Hippeastrum curupira Campos-Rocha & M.Peixoto, 2023

Campos-Rocha, Antonio, Meerow, Alan William, Peixoto, Mauro, Koch, Ingrid, Messias, Patricia Aparecida & Dutilh, Julie Henriette Antoinette, 2023, To print in red ink: two new species of Hippeastrum (Amaryllidaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Plant Ecology and Evolution 156 (2), pp. 239-256 : 239

Hippeastrum curupira Campos-Rocha & M.Peixoto sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 3C

Type.

BRAZIL • Bahia, Ilhéus, distrito de Castelo Novo, no sub-bosque da mata, florescimento em cultivo no município de Mogi das Cruzes-SP; 29 Aug. 2018; fl.; A. Campos-Rocha 1989; holotype: UEC .

Diagnosis.

Hippeastrum curupira may be related to H. puniceum (Lam.) Voss or H. reginae (L.) Herb., from which it is distinguished by the absence of a paraperigone and having a trifid stigma (vs paraperigone of fimbriae and stigma capitate to trilobed in H. puniceum and H. reginae ).

Description.

Geophytic perennial herb up to 70 cm tall at flowering. Bulb subterranean, oval to spheroid; neck formed by sheathing leaf bases up to 7 cm long. Leaves 1-6, 22-72 × 2.2-5 cm, lorate, flat, slightly canaliculate proximally adaxially, erect to reclinate, apex acute, frequently asymmetric, margins flat to slightly revolute, midrib inconspicuous, dark green adaxially, pale green abaxially, occasionally with vinaceous pigmentation near the base. Inflorescence 2-3 flowered; scape 28-56 cm long × 1.6-2 cm diameter, erect, subcylindrical, laterally compressed, hollow, greenish, often with vinaceous pigmentation, glaucous; spathe bracts 2, 4.4-5 × 1.2-1.6 cm, free, lanceolate to obovate, apex acute to obtuse, reddish, marcescent; bracteoles 2-4, 2.2-3 cm long, subulate. Pedicels 3-5.6 cm long × 5-6 mm diameter at anthesis, greenish to vinaceous. Perigone 9-12.2 cm long, infundibuliform; hypanthium tube 1.4-1.8 cm long, greenish or reddish to vinaceous; paraperigone absent. Tepals in free portion bright scarlet red, internally with greenish to whitish, central stripe up to half of their length, usually absent on the lower petal; sepals (outer whorl) wider than petals (inner whorl), elliptic, apex acute with apicule subapical 1.5-4 mm long; upper 7.4-10.4 × 4.7-5.2 cm, symmetric, slightly recurvated; lateral 7.2-10.2 × 4.5-5 cm, slightly asymmetric; petals (inner tepals) slightly smaller than the sepals, lower petal narrower than the laterals, apex acute with apicule inconspicuous or absent; lateral 6.8-9.4 × 3.8-48 cm, elliptic, slightly recurvated; lower 7.4-9.6 × 2.1-3 cm, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate. Stamens 6, of four different lengths, inserted at the mouth of the hypanthium tube, shorter than limb segments; filaments fasciculate, declinate-ascending, free portion greenish proximally, reddish distally, upper episepalous 4.8-5.2 cm long, lateral episepalous 4.8-5.4 cm long, lateral epipetalous 5.5-6 cm long, lower epipetalous 5.6-6.2 cm long; anthers 4.4-5.7 mm long after anthesis, oblong, vinaceous, pollen yellow. Ovary 1.1-1.8 cm long × 7-9.6 mm diameter, oblong to obovoid, greenish to vinaceous; ovules 30-36. Style 5.4-6 mm long, shorter than limb segments, filiform, declinate to slightly ascending, greenish proximally, reddish distally; stigma trifid, lobes 4-5 mm long, recurved, whitish. Fruit capsule globose-compressed, greenish; seeds half-discoid, flattened.

Distribution and habitat.

