Proteopsis argentea Mart. & Zucc. ex Schultz-Bipontinus (1863: 378)

Loeuille, Benoît, Semir, João & Pirani, José R., 2019, A synopsis of Lychnophorinae (Asteraceae: Vernonieae), Phytotaxa 398 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

1. Proteopsis argentea Mart. & Zucc. ex Schultz-Bipontinus (1863: 378) . Proteopsis argentea Mart. & Zucc. ex Candolle (1836: 16) , nom. nud. pro syn. Vernonia proteopsis Candolle (1836: 16) . Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Serra de Piedade, C.F.P. von Martius s.n. (365) (holotype: M e! [M0029437]) ( Fig. 40 A–C ).

Distribution and habitat: — Brazil ( Bahia , Minas Gerais, widespread along the Espinhaço Range). Campo rupestre; 750–1500 m.

Taxonomic notes: —A striking species, easily recognized by its silverish lanceolate leaves, phyllaries with spiny appendages, and capitulescence with a long and stout peduncle. Jesus et al. (2001) showed that the genetic diversity among individuals of each local population of this species was similar or higher to the diversity found between proximate populations of distant areas along the Espinhaço. Therefore, they concluded that even though there are local morphological variations, it is not possible to recognize more than a single species here.

Representative specimens: — BRAZIL. Bahia : Licínio de Almeida , Serra Geral, topo do Cachoeirão, 14°41’46”S, 42°33’30”W, 1005 m, 26 February 2012, F. A . Santana et al. 133 ( HUEFS). Minas Gerais: Grão-Mogol, estrada para Botumirim, Morro do Chapéu , entre Mombucas e Boa Vista do Bananal , 22 July 1985, G . Martinelli 11263 ( BHCB, NY, RB); Santana do Riacho, Serra do Cipó, Lapinha , nas nascentes do córrego do Boqueirão , 19°06’05” S, 43°40’36” W, 1406 m, 22 April 2006, B . Loeuille et al. 24 ( SPF) .

Figures

FIGURE 40. Proteopsis argentea. A. Detail of habit. B. Habit. C. Pseudoglomerule. P. hermogenesii. D. Habit. E. Pseudoglomerules. F. Habit. G. Peduncle and pseudoglomerule. A. by G. Ceccantini. B.–C. by B. Loeuille. D.–E. by C.M. Siniscalchi. F.–G. by M.M. Saavedra.