Solanum verticillatum S.Knapp & Stehmann, 2015

Knapp, Sandra, Stehmann, Joao Renato & Giacomin, Leandro L., 2015, New species, additions and a key to the Brazilian species of the Geminata clade of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in Brazil, PhytoKeys 47, pp. 1-48 : 14-17

Solanum verticillatum S.Knapp & Stehmann sp. nov. Figures 8F, 14

Diagnosis.

Like Solanum evonymoides Sendtn. but differing in being a large tree with pseudo-verticillate very shiny chartaceous leaves, smaller, sweet-smelling flowers and orange berries with large seeds.

Type.

Brazil. São Paulo: Mun. Santo André, Paranapiacaba, Estação Biológica, 23°46'-23°48'S, 46°21'-46°17'W, 800 m, 30 Jul 1980. A. Custodio Filho & A.C. Dias 305 (holotype: SP [SP002705]; isotypes: BHCB [BHCB019061], BM [BM001120381]).

Description.

Tree to 8 m, the branching appearing somewhat verticillate with branches in congested groups; young stems terete, completely glabrous, usually shiny; new growth completely glabrous and shiny, in live plants sometimes purplish green; bark of older stems pale yellow when dry, in live plants greyish brown. Sympodial units plurifoliate, the leaves clustered along the stems. Leaves simple, 4.5-16 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, elliptic to obelliptic, usually narrowly so, chartaceous and somewhat brittle, both surfaces glabrous and shiny, drying a golden brown; primary veins 6-10 pairs, drying yellowish brown, not looping in a submarginal vein; base acute to acuminate; margins entire, sometimes revolute; apex abruptly acute to attenuate; petiole (0.5-)1-2 cm long, glabrous, drying pale yellowish brown. Inflorescences 2-5 cm long, terminal, appearing axillary but this due to short internodes and congested leaves, branching 1-2 times, with 30-40 flowers, completely glabrous; peduncle 0.5-2.5 cm long; pedicels 1.5-1.7 cm long, ca. 0.5 mm in diameter at the base, ca. 1 mm in diameter at the apex, filiform, spreading at anthesis, glabrous, articulated at the base; pedicel scars unevenly spaced 1-2 mm apart, usually clustered at the tips of the inflorescence branches. Buds ellipsoid, the corolla completely enclosed in the calyx when young, exserted 2/3 to 3/4 of the way just before anthesis. Flowers 5-merous, all perfect, intensely sweet-smelling (Custodio Filho 305). Calyx tube 1-1.5 mm long, conical, the lobes 0.9-1 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, broadly deltate, with scarious margins and a central thickened keel ending in a rounded point, glabrous or the tips with a few papillae. Corolla (1.4-)1.6-1.8 cm in diameter, white, stellate, lobed nearly to the base, the lobes 6-8 mm long, 2.5-3.5(-4) mm wide, spreading at anthesis, densely papillate on the cucullate tips, otherwise completely glabrous. Stamens 4.5-6 mm long; filament tube 1 mm long or less, the free portion of the filaments minute, <0.5 mm long, glabrous; anthers (3-)4-4.5 mm long, 1-1.2 mm wide, obellipsoid with the base narrower than the distal portion, yellow, poricidal at the tips, the pores lengthening to slits with age. Ovary glabrous; style 5-7 mm long, glabrous; stigma minutely capitate, the surface papillose. Fruit a globose berry, 1-1.2 cm in diameter, pale green and white speckled (immature) becoming yellow or orange when ripe, the pericarp shiny and leathery, shattering when pressed and dried; fruiting pedicels 2-2.5 cm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter at the base, expanding gradually to ca. 2 mm in diameter at the apex, more or less woody, hanging; calyx lobes in fruit not markedly lengthening. Seeds 10-20 per berry, 5-5.5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, reniform and somewhat flattened, dark brown with paler margins, the surfaces minutely pitted and usually quite thin the embryo easily visible, the testal cells with sinuate margins.

Distribution and ecology.

Endemic to south-eastern Brazil, in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo; in the Serra do Mar and Mantiequeira mountain chains (Figure 15).

Ecology.

