Two New Species of Pouteria (Sapotaceae) from the Atlantic Forest in Brazil

Abstract

This paper provides descriptions and illustrations of two new species of Pouteria from the Atlantic forest of Bahia, Brazil ( P. atlantica and P. trifida ). In addition, distribution maps and a table with main characters to distinguish the new species from related taxa are also included. Pouteria atlantica is characterized by large trichomes that cover the corolla lobes, anther's outer surface, and form tufts on the apex of anthers. Pouteria trifida is distinguished by its long petioles and trifid staminodes. Due to intense deforestation in the Atlantic forest, preliminary IUCN red list assessments are provided. Pouteria atlantica is proposed in the IUCN status critically endangered (CR), while the data for P. trifida are still insufficient.

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Two New Species of Pouteria (Sapotaceae) from the Atlantic Forest in Brazil
Author(s) :Anderson Alves-Araújo and Marccus Alves
Source: Systematic Botany, 36(4):1004-1007. 2011.
Published By: The American Society of Plant Taxonomists
URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1600/036364411X605001
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Systematic Botany (2011), 36(4): pp. 1004–1007
© Copyright 2011 by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists
DOI 10.1600/036364411X605001
1004
The Atlantic forest, most of it in Brazil, is considered a
hotspot of diversity and endemism in the world and is one of
the areas with highest priority for conservation ( Mittermeier
et al. 1999 ; Myers et al. 2000 ). At present, due to human
impact, the Atlantic forest is an extremely fragmented biome
and its species richness is strongly impacted by the size and
shape of fragments and history of land use ( Metzger 2003 ;
Myers et al. 2000 ). This biome, after the Amazonian forest, is the
most important center of evolution for Sapotaceae and other
families in the Neotropics ( Pennington 1991 , 2006 ; Anderberg
and Swenson 2003 ; Swenson and Anderberg 2005 ).
Sapotaceae includes 58 genera and about 1,250 species in
subtropical and tropical areas of the world ( Pennington 1991 ;
Govaerts et al. 2001 ; Swenson et al. 2007a , 2007b ). Pennington
(1990) monographed the family for the New World and,
using a system published a year later ( Pennington 1991 ),
considered Pouteria as the largest genus of the family with
a pantropical distribution. Pouteria is a member of subfam-
ily Chrysophylloideae ( Swenson and Anderberg 2005 ) and
includes about 300 species of trees, shrubs, and even some
geoxylic shrubs. The genus is characterized by a set of fea-
tures such as eucamptodromous and/or brochidodromous
venation, absence of stipules, and the fascicled flowers are
axillary or born along the branches. The flowers have 4–11
sepals, 4–8 corolla lobes, and staminodes. Fruits are usu-
ally fleshy, classified as a berry, and their seeds have plano-
convex cotyledons that lack endosperm. Unfortunately, there
are exceptions to all of these characters.
Pennington (1991) divided Pouteria into nine sections and
six of them are confined to the Neotropics. However, recent
phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Pennington’s
classification does not always correspond to natural groups,
likely in the case for Pouteria as well as its sections ( Anderberg
and Swenson 2003 ; Bartish et al. 2005; Swenson and Anderberg
2005 ; Swenson et al. 2007a , 2008 ). In fact, taxa in Australasia
that were included in Pouteria sensu Pennington are dis-
tantly related to the Neotropical taxa of Pouteria and there-
fore are better placed in Beccariella , Planchonella , Sersalisia , and
Van-Royena ( Swenson et al. 2007a , 2007b , 2008 ). The natural
boundaries of Pouteria are still uncertain, but it is clear that it