Hippeastrum curupira is known only from the type locality, north of the city of Ilhéus, in the coastal region of southern Bahia State (Fig. 3A ). It grows in the shade of the Ombrophilous Dense Forest, about 140 meters above sea level, among species of grasses, Marantaceae , ferns, and climbing aroids ( Philodendron spp.). In the same area, we found understory shrubs and small trees such as Heisteria sp. ( Olacaceae ), Miconia spp. ( Melastomataceae ), a palm species of the genus Geonoma Willd., and many species of Rubiaceae (e.g. Palicourea deflexa (DC.) Borhidi, Palicourea dichotoma (Rudge) Delprete & J.H.Kirkbr., and Psychotria bahiensis DC.). Other co-occurring species include trees such as Eschweilera ovata (Cambess.) Miers ( Lecythidaceae ), Pseudobombax grandiflorum (Cav.) A.Robyns. ( Malvaceae ), Guatteria spp. ( Annonaceae ), Inga spp. ( Fabaceae ), Ocotea spp. ( Lauraceae ), and members of Sapotaceae ( Chrysophyllum spp., Pouteria spp.), as well as arborescent species of palms ( Attalea sp. and Syagrus botryophora (Mart.) Mart., Arecaceae ). The local climate is classified as Af type (Tropical rainforest climate) under the Köppen climate classification, characterized as hot and humid without a dry season. The annual average temperature is 23.2°C, and the minimum average temperature is registered in July (21°C), whereas February is the hottest month, with a monthly value of 24.8°C; the annual average precipitation is 1722 mm, with less than 100 mm of rainfall only in the month of August; and the annual average relative humidity is about 85% ( Mendonça et al. 1996). Three species of Hippeastrum are known to occur in the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia: H. puniceum , H. reticulatum Herb., and H. striatum (Lam.) H.E.Moore. Hippeastrum puniceum is the most generalist species of the genus and is widely distributed throughout Central and South America ( Oliveira 2012). On the south coast of Bahia, H. puniceum was collected in the understory of Ombrophilous Dense Forest, and in different physiognomies of restinga and mussunungas (a very specialized vegetation established on hydromorphic, dystrophic and white sandy soils, with physiognomies ranging from grasslands to forest formations; for more detailed definitions, see Meira Neto et al. 2005 and Saporetti-Junior et al. 2012). Hippeastrum reticulatum and H. striatum are species distributed mainly in the south and southeast regions of Brazil, occurring in both evergreen and seasonal forests, also reaching Argentina and Paraguay. Hippeastrum striatum can occasionally be found in open formations such as rocky outcrops. Southern Bahia represents the northernmost extent of known distribution for H. reticulatum . The region is considered one of the richest areas in the Atlantic Forest for biodiversity and is home to numerous endemic species of plants ( Thomas et al. 1998; Martini et al. 2007; Murray-Smith et al. 2009; Ostroski et al. 2018), although it still represents one of the lesser known and poorly collected regions of the domain ( Goldenberg et al. 2016).

Phenology.

In cultivation, Hippeastrum curupira flowers between August and early October. We do not have any data on the reproduction of the species in its natural habitat, which was collected in vegetative condition.

Etymology.

The specific epithet honours one of the most traditional and popular mythical characters of Brazilian folklore, the Curupira. Of indigenous origin, it is usually represented as a dwarf, with red hair and inverted feet. Curupira inhabits the interior of the most remote forests, avoiding getting close to highly disturbed or inhabited places ( Cascudo 1998, 2002). The epithet is a reference to the bright scarlet red flower of the new species, unique among Brazilian species of Hippeastrum . It is also a reference to its forest habitat, as well as to its rarity. It even represents a call to protect the forest in Brazil, in a scenario of dismantling anti-deforestation policies ( Menezes and Barbosa 2021; Vale et al. 2021; Agapito et al. 2022). Interestingly, the type locality is believed to be a magical place, inhabited by several characters of Brazilian mythology ( Santos 2004; Sousa 2010). The specific epithet is treated as a noun in apposition, in line with Article 23.1 of the International Code of Nomenclature ( Turland et al. 2018).

