, lobes short, suberect, margins crenulate. Capsules ovoid, greenish to pale castaneous, ca. 3 × 2.5 mm; seeds narrowly fusiform, terete, bicaudate, ca. 2 mm long.

Additional specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul: Aquidauana, Piraputanga , 6 December 1970, G. Hatschbachii 25757 (MBM, US) ; idem, ca. 190 m elev., 20°27’19.5” S, 55°28’59.8” W, 22 February 2014, W.M. Kranz 420 (RB) ; Acampamento Batista, Morro Coração de Mãe , -20.451206, -55.483889 WGS84, 28 August 2008, W.N. Ramos et al. 475 (CGMS, RB) ; Retiro Batista , -20.456106, -55.499403 WGS84, 21 November 2014, V.H.S. Brito 21 ( CGMS) ; road Piraputanga-Palmeira, ca. 5 km from Piraputanga , 240 m elev., 20°26’12” S, 55°33’47” W, 15 September 2011, E. Leme et al. 8573 (RB) ; entre Palmeira e Piraputanga, Serra de Maracaju , -20.456472, -55.487444 WGC84, 15 September 2011, A. Pott et al. 16200 ( CGMS) ; entre Palmeiras e Piraputanga, road MS 450, Serra de Maracaju , 1 km a leste do Acampamento Batista , 260 m elev., 20°27’33.50” S, 55°29’41.4” W, 24 November 2014, A. Pott & V. J. Pott 16603 ( CGMS) ; Serra de Maracaju , 19 March 1994, G. Hatschbach & M. Hatschbach 62095 ( MBM) ; road MS 450, 3.5 km north of Piraputanga, Serra de Maracaju , 28 May 2002, A. Pott et al. 10037 ( CGMS) ; Piraputanga, Furna dos Baianos II, Córrego das Antas , ca. 221 m elev., 20°26’01” S, 55°33’43.7” W, 15 September 2011, E. Leme et al. 8575 (RB 756776, RB 670793) ; Aldeia Limão Verde, nascente de afluente do Córrego João Dias, borda da Serra de Maracaju , 20°19’42” S, 55°40’51” W, 7 May 2002, A. Pott et al. 9982 ( CGMS) ; Faz. Paiaguás , east of road MS 419, between Serra de Maracaju and Pantanal, ca. 200 m elev., 19°31’55” S, 55°16’43” W, 13 April 2004, A. Pott 11812 (CGMS, RB) ; Corguinho, Taboco, Fazenda Colorado, 400 m elev., 19º44’37.50” S, 55º15’52.70” W, 30 September 2013, A.P. Souza et al. 13 ( CGMS) ; idem, A.P. Souza et al. 17 ( CGMS) ; idem, 595 m elev., 19º42’21.60” S, 55º18’59.07” W, 1 October 2013, S.S. Moura et al. 56 ( CGMS) ; idem, 565 m elev., 19º41’03.02” S, 55º18’13.88” W, 1 October 2013, S.S. Moura et al. 78 ( CGMS) .

Distribution and habitat:—The known populations of F. hatschbachii are concentrated in the district of Pirapuranga, municipality of Aquidauana, in Mato Grosso do Sul state, where it grows in usually vertical, sandstone rocky outcrops, in shaded places inside forest vegetation, very often along or nearby rivers, at 200–250 m elevation ( figs. 10 A, B, C ). Plants thrive isolated ( fig. 10 B ) or more often forming dense, small to large groups of individuals ( fig. 10 C ).

Etymology:—The epithet honors its collector, one of the most remarkable Brazilian field botanists and discoverer of countless taxa, Gert Hatschbach (1923–2013), founder of the Museu Botânico Municipal de Curitiba, to which he dedicated a life-long time.

Observations:— In the protologue of F. hatschbachii, Smith & Read (1992) clearly indicated as its holotype, the specimen collected by Hatschbach 30497 in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (at that time part of the state of Mato Grosso), in the locality of Piraputanga, Aquidauana county. The designated holotype is deposited in the herbarium of the Smithsonian Institution ( US) and isotypes are in the herbarium of the Museu Botânico Municipal de Curitiba (MBM) and Herbarium Bradeanum (HB) , the last one not cited in the protologue. Smith & Read (1992) also cited three other specimens (paratypes): one collected in Mato Grosso do Sul state, at the type locality (Piraputanga, Serra de Maracaju, Hatschbach 25757), and two other ones [Hatschbach 37652 (MBM, US), and Prance et al. 19368 (INPA, NY, U, US)] from Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso state, distant 570 km in straight line from type locality.

The comparison of the type material, as well as other specimens from the type locality, with the specimens from Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso state, including Hatschbach 37652 and Prance et al. 19368, indicate the presence of morphological differences important enough to segregate these two mentioned specimen as a distinct species, well apart from F. hatschbachii , as described below.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Fosterella bodoquenensis from Mato Grosso do Sul: A–B. Area of Salobra river, in Parque Nacional da Bodoquena; A. General view of the habit along Salobra river. B. Closeup of individuals along river bank. C–D. Area of Perdido river, in Fazenda São Frei Galvão, Jardim. C. Habit. D. Individuals along river bank. E–G. Leme 8786. E. Habit. F. Inflorescence details. G. Flower details.

FIGURE 10. Fosterella hatschbachii from Piraputanga, Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul: A. General view of the habitat at Furnas dos Baianos II. B. Habit of an individual at Piraputanga-Palmeira area (Leme 8573). C. Detail of the population at Furnas dos Baianos II area. D. Flower details (Leme 8573). E–G. Leme 8575. E. Habit. F. Inflorescence details. G. Flower details.