is restricted to the New World ( Swenson et al. 2008 ).
While carrying out a taxonomic survey of Pouteria in
the Brazilian Atlantic forest, new species of Pradosia and
Chromolucuma, genera also in the Sapotaceae were discovered
and described (Alves-Araújo and Alves, in press). This paper
aims to describe two additional novelties from this rich forest
and which are best placed in Pouteria .
Taxonomic Treatment
Pouteria atlantica Alves-Araújo & M. Alves, sp. nov.—TYPE:
BRAZIL, Bahia, Mun. Arataca, Rodovia Arataca-Una,
Serra do Peito de Moça, RPPN Palmeira/IESB, 15°09′43″S,
39°20′37″W, 800–900 m, 17 Dec 2005 (fl.), J. G. Jardim et al.
4909 (holotype: CEPEC; isotype: NY).
Pouteria gardnero affinis sed praecipue lenticellis absentibus,
ramis juvenibus et foliis velutino-tomentosis, calyce velutino-
tomentoso, corollae lobis extus pilosissimis, intus glabris,
antheris apice pilosis et fructibus pilis brevis distincta.
Treelets or trees 8–12 m tall, shoots villous to tomentose
of whitish to golden trichomes, lenticels absent. Leaves spi-
rally arranged, obovate to elliptic, 10–16 × 5.5–7.6 cm, charta-
ceous, upper surface tomentulose, partly glabrescent, mainly
on the midrib, lower surface villous to tomentose of whitish
to golden trichomes; base attenuate to obtuse, apex retuse to
acuminate, margin flat; venation eucamptodromous, midrib
slightly sunken on the upper surface; secondaries of 10–12
pairs; petiole 1.5–2.6 cm long, channeled, villous to tomen-
tose of whitish to golden trichomes. Flowers 5-merous, 1–3
per fascicle, axillary, bisexual; pedicel 1–2 cm long, villous
to tomentose of whitish to golden trichomes. Sepals 4–5 mm
long, ovate, densely pilose of whitish to golden trichomes on
both surfaces, apex obtuse, margin entire. Corolla cyathiform,
greenish, 3–4 mm long; tube ∼1 mm long; lobes 2–3 mm long,
orbicular, densely pilose on the outside, glabrous inside, mar-
gin densely pilose. Stamens ∼3 mm long, included in the
corolla, fixed in the tube orifice; filaments glabrous; anthers
1.8–2.0 mm long, ovate, pilose on the outside, glabrous
inside. Staminodes lanceolate, ∼2 mm long, densely pilose.
Ovary 2-locular, ∼1 mm long, whitish to golden pubescent,
angulate in cross section; style 1.7–2.0 mm long, glabrous,
included in the corolla; stigma slightly 2-lobed. Fruit 1-seeded,
1.0–2.5 cm long, obovoid, densely pilose as young, glabres-
cent when ripe; seeds laterally compressed, 8–18 mm long,
smooth, shiny, brownish; seed scar 6–14 mm long, 2–3 mm
wide. Figure 1A–H .
Additional Material Examined— BRAZIL. Bahia: Una, Reserva
Biológica do Mico-Leão-Dourado, 15°09′S, 39°05′W, 25 Jul 1996 (fr.),
Two New Species of Pouteria (Sapotaceae) from
the Atlantic Forest in Brazil
Anderson Alves-Araújo 1 and Marccus Alves
Laboratório de Morfo-taxonomia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco – UFPE,
CEP 50670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil.
1 Author for correspondence ( sapotae@gmail.com )
Communicating Editor: Victoria Sosa
Abstract— This paper provides descriptions and illustrations of two new species of Pouteria from the Atlantic forest of Bahia, Brazil
(P. atlantica and P. trifida ). In addition, distribution maps and a table with main characters to distinguish the new species from related taxa
are also included. Pouteria atlantica is characterized by large trichomes that cover the corolla lobes, anther’s outer surface, and form tufts on
the apex of anthers. Pouteria trifida is distinguished by its long petioles and trifid staminodes. Due to intense deforestation in the Atlantic for-
est, preliminary IUCN red list assessments are provided. Pouteria atlantica is proposed in the IUCN status critically endangered (CR), while
the data for P. trifida are still insufficient.
Keywords— Atlantic rainforest , Brazil , Chrysophylloideae , conservation.

