Eremitis pernambucensis F.M.Ferreira & R.P.Oliveira, 2024

Ferreira, Fabrício Moreira, Dorneles Welker, Cassiano A., Clark, Lynn G. & Oliveira, Reyjane P., 2024, Eremitis pernambucensis (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new species of herbaceous bamboo, marks the northernmost distribution of the genus in Brazil, Phytotaxa 633 (2), pp. 138-144 : 139-143

Eremitis pernambucensis F.M.Ferreira & R.P.Oliveira , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Type: — BRAZIL. Pernambuco: São Vicente Férrer, Mata do Estado, Complexo das Serras do Mascarenhas e Jundiá , fragmento Pimenteira , 7°36’56.7”S, 35°30’33”W, 600 m, 23 Mar 2010, F.M. Ferreira et al. 2223 (holotype: HUEFS!; isotypes: BHCB!, CEN!, CEPEC!, CVRD!, ICN!, ISC!, K!, MBM!, MO!, P!, R!, RB!, SP!, US!).

Diagnosis: — Eremitis pernambucensis is similar to E. victoriae in leafy culm length and diameter, leaf blade length and width, and the glaucous abaxial surface of the leaf blades. The new species can be differentiated from the latter by its longer ligules, gynecandrous whorls, pistillate spikelets, and rachis prolongation.

Leafy culms erect, (43–)47–77(–107) cm long, 1.5–3 mm diam. near the base; internodes slightly striate, glabrous to slightly scabrous; nodes thickened, glabrous to slightly pilose; leaves 7–8(–10) per leafy culm; leaf sheaths slightly keeled, not inflated, glabrous at the base, pilose towards the apex, margins ciliate, fimbriae at the apex present, persistent; ligules entire, 1.8–2 mm long; pseudopetioles (1.9–)2–4.2 × (1–)1.2–1.9(–2.7) mm, green or brown, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface glabrous to slightly pilose; leaf blades 10–12.7(–15.2) × 2.4–3.3 cm, lanceolate, base rounded, symmetrical to slightly asymmetrical, apex acute, adaxial surface green, glabrous, abaxial surface glaucous, slightly scabrous, margins scabrous. Decumbent culms (25–)44–46(–50) cm long; leaves (4–)5–7, reduced to the sheaths or with scale-like blades, ca. 0.5 mm long; leaf sheaths not inflated, slightly scabrous, green, apex purple, margins ciliate. Subterranean culms 4–5.5 cm long. Leafy culm inflorescences (2–)3–5 per culm, 4–5.5 cm long. Decumbent culm inflorescences 1 per culm, (4–) 5–5.5 cm long. Subterranean culm inflorescences 1 per culm, 2.8–3 cm long. Gynecandrous whorls (14.5–)16.9–19.6 × 3.2–4.7 mm, 1 per inflorescence; rachis prolongation 14.6–15.8 mm long, glabrous at the base, pilose towards the apex; pistillate spikelets 1 per whorl; staminate spikelets 5(–6) per whorl. Pistillate spikelets 12.9–14(–15.8) × 2.9–3.8 mm, lanceolate or oblong, stramineous; glumes 12.8–15(–16.5) × 2.3–3 mm, membranous, hyaline, narrow-triangular to lanceolate, apex acute, glabrous to slightly pilose, 1(–3)– nerved; lemmas cartilaginous, oblong to lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous at the base to slightly pilose at the apex, 8-nerved; paleas cartilaginous, lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous at the base to slightly pilose at the apex, 2–4- nerved. Caryopsis ca. 8.9 × 2.7 mm, oblong. Staminate spikelets (3.5–)4.5–5.6 × 2–3 mm, elliptic to oblong; pedicels (10–) 11.5–12.5 mm long, laterally adnate in two groups, pilose; glumes (2–)2.5–4.5 × 1.2–2 mm, linear to triangular, apex acute, pilose to slightly scabrous, (0–)1–2(–3)-nerved; lemmas (3.5–)4.5–5 × 0.8–1 mm, oblong, apex obtuse to rounded, glabrous at the base and villous towards the apex, 3-nerved; paleas 3.5–4.5 × 0.8–1 mm, oblong, apex obtuse to rounded, glabrous at the base and villous towards the apex, 2-nerved; anthers 1–1.5 mm long. Staminate whorls 2–3 per inflorescence; staminate spikelets (3.8–)4.5–5.5 × 1.5–1.8 mm, oblong; pedicels (1–) 1.3–1.5 mm long, laterally adnate or free, glabrous or pilose; glumes 2–2.5(–3.4) × 0.3–0.5 mm, linear to narrowly triangular, apex acute to setaceous, glabrous, 0(–1)-nerved; lemmas (3–)4–4.5 × 1.5–2 mm, lanceolate to oblong, apex rounded, glabrous at the base and villous towards the apex, 3-nerved; paleas (3.4–)4–4.7 × 1.5–2 mm, oblong, apex obtuse, glabrous at the base and villous at the margins and apex, 2-nerved; anthers ca. 1.5 mm long.

