Utricularia lunaris Baleeiro, Gonella, R.W.Jobson, 2022

Baleeiro, Paulo C., Gonella, Paulo M., Sano, Paulo T. & Jobson, Richard W., 2022, Unveiling Utricularia amethystina’s true colours: a taxonomic revision of one of the largest species complexes (U. sect. Foliosa, Lentibulariaceae), Phytotaxa 576 (1), pp. 29-54 : 45

8. Utricularia lunaris Baleeiro, Gonella, R.W.Jobson , sp. nov. — Fig. 3H–I

Type: — BRAZIL. GOIÁS: Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Vale da Lua, external border of Veadeiros National Park on the way to S „ o Jorge village . 905m, 21 March 2012, -14.185944, -47.788917 Baleeiro et al. 127 (Holotype: SPF, Isotype: NSW, UFG) .

Diagnosis: — U. lunaris presents pale pink to almost white corolla with pale purple and a yellow spot on the lobed swelling lower lip base; it distinguishes itself from others for its circular, or reniform lamina leaves.

Illustrations: — Baleeiro et al. (2016), fig.2H; Baleeiro et al. (2019).

Description:—Terrestrial. Small perennial herb. Rhizoids 2–5, simple branches, up to 8 mm long. Stolons 3–7, up to 15 mm long. Leaves 1–5 at peduncle base or stolon, lamina circular or reniform, attenuate towards what should be a petiole, 3 × 3.5 mm, traps sub sessile on stolons, ovoid, basal entrance, with two short dorsal appendages and reduced number of trichomes on lower surface of appendages, 1 mm long. Inflorescence simple (50.5–) 70–150 mm long, peduncle glabrous, scales membranous, ovate, apex obtuse or acuminate 0.4–0.8 mm long, bract and bracteoles connate at base, membranous, bract ovate, apex obtuse or acuminate, bracteoles narrowly oblong-ovate, 0.45 mm long. Flower 1, pedicel glabrous 2.4–13 mm long, calyx lobes sub-similar, membranous, concave, glabrous, some papilla or simple trichomes near upper margin, nerves inconspicuous, simple, upper lobe broadly elliptic, apex rounded, margin not hyaline 1.3–2.1 × 0.9–1.5 mm, lower lobe broadly elliptic, margin entire, not hyaline, emarginate, 0.5–1.7 × 0.8–1.5 mm, corolla pale pink to almost white with a yellow spot and pale purple and white on a lobed swelling lower lip base, upper lip papillose with sparse glandular trichomes, ovate, apex round, up to x3> than calyx lobes, 1.6–2.9 × 1.4–2.6 mm, lower lip transversally elliptic, base lobed swelling, apex 3-lobed, 3.1–5.0 × 3.5–7.5 mm, spur ligulate, stipitate papillose 3.5–7.5 mm long. Filaments slightly curved, forming a protuberance in the top, 0.8 mm long, thecae similar, 0.6 mm long. Ovary and Capsule not observed.

Distribution and ecology: —Endemic to a small area on a private land called Vale da Lua, c. 4 km from the border of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, Goiás, Brazil. It grows on sandy substrate in rocky habitats ( Fig. 3I ) on edges of creeks in an intriguing`moon like` formation within gallery forest vegetation, surrounded by grasslands. Flowers during the whole year.

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the type locality Vale da Lua, Chapada dos Veadeiros, Brazil.

Conservation status: —Critically Endangered—CR B2ab(iii). Utricularia lunaris is known from a single location (AOO = 4km 2) in a private area with waterfalls and natural pools that attract thousands of visitors yearly. The species is vulnerable to trampling, invasive species and pollution, potentially reducing the quality of the habitat in the short term.

Notes: —Results from both morphometric and molecular phylogenic studies ( Baleeiro et al. 2016, 2019) support Utricularia lunaris as a new species, sister to Utricularia damazioi . Utricularia lunaris has a much smaller pale pink corolla, and its leaves are circular or reniform with a long pedicel reminding that of U. tricolor .

Additional specimens examined: — BRAZIL. GOIÁS: Alto Paraiso de Goiás, Vale da Lua , 4 Fev. 1993, Rivadavia 200 ( SPF) ; ibid, 11 Abr. 1995, Rivadavia & Ogassavara 367 ( SPF) ; ibid, 21 Mar. 2012, Baleeiro et al. 127 ( SPF) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. A. U. amethystina s.str. Type locality Marau peninsula Bahia, B. U. amethystina s.str. Virua National Park, C. U. amethystina s.str. white-flowered specimen, D. U. roraimensis, E. U. amethystina s.str. pink morphotype, F. U. amethystina Type locality, G. U. lindmanii, H–I. U. lunaris, J–N. U. damazioi. J. from Chapada Diamantina, K., M., N. from Chapada dos Veadeiros, L. from Diamantina Plateau.