Aechmea recurvipetala Leme & L.Kollmann, 2011

Leme, Elton M. C. & Kollmann, Ludovic J. C., 2011, New species and a new combination of Brazilian Bromeliaceae, Phytotaxa 16 (1), pp. 1-36 : 10-11

Aechmea recurvipetala Leme & L.Kollmann , sp. nov. ( Figs. 3 , R–Z, 4 , A–C)

A Aechmea heterosepala , cui affinis, bracteis floriferis erectis et distincte imbricatis, haud utriculatis, sepalis brevioribus apice mucronatis et petalis anguste ovatis, brevioribus, prope apicem spiraliter recurvatis differt.

Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: próx. divisa com Bahia, Santa Maria do Salto, distrito de Talismã, Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural da Fazenda Duas Barras , divisa com P . E . do Alto Cariri , 16º 24.06’ S, 40º 03.43’ W, 920 m, 23 March 2010, Leme 8207 (holotype RB, isotype HB) .

Plant epiphytic, flowering ca. 40 cm tall. Leaves ca. 20 in number, strongly coriaceous, distinctly exceeding the inflorescence, forming a broadly crateriform rosette; sheaths narrowly ovate, ca. 30 × 15 cm, dark castaneous toward the base, densely brown lepidote on both sides; blades sublinear, acuminate and terminating in a stout, rigid spine ca. 1.5 cm long, not narrowed toward the base, 90–170 × 10–14 cm, densely and inconspicuously white lepidote, margins densely spinose, spines triangular, blackish, 1–3 × 1–2 mm at the base, 1–6 mm apart, mostly antrorse. Peduncle erect, ca. 30 cm long, 2.0– 2.5 cm in diameter, exceeding the leaf sheaths, densely lepidote, blackish; peduncle bracts the basal ones subfoliaceous, densely spinose, the upper ones narrowly subtriangular-lanceolate, narrowly acuminate, terminating in a dark, pungent, stout spine, strongly coriaceous, erect, distinctly exceeding the internodes and completely concealing the peduncle, dark colored, densely white lepidote, nerved, densely spinose toward the apex, not involucral. Inflorescence simple, dense, strobilate, globose at early anthesis to ellipsoid-ovate at late anthesis, erect, 8–13 cm long, 6–7 cm in diameter, apex subrounded and bearing an inconspicuous coma of short apparently sterile bracts, at late anthesis bearing matured fruits at the base and flowers at the apex; floral bracts broadly ovate to suborbicular, 40–45 × 33–37 mm, apex broadly acute and terminating in a narrowly triangular rigid spine ca. 5 × 4 mm, entire, erect and strongly imbricate, slightly convex, not forming any pouches around the flower, concealing the basal 4/5 of the flower length, densely white lepidote toward the apex mainly abaxially, stiff coriaceous, ecarinate, nerved, lustrous outside, dark castaneous at its basal 3/4, and green at its apical 1/4, shorter than the sepals. Flowers 80–120 in number, ca. 46 mm long, sessile, densely polystichously arranged, strongly dorsiventrally compressed, odorless, anthesis diurnal; calyx strongly complanate, 17–18 mm wide near the base; sepals suboblong, asymmetrical, coriaceous, densely and inconspicuously white lepidote toward the apex, lustrous toward the base, nerved mainly along the margins, the basal 1/2 dark castaneous, the apical 1/2 green, free, the adaxial ones 22–23 × 8 mm, cymbiform, sharply alate-carinate with the entire keels decurrent on the ovary, apex mucronate, pungent; the abaxial sepal slightly shorter than the adaxial ones and partially enclosed by them, ca. 20 × 7 mm, ecarinate, apex mucronate; petals narrowly ovate, apex subacute, strongly spirally-recurved at anthesis, white, 21–23 × 5 mm, about equaling the sepals, connate at the base for 7–8 mm, unappendaged, bearing 2 conspicuous longitudinal callosities equaling the base of the free portion of the filaments. Stamens included but the anthers partially exposed at anthesis by the spirally-recurved apical portion of the petals; filaments the free portion terete, not at all dilatated toward the apex, the antepetalous ones adnate to the petals for 9–11 mm, the antesepalous ones adnate to the petal tube only and free above it; anthers linear-sagittate, apex acuminate, 12–13 mm long, dorsifixed at 1/3 of their length above the middle; pollen globose, inconspicuously biporate, exine reticulate, lumina subrounded, muri narrowed; stigma conduplicate-spiral, capitate, white, blades, margins of its lobes long fimbriate-lacerate; ovary broadly obovate, strongly complanate, 23–24 × 16–18 mm, white toward the base and castaneous near the apex, glabrous; ovules long caudate; epigynous tube crateriform, 8 × 5–6 mm. Fruits not noticeably enlarged from the ovary.