Etymology: —The epithet is a reference to the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, which represents the only known region of occurrence of the new species.

Habitat and distribution: — Eremitis pernambucensis is only known from the north of Pernambuco state, Brazil, in the municipality of São Vicente Férrer ( Fig. 3 ). The vegetation cover in the area is composed of montane dense ombrophilous forest ( IBGE 2012). Individuals of the new species were found mainly near water courses at elevations ranging from 400 to 750 m.s.m. Eremitis pernambucensis represents the northernmost distribution of the genus known so far.

Taxonomic notes: — Eremitis pernambucensis overlaps morphologically with E. victoriae in leafy culm length and diameter, leaf blade length and width, and abaxially glaucous leaf blades. However, the new species can be differentiated from E. victoriae by its longer ligules (1.8–2 mm vs. 1 mm long in E. victoriae ), longer gynecandrous whorls [(14.5–) 16.9–19.6 mm vs. 13–14 mm long], longer pistillate spikelets [12.9–14(–15.8) mm vs. 10–11 mm long], and longer rachis prolongation [14.6–15.8 mm vs. 6.7–8.6(–9.7) mm long] ( Figs. 1 , 2 ; Table 1).

Conservation status: —The new species is only known from one small population of about 70 individuals. The estimated area of occupancy (AOO) for the species is 4 km 2. Therefore, this new species should be considered Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii)] according to the IUCN categories and criteria ( IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2022).

The forest remnants of the Mata do Estado —locally known as Pimenteira (type locality), Matas do Caidor, and Brejinho —are part of the Complexo das Serras do Mascarenhas e Jundiá, a region of extreme biological importance due to the occurrence of endemic and threatened species ( Pereira & Brito 2005, Pereira 2009). Added to neighboring forest remnants, the forest complex that encompasses the Mata do Estado is the second largest block of Atlantic Forest north of the São Francisco River, with approximately 3,000 hectares ( Pereira & Brito 2005, Pereira 2009). These remnants of the northeastern Atlantic Forest were considered by the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment as critical for conservation and scientific studies, but they still do not have legal support for protection as Conservation Units ( Beltrão & Macêdo 1994, Ministério do Meio Ambiente 2002).

Paratype: — BRAZIL. Pernambuco: São Vicente Férrer, Mata do Estado, 06 Feb 2000, E.M.N. Ferraz et al. 839 (HUEFS, PEUFR).

Figures

FIGURE. 1. Eremitis pernambucensis sp. nov.A. Habit. B. Detail of the leafy culm showing the fimbriae. C. Leafy culm inflorescence. D. Leafy culm inflorescence with spathaceous bracts removed, showing a gynecandrous whorl above and two staminate whorls below. E–F. Gynecandrous whorl. E. Adaxial view of the staminate spikelets showing the rachis prolongation. F. Abaxial view of the staminate spikelets. G. Decumbent culm inflorescence. (Drawn from the holotype by Carla Lima)

FIGURE. 2. Locality in which Eremitis pernambucensis occurs in the municipality of São Vicente Férrer, Pernambuco, Brazil. B. Habit. C. Detail of the leafy culm showing the fimbriae and the glaucous abaxial surface of the leaf blade. D. Leafy culm with inflorescences. E. Decumbent culm inflorescence. F. Subterranean culm with inflorescence. G. Detail of the subterranean culm inflorescence. (Photos by F.M. Ferreira)

FIGURE. 3. Geographical distribution of Eremitis pernambucensis and E. victoriae. (Brazilian state abbreviations: BA—Bahia; ES— Espírito Santo; PE—Pernambuco)