Anthurium section Pachyneurium

Camelo, Mel C. & Coelho, Marcus A. N., 2024, A new species of Anthurium (Araceae) from the canga vegetation of the Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brazil, Phytotaxa 652 (2), pp. 142-148 : 146-147

Key to new species and closely related species from Anthurium section Pachyneurium (Schott) Engl., that occurring in Pará State.

1. Leaf blade with dots punctuations on the abaxial (lower) surface; reddish-purple berries; brown seeds...................... A. bonplandii

- Leaf blade without dots punctuations on the abaxial surface.............................................................................................................2

2. Leaf blade obovate, spatulate; berries purple at the apex, white from the middle to the base; basal fibers tepals strongly adherent; purple seeds .............................................................................................................................................................. A. lindmanianum

- Leaf blade elliptical, not spatulate; berries entirely purple; basal fibers tepals absent; brown seeds ......................... A. pedrovianae

Notes:— Anthurium pedrovianae shares the involute prefoliation and collective veins generally absent a morphological similarity with all members of Anthurium section Pachyneurium (Schott) Engl. from Brazil ( Croat 1991; Camelo 2022). The new species it is recognized by the petiole 1/4 to 1/5 the size of the peduncle and greenish stipe purple at the base at the junction with the peduncle, 6.0–11.0 cm long. The new species it’s similar to A. lindmanianum but differs which has a peduncle <3 times the size of the petiole and spadix> 6 cm long, berries are purple at the apex, white from half to base, obovate, purple, frosted seeds ( Coelho 2018). ( A. pedrovianae has a peduncle> 3 times the size of the petiole and a spadix <6 cm long, berries are entirely purple, obovate, brown, warty). ( Fig. 1 ).

The description of a new species, such as Anthurium pedrovianae , in the region of Serra dos Carajás, plays a crucial role in expanding our knowledge of local biodiversity. The association of this new species with canga vegetation underscores the specificity of this habitat, often threatened by industrial practices like mining, emphasizing the importance of preserving these environments to maintain biological diversity ( Skirycz et al. 2014). Therefore, this discovery is not just an addition to the species catalog but serves as a warning about the vulnerability of local ecosystems to human activities.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Anthurium pedrovianae Nadruz & Camelo. A. Habit showing a detail the ferric soil; detail of inflorescence at anthesis. B. Erect plant with two inflorescences. C. Elliptical leaf blade with straight margins. D. Detail of midrib and primary lateral veins prominent at the abaxial surface. E. Inflorescence erect, green peduncle, spate greenish to yellowish, patent, long stipe greenish with a dark-purple detail at the junction at the spathe, spadix conical, purple with white pollen grains. F. Detail of spadix in anthesis. G. Spadix at pos-anthesis grey, immature berries greenish, mature berries purple. H. Berries entire purple and tepalar filaments are absent. Photos A–B; F—André Cardoso; C–E, H—Luiz Otávio Adão; G—Mel C. Camelo.