Callianthe capixabae M.T.R. Costa & Bovini

Costa, Maria Tereza R., Zorzanelli, João Paulo F. & Bovini, Massimo G., 2022, In the middle way there was a Callianthe (Malvaceae): a new species in forest path edges from Espírito Santo state, Brazil, Phytotaxa 577 (1), pp. 145-149 : 146-148

Callianthe capixabae M.T.R. Costa & Bovini , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Type:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Castelo, Parque Estadual do Forno Grande , borda da trilha para o mirante da Pedra Azul, 1267m, 20°31’13” S 41°5’17” W, 5 July 2022, M. T. R. Costa et al. 1826 (holotype RB!, isotypes HUFSJ!, MBML!, VIES!, R!) .

Species morphologically similar to Callianthe glaziovii (K.Schum.) Donnell (2012: 719) but can be distinguished by its indument colour, type of stem and adaxial surface of the leaves indument, leaf blade margin, type of inflorescence, corolla colour, fruit length, and number of ovules per mericarp. Species also close to Callianthe schenckii (K.Schum.) Donnell (2012: 720) but can be distinguished by its indument colour, type of inflorescence, calyx nerves, corolla colour, staminal tube and styles exserted beyond the corolla, fruit length, mericarp apex, and number of mericarps per fruit.

Shrubs up to 2 m tall, erect or sometimes scandent; stems glabrescent to pilose, with short simple and stellate trichomes, sparse black spots along the stem. Stipules 2–5.2 × 0.3–0.6 mm, linear to triangular, pubescent and ciliate, with short stellate trichomes. Petioles 1–5.5 cm long, sparse to densely pilose, with short stellate trichomes. Leaf blades 3.4–11.2 × 1.1–4.9 cm, triangular to lanceolate, unlobed, symmetric to asymmetric, base truncate, slightly cordate to cordate, (5-)7-nerved, margin irregularly dentate, apex acuminate, adaxial surface greenish, tomentose, with short stellate trichomes, abaxial surface cinereous, densely tomentose, with short stellate trichomes. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils, pendulous; peduncles 4–6.5 cm long, densely tomentose, with short stellate trichomes; calyx 1.4–2.1 cm long, campanulate, base 0.8–1.2 cm wide, externally dense tomentose, with short stellate trichomes, internally papillose with glandular trichomes, lobes 5, 0.5–0.7 × 0.7–0.8 cm, narrowly triangular, externally the same as the base indument, internally glabrescent to pilose with short stellate trichomes; corolla orange to reddish with red veins, petals (1.9–)3.1–4.3 × (1.4–) 1.7–2.1 cm, claw 0.4–0.5 cm long, externally pilose with short, simple trichomes, internally glabrous; staminal tube (including the staminiferous portion) 2.1–4.7 cm long, reddish; staminiferous portion 0.7–0.9 × 0.7–0.9 cm, circular to oblong, filaments numerous, styles 10, staminal tube and styles exserted 0.2–0.9 cm beyond the corolla; carpels ca. (9–)10, ovary (9–)10-locular, 0.3–0.4 cm long, externally tomentose, stellate trichomes ca. 0.1 cm long, locule 6–7-ovulate. Fruit schizocarpic, 2.3–2.6 × 1.9–2.4 cm, depressed-globose, partially enclosed by the accrescent calyx; mericarps 10, dehiscent, 2.3–2.6 × 0.7–0.9 cm, aristate, externally tomentose, stellate trichomes ca. 0.5 mm long, internally pilose, with short sparse simple or bifid trichomes. Seeds 1-2 (and 5-6 aborted ovules) per mericarp, 2.2–3 × 1.9–2.2 mm, pubescent, simple trichomes 0.2–0.4 mm long, reniform.

Notes: — Callianthe capixabae can be distinguished from C. glaziovii and C . schenckii by vegetative and reproductive characteristics presented in the diagnosis above and Table 1 . The geographic distribution can also be used to distinguish the three species: C. capixabae is restricted to Espírito Santo state, while C. glaziovii and C . schenckii are considered endemic from Rio de Janeiro state ( Takeuchi 2022).

Habitat, distribution: — The species occurs in forest understories from the countryside of Espírito Santo state, Brazil, in the Atlantic Forest domain ( Fig. 2 ). The elevation range of occurrence is comprised between 1,100 and 1,300 m. Inside the Brazilian vegetation types, the species is comprised in Dense Ombrophilous Forest, which is characterized by rainy lands with abundance of phanerophytes, woody lianas, and epiphytes ( IBGE 2012).

Conservation: —Once C. capixabae is only known from two localities and two populations, it is too soon to conduct an appropriate conservation assessment. So, the species is considered as Data Deficient (DD: IUCN 2017). One of these populations is localized into the Parque Estadual do Forno Grande (PEFG)’s delimitation, where is protected by conservation laws of the Espírito Santo state. However, the population is exposed to some local threats as depredation by tourists and by the park maintenance since the specimens are localized on the edges of the single track for ecotourism. The other population was registered in a forest edge of the road that gives access to the communication towers in Serra do Valentim (SV), a place that is not comprised into the local conservation unit Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Toca da Onça ( Zorzanelli et al. 2017). Some threats to this second population could be noticed by one of the authors such as forest fires and the periodic road maintenance where plants (especially herbs and shrubs) use to be cut. The PEFG and SV’s surroundings are also very similar being composed mainly by rural properties of coffee and eucalyptus cultivation and livestock, besides some Atlantic Forest fragments. This context makes the PEFG and SV’s vegetation partially isolated and restricted, making more difficult essential mechanisms for their biodiversity such as dispersion and gene flow.

Phenology: —Flowering was recorded from April to August; fruits were recorded in July.

Etymology: —The epithet is derived from “capixaba”, a word with Tupi origin (kopisáwa), that is used to refer to someone or something that is related to or belong to Espírito Santo state ( Michaelis 1998), where the species occurs.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Castelo, Parque Estadual do Forno Grande , 9 April 2004, L . Kollmann 6609 ( MBML, RB); ibidem, ibidem, trilha para as piscinas, 1280 m, 20°31’8”W, 41°05’20”W, 6 Aug. 2013, R. G . Barbosa-Silva 88 ( RB, VIES); ibidem, ibidem, ibidem, 20°30’58”S, 41°05’1”W, 2 May 2008, C. N . Fraga 1955 ( MBML, RB); Iúna, Serra do Valentim , estrada para a torre, 1285 m, 20°22’44”S, 41°28’0.9”W, 28 April 2013, J. P. F . Zorzanelli 646 ( CAP, RB, VIES) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Callianthe capixabae. a. habit; b. stipules detail; c. leaf adaxial surface; d. leaf abaxial surface; e. floral bud; f. lateral view of the flower; g. oblique view of the flower evidencing the exserted staminal tube and styles; h. oblique view of the fruit, evidencing the ten mericarps aristate; i. seed. Photographs by M.T.R. Costa.

FIGURE 2. Geographical distribution of Callianthe capixabae, where Brazilian vegetation types follow IBGE (2012).