Preliminary IUCN conservation assessment.

Critically Endangered CR B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii); D. Hippeastrum curupira should be categorized as Critically Endangered (CR), based on the subcriteria B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii), because of the number of known localities (1), and declining habitat quality, as well as criterion D, because of its small population size. About ten adult individuals were found in a small forest fragment, with several signs of recent disturbance, including cutting some trees. The forest fragment is located on private property and is surrounded by larger fragments in different successional stages. This area is located within a federal conservation unit, named EPA (Environmental Protection Area) of the Lagoa Encantada and Rio Almada, covering over 150,000 hectares of protected land ( State of Bahia 2003). The southern coast of Bahia, despite having a long history of logging activity, started with the extraction of brazilwood in the precolonial period, remained one of the most preserved areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest until the beginning of the 1970s, when an intense deforestation cycle began ( Thomas et al. 1998; Landau et al. 2008). Current research shows that the extent of native forest cover in the south coast of Bahia may be as low as 5% of its original area, with about 2% of the remaining fragments larger than 400 hectares ( Landau et al. 2008).

Additional specimens examined.

BRAZIL - Bahia • Ilhéus, distrito de Castelo Novo, no sub-bosque de remanescente de Floresta Ombrófila Densa; 140 m; 3 Aug. 2019; st.; A. Campos-Rocha et al. 2607; UEC • Ilhéus, distrito de Castelo Novo, no sub-bosque de remanescente de Floresta Ombrófila Densa; 145 m; 3 Aug. 2019; st.; A. Campos-Rocha et al. 2608; UEC .

Taxonomic notes.

Hippeastrum curupira has a unique flower among the Brazilian species of Hippeastrum , mainly because of its colour and shape. It appears related to H. reginae , being distinguished by the absence of paraperigone and trifid stigma (vs fimbriate paraperigone and capitate to lobate stigma in H. reginae ). The new species also shares some affinities with H. puniceum , from which it can be readily distinguished by having bright scarlet red coloured tepals, internally with a greenish-white central stripe for up to half of their length (vs tepals salmon or orange, rarely pink, internally yellowish to green at their base and forming a circular pattern in H. puniceum ). Furthermore, H. curupira has a hypanthium tube up to 1.8 cm long, paraperigone absent and stigma trifid (vs hypanthium tube over 2 cm in length, paraperigone fimbriate and stigma capitate to trilobed in H. puniceum ).

Figures

Figure 1. Hippeastrum curupira. A. Habit. B. Detail of leaf venation, abaxial surface. C. Flower, frontal view. D. Sepals and petals: shape and apices. D 1. Upper sepal. D 2. Lateral petal. D 3. Lateral sepal. D 4. Lower petal. E. Flower with removed perigone, showing stamens and style. F. Stigma. G. Longitudinal section of ovary and hypanthium tube. H. Cross section of the ovary. Drawn by Klei Sousa from the holotype.

Figure 2. Hippeastrum curupira. A. Sepals and petals. B. Flower with removed perigone, showing stamens and style. C. Detail of anthers and stigma. D. Stigma. E. Anthers starting to dehisce. F. Detail of spathe bracts and floral buds. G. Leaf apex. H. Point of insertion of the staminal filaments. I. Longitudinal section of the ovary. J. Detail of spathe bracts and pedicels. K. Detail of leaf venation, adaxial surface. L. Fully developed leaves. M. Habit. N. Apex of the lower petal. O. Inflorescences, frontal view. A-C, E-I, K-L by Antonio Campos-Rocha; D, J, M-O by Mauro Peixoto.

Figure 3. A. Distribution map showing collections of Hippeastrum curupira (star) and H. laklano (triangle). Habitat and new species in the wild: B. Lagoa Encantada seen from a nearby viewpoint. C. Hippeastrum curupira at the type locality. D-E. Hippeastrum laklano at the type locality. D. Flowering plants indicated by arrows. E. Detail of inflorescence. B, C by Antonio Campos-Rocha; D by Alain Chautems; E by Mauro Peixoto.