Solanum verticillatum grows on the montane coastal forests (Mata Atlântica) as a small tree in forests and secondary growth from 700 to almost 2000 m elevation. Plants can be as large as 10 cm in diameter, and form part of the low canopy of these forests.

Phenology.

Most flowering specimens collected in the months of June and July; fruiting in November-January. Sporadic flowering and fruiting apparently occurs throughout the year, but a flowering peak occurs in the austral winter (May-August), which is also the drier season.

Etymology.

Named for the pseudo-verticillate nature of the stems, where many branches appear to arise from a set of closely spaced nodes (Figure 8F inset).

Preliminary conservation status ( IUCN 2014).

Least Concern (LC); EOO 75, 516 km2 (LC); AOO 60 km2 (EN). Although only described here, Solanum verticillatum is known from many localities along the Serra do Mar, many of which are from within protected areas (e.g., Reserva Biológica do Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba in São Paulo state and Reserva Ecológica de Macaé de Cima, in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state). Where it occurs, Solanum verticillatum is relatively common.

Notes.

Solanum verticillatum was considered a montane form of Solanum evonymoides by Knapp (2008); field collections in 2013 confirmed the distinctness of this species. Solanum evonymoides is known from coastal forests in Bahia and adjacent Espirito Santo, and eastern Minas Gerais and although morphologically similar to Solanum verticillatum is distinct in both habitat and in several morphological features. Solanum verticillatum differs from Solanum evonymoides in its tree habit, branches that appear verticillate due to short internodes (Figure 8F inset), smaller sweet-smelling flowers (<2 cm in diameter), shiny chartaceous leaves, and orange berries.

Solanum verticillatum also resembles Solanum psilophyllum (another set of specimens previously recognised as Solanum evonymoides by Knapp 2008) in its glabrous shiny leaves. It differs from that species in its more broadly deltate calyx lobes, its distinctly pedunculate inflorescences (versus inflorescences that branch only very near the base in Solanum psilophyllum ), its berry that is orange or yellow-orange when ripe, and in its flattened rather than ovoid seeds. These two species can be very difficult to distinguish, but the marked constriction just below the calyx lobes at the distal end of the swollen pedicel occurs only in Solanum psilophyllum .

This species was commonly collected until approximately the 1980s and populations from the Paranapiacaba reserve are well represented in SP. It is strange that more recent collections do not seem to have been made; this may be due to the tree habit of Solanum verticillatum and to its similarity to the more common species Solanum campaniforme and Solanum pseudoquina A.St.Hil. It can be distinguished from Solanum campaniforme by its shiny, completely glabrous leaves (the leaves of Solanum campaniforme have tufts of trichomes in the vein axils abaxially) and from Solanum pseudoquina by its equal anthers (those of Solanum pseudoquina are markedly unequal). It differs from both species in its yellow or orange berries and pseudoverticillate branching. Most specimens of Solanum verticillatum at SP were previously identified as Solanum pseudoquina .

Specimens examined.

BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Mun. Alto Caparaó, Serra do Caparaó, Rancho da Casa Queimada, 2200m, 10 Jul 1941 (fl, fr), J. de Castro s.n. (VIC); Mun. Araponga, Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro, trilha para o Pico do Boné, 26 May 2000 (fr), A. Salino 5485 (BHCB). Rio de Janeiro: Mun. Nova Friburgo, Reserva Macaé de Cima, estrada de terra do Hotel São João para o Sitio dos Miller, 19 Jan 1999 (fr), L.O. Anderson et al. 99/ 33 (RB); Macaé, Distrito de Frade, trilha para o Pico, 1250 m, 19 Nov 2002 (fr), M.G. Bovini et al. 2228 (RB); Serra dos Orgãos, 21 Apr 1941 (fl.fr), A.C. Brade 16776 (RB); Mun. Teresópolis, Teresópolis do Parnaso, excursão a trilha do Rancho Frio, 23K (0704594/7514750), 22°27'16"S, 42°59'19"W, 15 Sep 2010 (fr), C. Cronemberger et al. 5 (NY, RB); près Theresopolis [no date], A.F.M. Glaziou 8199 (P); Serra dos Orgãos, près Theresopolis, 1886 (fl), A.F.M. Glaziou 8856 (G, K); Mun. Nova Iguaçu, Pico do Tinguá, REBIO Tinguá, estrada do Trilha do Rala, Sapé, 22°35'22"S, 42°29'03"W 1600 m (fr), H.C. de Lima et al. 6006 (RB); Mun. Petrópolis, Araras, 22°23'23"S, 43°13'57"W, 1100 m, 16 Jun 1974 (fl), G. Martinelli 330 (RB); Mun.Nova Friburgo, Morro da Caledonia, 1400-1600 m, 8 Jun 1977 (fl), G. Martinelli et al 2440 (K); Mun. Nova Friburgo, Reserva Macaé de Cima, nascente do Rio das Flores, 1000 m, 25 May 1987 (fl, fr), G. Martinelli et al. 12067 (RB); Mun. Santa Maria Magdalena, Parque Estadual do Desengano, Pedra do Desengano, 21°53'00"S, 41°55'00"W, 1700-1800 m, 21 Dec 1988 (fr), G. Martinelli et al. 13274 (F, RB); Mun. Santa Maria Magdalena, Parque Estadual do Desengano, Pedra do Desengano, 21°53'00"S, 41°55'00"W, 1800-1850 m, 28 Jun 1989 (fl, fr), G. Martinelli et al. 13360 (F, RB); Mun. Petrópolis, Serra da Maria Comprida, Distrito de Araras, APA de Petrópolis, João Grande, 22°24'01"S, 43°12'18"W, 1500m, 25 Apr 2006 (fl), M.A. Moraes & B. Benevenuto RB- 477309 (BHCB); Mun. Nova Friburgo, Reserva Macaé de Cima, trilha em direção ao cume, atrás da casa de Bel e David Muller, 22°00' S, 42°00' W, 2 May 2007 (fr), M.M. Saavedra & M. Bocayuva 381 (BHCB, RB); Mun. Teresópolis, Parque Nacional da Serra dos Orgãos, upper part of the Rancho Frio trail, 22°27'50"S, 43°00'48"W, 1625 m, 8 Mar 2005 (fr), C. Seele 1004 (RB); Mun. Teresópolis, Parque Nacional da Serra dos Orgãos, vale do Rio Beija-Flor, proximo a trilha da Pedra do Sino, 22°26'53"S, 43°00'20"W, 1265m, 24 Apr 2004 (st), J.W. Wesenberg 1037 (BHCB); Mun. Teresópolis, Parque Nacional da Serra dos Orgãos, Vale das Orquídeas, 22°27'27"S, 43°01'11"W, 1985 m, 21 Jul 2010 (fr), J.W. Wesenberg et al. 1046 (RB). São Paulo: Mun. São Paulo, desde Parelheiros rumbo a Eng. Marsilac, a 300 m de la Estrada Ponte Seca, 15 Apr 2008, G.E. Barboza et al. 2025 (CORD); Mun. São Paulo, Marsilac, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, nucleo Curucutu, caminho para o Mirante, 14 May 1997 (fr), N.S. Chukr et al. 536 (PMSP); Mun. Itanháem, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, núcleo de Curucutu, trilha do Rio Camburi, 799m, 15 Mar 2005 (fr), R. Cielo-Filho et al. 410 (BHCB); Mun. Santo André, Estação Biológica do Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba, picada 1, 3 Aug 1979 (fl), A. Custodio Filho et al. 91 (BM, SP); Cunha, Reserva Florestal [44.50-45.50 W, 23.10-23.20S], 1000 m, 11 Jul 1980 (fl), A. Custodio Filho 265 (BHCB, NY); Mun. São Paulo, Rio Capivari, Distrito de Engo. Marsilac, 23°56'03"S, 46°42'36"W, 800 m, 17 Jun 1992 (fl), C. Farney et al. 3143 (RB); Mun, São Paulo, Marsilac, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, nucleo Curucutu, trilha do mirante, 18 Jan 1996 (fr), G.M.P. Ferreira et al. 35 (BHCB, BM, SP, UEC); Mun. Santo André, Estação Biológica do Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba [46 21S-46 17S;23 46W-23 28W, DM], 750-790 m, 27 Aug 1980 (fl), E. Forero et al. 7656 (BM, SP); Mun. Cunha, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, picada do Rio Bonito, 17 Aug 1994 (fl), G.A.D.C. Franco & M.L. Kawasaki 1241 (BHCB); Mun. São Paulo, Marsilac, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, nucleo Curucutu, trilha do Mirante, topo do morro, limite de municipio com Itanhaém, 872m, 13 Apr 1997 (fr), R.J.F. García & M. Gomes Neto 1161 (PMSP); Mun. Santo André, Paranapiacaba, Parque Municipal das Nascentes de Paranapiacaba, trilha do caminho da Bela Vista, 23°47'21"S, 46°18'11"W, 1056m, 13 Oct 2009 (fr), L.L. Giacomin et al. 1110 (BHCB, BM); Mun. Santo André, Reserva Biológica do Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba, 23°46'41"S, 46°18'44"W, 809 m, 19 Nov 2013 (fr), L.L. Giacomin et al. 2016 (BHCB, BM, UT); Mun. São Paulo, Marsilac, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, Curucutu, subida para o Mirante, 23°59'28"S, 46°44'36"W, 16 Aug 1995 (fl), S.A.P. Godoy et al. 755 (BHCB, SP); Mun. Santo André, Alto da Serra (fl), F.C. Hoehne s.n. (SP); Mun. Santo André, Alto da Serra, 31 Jul 1918 (fl), F.C. Hoehne SP-2336 (BM, SP); Mun. Santo André, Alto da Serra, 28 Jan 1919, F.C. Hoehne 3042 (US); Mun. Santo André, Reserva Biológica do Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba, área de Campo Grande, 6 Apr 1995 (fr), M. Kirizawa & E.A. Lopes 2972 (BM,SP); Mun. Santo André, trilha construida pela CESP, estrada da Torre, caminho para o Vale do Quilombo, próximo a Vila de Paranapiacaba, 31 Jan 1996 (fr), C.Y. Kiyama et al. 103 (SP, UEC); Mun. Santo André, Paranapiacaba, Estação Biológica, 23 May 1946 (fr), M. Kuhlmann 3420 (BM,SP); Mun. Santo André, Alto da Serra, Estação Biológica, 2 Aug 1928, D. Lemos s.n. (BM,SP); Cunha-Res., Est. de Cunha, 11 Jul 1980 (fl), F.R. Martins et al. 12361 (NY); Mun. Santo André, E.B. Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba, (via férrea São Paulo-Santos), 28 Oct 1965 (fr), J. Mattos & C. Moura 12790 (SP); Mun. Santo André, Paranapiacaba, Estação Biológica, via férrea São Paulo-Santos, 30 Sep 1966 (fr), J. Mattos 13888 (BM, SP);Mun. Santo André, E.B. Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba, (via férrea São Paulo-Santos), 27 Dec 1966 (fr), J. Mattos & N. Mattos 14394 (SP); Mun. Santo André, E.B. Alto da Serra de Paranapiacaba, (via férrea São Paulo-Santos), 27 Jul 1967 (fl), J. Mattos & N. Mattos 14844 (SP); Mun. São Miguel Arcanjo, Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, estrada de serviço, próximo a Mirante, 2 Sep 2011 (fl, fr), P.L.R. de Moraes et al. 3327 (BHCB); Mun. Santo André, Alto da Serra, Aug-Sep 1917 (fl), E. Schwebel 79 (SP); Mun. São Paulo, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, núcleo Curucutu, trilha do Campo, 23°59'00"S, 46°44'00"W, 800m, 11 Apr 2001 (fr), F.M. Souza et a.l 63 (BHCB); Mun. Santo André, trilha construida pela CESP, estrada da Torre, caminho para o Vale do Quilombo, próximo a Vila de Paranapiacaba, 31 Jan 1996 (fr), M. Sugiyama et al. 1403 (BHCB, SP); Mun. Santo André, Paranapiacaba, Estação Biológica, 23°47' S, 46°19' W, 750-900 m, 28 Jul 1983 (fl), C.B. Toledo & A. Custodio Filho 29 (BM, SP).