Pseudognaphalium munoziae N. Bayón, C. Monti & S.E. Freire, 2013

Freire, Susana E., Monti, Claudia, Moreira-Muñoz, Andrés & Bayón, Néstor D., 2013, Pseudognaphalium munoziae (Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae): A new South American species from Chile, Phytotaxa 105 (1), pp. 1-10 : 2-8

Pseudognaphalium munoziae N. Bayón, C. Monti & S.E. Freire , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 and 3 B )

Pseudognaphalium munoziae is similar to P. glandulosum ( Klatt 1878: 129) Anderberg (1991: 147) in its multistemmed habit and glandular or arachnoid-glandular, linear leaves. However, P. munoziae can be recognized because it has rosulate basal leaves longer than upper leaves, all with acute to subobtuse apices.

Type:— CHILE: Región Arica-Parinacota: Subida a Portezuelo de Chapiquiña , 18º20´1,7˝S, 69º31´1˝W, 4147 m, 5 May 2011, A . Moreira , M . Muñoz & V . Morales 1676 (holotype SGO!) .

Perennial herbs, 4–15 cm tall, multistemmed, stems erect to ascending, unbranched. Basal leaves rosulate, concolorous, greenish, arachnoid-glandular on both surfaces, trichomes of 2 types, eglandular eseptate with apical cell slightly swollen at base, and basal cells filiform to slightly expanded, and glandular biseriate, 20– 75 × 1–2 mm, linear, apex acute to subobtuse, base long-attenuate; stem leaves remote, alternate, 10–40 × 1– 2 mm, linear, apex acute to subobtuse, base attenuate. Capitula numerous, sessile or shortly pedunculate, in clusters arranged in narrow panicles, clusters subtended by linear leaves, slightly expanded at base, 7–22 × ca. 2 mm; involucre 5–6 × 4–7 mm, campanulate; phyllaries 3–4-seriate, milky-white, scarious, arachnoidglandular, outer phyllaries 4–5 × 1–2 mm, narrowly ovate, apex obtuse, inner phyllaries 5–6 × 0.7–1 mm, ovate-oblong, apex obtuse, slightly erose, stereome divided. Pistillate florets 41–45; corollas whitish, filiform, ca. 3 mm long. Achenes oblong ca. 1 × 0.3 mm, glabrous. Bisexual florets ca. 6; corollas yellowish at apex, tubular, 3.5–3.8 mm long, apex 5-lobed with glandular trichomes; anthers 5, ca. 1.8 mm long, sagittate, tails ca. 0.5 mm long; style branches truncate, ca. 0.5 mm long, with hairs apically. Achenes oblong ca. 1 × 0.3 mm, glabrous, epidermis papillose above; pappus bristles capillary, barbellate, white, 3.5–4 mm, with bases cohering by patent cilia.

Distribution and habitat: —This species has been recorded from three localities ( Fig. 4 ). The type was collected in Arica-Parinacota Region, on the ascent to Portezuelo de Chapiquiña (18º20´1.7˝S, 69º31´1˝W) at 4147 m elevation. The vegetation of this area is dominated by Asteraceae shrubs called ‘tola’ like Parastrephia quadrangularis ( Meyen 1834: 460) Cabrera (1954: 57) and P. lucida ( Meyen 1834: 460) Cabrera (1954: 57) . Another collection, here considered conspecific, is from a larger population at the entrance to Quebrada Allane ( Fig. 3A ), 18º0´7˝S, 69º37´14˝W, at 3550 m elevation, characterized by thin rhyolitic soils of volcanic origin and a sparse vegetation composed of Asteraceae shrubs like Baccharis santelicis Philippi (1891: 39) and Chuquiraga spinosa D. Don (1830: 285) subsp. rotundifolia ( Weddell 1855: 4) C. Ezcurra (1985: 242) . The third specimen was collected in Tarapacá Region, between Enquelca and Berenguela at 4200 m elevation.

Etymology: —The specific epithet honours Dr Mélica Muñoz-Schick, emeritus curator of the Chilean National Herbarium (SGO), a renowned botanist who discovered the type material with one of us (A.M.M.) and who has made extensive collections of Chilean Flora and produced numerous publications related to taxonomy and conservation.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — CHILE: Arica-Parinacota: Parinacota province, inicio de bajada a Quebrada Allane , 18º0´7˝S, 69º37´14˝W, 3550 m, 10 Jun 2012, A . Moreira 1953 ( SGO) . Tarapacá: Iquique province , trayecto entre Enquelca y Berengueta, 9 Oct 1997, C . Villagrán , F . Hinojosa & C . Latorre 9229 ( CONC 143114 ) .

Discussion: —Morphological comparisons between Pseudognaphalium munoziae and other dwarf species of Pseudognaphalium from Chile are presented in Table 1. The newly described species is most similar to P. glandulosum , which is distributed in northern Chile and NW Argentina. Pseudognaphalium munoziae and P. glandulosum are multistemmed perennials with campanulate involucres and glandular linear leaves. Pseudognaphalium glandulosum is amply distinguished by its similar basal and upper leaves, which are acute to acuminate at the apex. Pseudognaphalium munoziae is recognized by its conspicuously rosulate basal leaves and shorter upper leaves, all apically acute to subobtuse. In addition, P. munoziae differs in its capitula being arranged in narrow panicles (vs. corymbs or corymbose-paniculate in P. glandulosum ) and milky-white inner phyllaries (vs. usually brown in P. glandulosum ).

Pseudognaphalium badium (Weddell 1856: 145) Anderberg (1991: 147) from northern Argentina and Bolivia to central Peru resembles P. munoziae in its dwarf stature, multistemmed habit (stems 3–12 cm tall in P. badium ) and campanulate involucres. However, P. munoziae is distinct from P. badium in its erect unbranched stems with linear leaves, arachnoid-glandular on both surfaces, and milky-white phyllaries (vs. prostrate branched stems with spathulate leaves, densely tomentose on both surfaces, and yellowish to brown phyllaries in P. badium ).

Pseudognaphalium versatile ( Rusby 1896: 62) Anderberg (1991: 148) from Bolivia and NW Argentina also resembles P. munoziae because of its dwarf multistemmed habit (stems 6–40 cm tall in P. versatile ) with unbranched stems and linear leaves. However, P. versatile is distinct in that its stems are leafy to the apex, the leaves 5–15 × 1–2 mm, and phyllaries yellowish. In contrast, P. munoziae has rosulate basal leaves 20–50 × 1–2 mm, the stem leaves are remote, and it possesses milky-white phyllaries.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pseudognaphalium munoziae. A. Habit. B. Leaf pubescence, arachnoid-glandular. C. Capitulum. D. Phyllaries. E. Eglandular trichome. F, G. Glandular trichomes. H. Pistillate floret. I. Bisexual floret. J. Stamen. K. Style from bisexual floret. L. Pappus bristle. M. Achene. [holotype, Moreira et al. 1676 (SGO)].

FIGURE 2. Pseudognaphalium munoziae. A. Style branch from bisexual floret. B. Achenial apex with papillose epidermis. C. Phyllary showing the divided stereome [holotype, Moreira et al. 1676 (SGO)]. Scale bars: A= 0.05 mm, B= 0.1 mm, C= 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. A. Habitat of Pseudognaphalium munoziae (Quebrada Allane, Arica-Parinacota Region). B. Mature flowering plant of Pseudognaphalium munoziae (Quebrada Allane, Arica-Parinacota Region). Photographs by A. Moreira-Muñoz.

FIGURE 4. Distribution map of Pseudognaphalium munoziae in Parinacota and Iquique provinces, Chile.