Passiflora longifilamentosa A.K.Koch, A.Cardoso & Ilk.

Koch, Ana Kelly, Cardoso, André Luiz De Rezende & Ilkiu-Borges, Anna Luiza, 2013, A new species of Passiflora subgenus Passiflora series Quadrangulares (Passifloraceae) from the Brazilian Amazon, Phytotaxa 104 (1), pp. 43-48 : 44-46

Passiflora longifilamentosa A.K.Koch, A.Cardoso & Ilk. -Borg., sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 & 2 ).

Passiflora longifilamentosa is closely related to Passiflora trialata , differing by oblanceolate stipules, elliptic to obovate leaves, ovate to oval-lanceolate bracts, and a corona with seven series of stamens.

Type:— BRAZIL. Pará: Oriximiná, Saracá-Taquera National Forest, Platô Periquito , 150 m, 1º 37’ 43,6”S, 56º 26’ 04,1”W, 01 January 2011, J. B. F . da Silva 3516 (holotype MG!, isotype RB!) .

Plant a woody vine, glabrous. Stem sharply 3-angular, greenish-brown. Stipules oblanceolate, 1.3–2.5 × 0.2– 0.3 cm, brownish-green, margin entire, glands absent. Petioles sharply 3-angular, 2–2.5 cm long, greenishbrown, with two pairs of tubicular green glands, less than 1 mm diam., 1.5–2 cm from the petiole base. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 13–14 × 6.4–6.6 cm, obtuse at base, margin entire, apex cuspidate, pinnately veined, coriaceous, olive-green in both surfaces, nectaries absent. Tendrils weak to well-developed, greenish-brown. Flowers solitary, from older parts of the plant, pendant, 3–7 cm diam.; peduncles 3-angular, 2.5–4 cm long, greenish-brown; pedicels 3-angular, 0.8–1 cm long; bracts verticillate, ovate to ovate-triangular, 4.3–5 × 2–3.1 cm, greenish, margin entire, glands absent, free from the hypanthium, inserted 0.8–1 cm below the flower; hypanthium campanulate, 1–1.5 cm long, glabrous, whitish-green; sepals oblong-lanceolate to triangular, 2– 4.5 × 1–2 cm, obtuse at base, rounded at apex, adaxial surface whitish-green, abaxial surface greenish-white with purple spots; awn absent; petals oblong-lanceolate to triangular, 2–4 × 0.8–1.2 cm, obtuse at base, rounded at apex, adaxial surface whitish-green with purple spots near the margin, abaxial surface greenishwhite with purple spots; corona with 7 series of filaments, the two outer series linear-hairy, slender, 3–6.5 cm long, inclined, wavy and matted above the middle, yellowish-green near the base, 11–13 whitish and purple banded, becoming white toward the apex, the third, fourth and fifth series equal, filaments stout, tubicular, less than 1 mm long, inclined, yellowish-green, the sixth series of filaments stout, filiform, 2 mm long, declined, greenish-yellow the innermost series exceeding the previous rank, filaments ligulate, slightly flattened, free or sometimes united by a membrane to its half, declined, yellowish-green; operculum membranaceous, declined, 3–5 mm long, margin entire, yellowish-green; trochlea present, yellowish-green, 0.5–1 cm beneath ovary, androgynophore 2–3.3 cm long, yellowish-green; staminal filaments 4–7 mm long, greenish and slightly mottled with red-purple spots; ovary glabrous, yellowish-green, 6–8 mm long, 2–3 mm diam.; styles 6–8 mm long including the stigmas. Mature fruits ovoid, ca. 12 cm long, 7 cm diam., greenishyellow; pulp whitish-orange, sweet; seeds black, 1 × 6 mm, 150–200 seeds per fruit.

Distribution and ecology:— This remarkable new species is known from a reforested area in eastern Amazonian Brazil. The area of collection exhibits lateritic soil, 150–160 m elevation, and rainfall of 2300– 2800 mm per year. The species was also collected in lowland tropical rainforest of Saül in French Guiana as Passiflora christianii Lorrain (2002: 18) (nom. inval., ICN Art. 39.1; McNeill et al. 2012), near an active gold mine ( Bouana 2002, Lorrain 2002). Passiflora longifilamentosa may be found in the original tropical rainforest as scandent vine, blooming only when it reaches the canopy of large trees. The opening of favorable environment provides high luminosity, which promotes the colonization of the new environment by this pioneer species. Besides the type, flowers were observed in two other localities, Platô Aviso (reforested in 2002, 1º 45’ 56,2”S, 56º 28’ 55,7”W), and Platô Papagaio (reforested in 2001, 1º 35’ 59,3”S, 56º 23’ 45,9”W), both in Saracá-Taquera National Forest, Pará; they proved to be populations of the new species.

Etymology:— The epithet refers to the length of the two outer filaments series of the corona.

Aditional specimen examined (paratype):— FRENCH GUIANA. Inini : Saül and vicinity, 3° 37’N, 53°12’W, 17 September 1994, S. A . Mori , C . Snyder & R . Fowler 23947 (paratype NY!)

Figures

FIGURE 1. Passiflora longifilamentosa A.K.Koch, A.Cardoso & Ilk.-Borg. a) Habit; b) Bracts; c) Flower longitudinal section; d) Detail of glands; e) Stipule; f) Fruit. Illustrated by João Silveira (from J.B.F. da Silva 3516, MG).

FIGURE 2. Passiflora longifilamentosa A.K.Koch, A.Cardoso & Ilk.-Borg. a–b) Flower in nature; c) Detail of corona filaments; c) Fruit in nature; d) Form of fruit; e) Cross section of fruit; f) Detail of pulp of fruit. (Photos by J.B.F. da Silva).