Distribution and habitat:— Aechmea recurvipetala was originally discovered in the region of Parque Estadual do Alto Cariri, situated in Minas Gerais state, at the border with Bahia, more precisely in the Fazenda Duas Barras private reserve (Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural da Fazenda Duas Barras). It is a large sized species that grows exclusively on large canopy trees of the Atlantic Forest, at about 900 m elevation, being very difficult to be observed when in bloom due its comparative inconspicuous inflorescences that are not held much above the leaf rosette. The presence of blooming specimens was only detected after observing hummingbirds repeatedly visiting some leaf rosettes, thus attracting our attention to these specimens, which made us notice the flowers.

Etymology:—The epithet 'recurvipetala' highlights its distinctly spirally recurved petals at anthesis, which is a distinctive characteristic in comparision to other species of the A. conifera -complex.

Additional specimen examined (paratype):— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: próximo a divisa com a Bahia, Santa Maria do Salto, distrito de Talismã, Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural da Fazenda Duas Barras , divisa com P . E . do Alto Cariri , 16º 24.80’ S, 40º 03.21’ W, 841 m, 23 March 2010, Leme 8192 ( RB, HB) .

Observations:— Aechmea recurvipetala was found during a Bromeliaceae survey conducted in Alto Cariri State Park with the support of the Instituto Estadual de Florestas (IEF) of Minas Gerais. It is a member of Aechmea subgenus Chevaliera (Gaudich. ex Beer) Baker , and belongs to the A. conifera species complex. The closest relative is A. heterosepala Leme (2010: 131) , from which the new species differs by its erect floral bracts (vs. suberect), which are distinctly imbricate (vs. not imbricate toward the apex), not forming any pouches around the flowers (vs. forming a distinct utricle around the flowers); shorter sepals (22–23 mm vs. 29–30 mm long) with a mucronate apex (vs. apex long subulate-cuspidate), and by the narrowly ovate petals (vs. narrowly spatulate), which are shorter (21–23 mm vs. 32–35 mm) and strongly spirally recurved at anthesis (vs. erect).

Since the identification of the species of the A. conifera complex can be a difficult task due to a similar general appearance of the species, an idenfitication key is presented below.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A–H. Aechmea aiuruocensis (Leme 8113). A. Leaf blade apex. B. Basal margin of the leaf blade. C, D. Floral bracts. E. Flower. F, G. Sepals. H. Petal and stamens. I–M. Aechmea altocaririensis (Leme 8217). I. Leaf blade apex. J. Basal floral bract. K. Flower. L. Sepal. M. Petal. N–Q. Aechmea limai (Leme 6307). N. Leaf blade apex. O. Flower. P. Sepal. Q. Petal. R–Z. Aechmea recurvipetala Leme & L.Kollmann (Leme 8207). R. Leaf blade apex. S. Basal margin of the leaf blade. T. Floral bract. U. Flower without petals. V. Abaxial sepal. W. Adaxial sepal. Y. Corolla. X. Petal. Z. Longitudinal section of the ovary.

FIGURE 4. A–C. Aechmea recurvipetala. A. Inflorescence of the paratype (Leme 8192). B. Inflorescence of the holotype (Leme 8207). C. Floral details of the holotype (Leme 8207). D–F. Dyckia kranziana (Kranz 122). D. Habit. E. Inflorescence. F. Floral details.