2011] ALVES-ARAÚJO AND ALVES: NEW SPECIES OF POUTERIA 1005
Fig. 1. A-H. Pouteria atlantica . A. Habit. B. Detail of the midrib on the abaxial leaf surface. C. Bud. D. Open corolla showing stamens and staminodes.
E. Stamen and staminodes. F. Dorsal and ventral views of the stamen. G. Gynoecium. H. Fruit. Drawn from J. G. Jardim et al. 4909 (A-H), and Sant’Ana
et al. 624 (C). I-M. Pouteria trifida . I. Habit. J. Leaf venation. K. Axillary flowers on a shoot with lenticels. L. Corolla of a female flower. M. Fruit. Drawn
from Jardim et al. 1165 .

1006 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY [Volume 36
S.C. Sant’Ana et al. 624 (CEPEC, G, MO, NY). 01 Jun 2000 (fl., fr.), S.C.
Sant’Ana et al. 888 (CEPEC, NY).
Distribution and Habitat—Pouteria atlantica is currently
known only from a handful of localities, 300–800 m, in the
coastal Atlantic forest of southern state of Bahia, Brazil ( Fig. 2 ).
Recognition—Pouteria atlantica is easily recognized by its
whitish to golden indument on young shoots, leaves, sepals
(both surfaces) and the 1–2 cm long pedicels. Also, trichomes
cover the corolla lobes and the anther’s outer surface, and
the anther apex has a tuft of trichomes. It could possibly be
confused with P. gardneri (Mart. & Miq.) Baehni, but it is dis-
tinguished on its many pubescent parts (see above) and by
the absence of lenticels ( Table 1 ). The density of trichomes on
young shoots, leaves and pedicels can vary in natural popu-
lations of P. gardneri (Alves-Araújo and Alves, unpubl. data.),
but the presence of trichomes on the corolla and the anthers
are useful features to separate P. atlantica from P. gardneri .
Etymology— This species is named after its distribution
area, the Atlantic forest.
Conservation— There are only two restricted known popu-
lations of Pouteria atlantica in the Bahia state, Brazil. Although
they are within legally protected areas, the specimens were col-
lected near forest edges, which are in high risk of further dis-
turbance, especially by logging. Following the IUCN red list
criteria ( IUCN 2001 , 2008 ), P. atlantica is assigned a preliminary
threat status of critically endangered (CR – A1cde, B1, D2).
Pouteria trifida Alves-Araújo & M. Alves, sp. nov.—TYPE:
BRAZIL, Bahia, Ilhéus, CEPLAC-CEPEC, Northeastern
Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau–CEPEC, Área de cultivo
de cacau–cabruca, 15 Dec 1997 (fl., fr.), J. G. Jardim et al.
1165 (holotype: CEPEC; isotypes: C, MO, NY).
Pouteria subrotatae affinis, sed differt praecipue ramis juveni-
bus indumento ferrugineo, foliis supra nitida, ellipticis vel
elliptico-lanceolatis, velutino-tomentosis ubi juvenibus, glabris
ubi adultis, petiolis 2.5–5.0 cm longis, floribus subsessilibus
(pedicellis 1–2 mm longis), calyce tomentoso cum pilis fer-
rugineis, staminibus rudimentalibus et staminodiis lanceola-
tis apice trifido.
Treelets or trees up to 10 m tall, shoots pilose with ferrugi-
nous trichomes, lenticels present. Leaves distichous to spirally
arranged, elliptic to obelliptic-lanceolate, 15–29 × 8–10 cm,
Fig. 2. Map of known distribution of Pouteria atlantica Alves-Araújo & M. Alves (circle) and P. trifida Alves-Araújo & M. Alves (square), two new spe-
cies from the Atlantic forest in Brazil.

2011] ALVES-ARAÚJO AND ALVES: NEW SPECIES OF POUTERIA 1007
chartaceous, upper surface glabrous, lower surface pubescent,
partly glabrescent, sometimes finally glabrous; base attenu-
ate, apex acute to cuspidate, margin flat; venation eucampto-
dromous, midrib flat on the upper surface; secondary veins
sometimes slightly sunken, 8–14 pairs; petiole 2.7–5.0 cm
long, channeled, pubescent, glabrescent to glabrous. Flowers
5-merous, 2–5 per fascicle, axillary, unisexual (only female flow-
ers known); female flowers with short (1–2 mm long) pedicel;
pedicel velutinous to tomentose with ferruginous trichomes.
Sepals 2–3 mm long, ovate, densely and partially pilose on
the outer and inner surfaces with ferruginous trichomes, apex
acute, margin entire. Corolla cyathiform, greenish, 1.5–2.5 mm
long; tube 0.2–0.3 mm long; lobes 1.0–2.5 mm long, orbicular,
glabrous. Staminodes lanceolate (rudimentary) or trifid, 0.2–
0.3 mm long, glabrous. Ovary 5-locular, ∼1 mm long, golden
pilose; style ∼1 mm long, glabrous, included in the corolla;
stigma capitate. Only immature fruits known, globoid and
densely pilose. Figure 1I-M .
Distribution and Habitat—Pouteria trifida is known from
40–100 m in the coastal areas of the Atlantic rainforest of
southern state of Bahia, Brazil ( Fig. 2 ).
Recognition—Pouteria trifida is recognized by its glabres-
cent to glabrous and long petioles (2.7–5.0 cm long). The trifid
staminodes are unique among Pouteria species. The new spe-
cies could be confused with Pouteria subrotata Cronquist, but
it has pilose, ferruginous young shoots, 2.7–5.0 cm long peti-
oles, unisexual flowers, and trifid staminodes, which differ
from the pale buff indument, glabrous shoots, 1.2–2.8 cm long
petioles, bisexual flowers, and lanceolate to subulate stamin-
odes in P. subrotata ( Table 1 ).
Etymology— The species is named after the trifid
staminodes.
Conservation—Pouteria trifida is known from one voucher
at CEPEC. The sample was collected in a cocoa plantation
area in Bahia state, Brazil. Considering the limited informa-
tion from only one voucher, we are presently reluctant to pro-
pose any conservation assessment and leave it therefore as
data deficient (DD).
Acknowledgments. First author thanks to PPGBV/Capes for finan-
cial support. We also thank Dr. André Amorim, Curator of CEPEC and his
staff for all support, Jorge Fontella for helping with the Latin diagnoses,
and Regina Carvalho for illustrations.
Literature Cited
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Table 1. Characters and distribution of the two new species of Pouteria and morphologically similar taxa. 1 = Species that could be morphologically
confused with Pouteria atlantica ; 2 = Species that could be morphologically confused with Pouteria trifida ; Gc = glaucous; Gl=glabrous; Gt = glabrescent;
SA = South America; Se = sericeous; To = tomentose; Vi = villous. Text in bold font indicated character states that are more diagnostic to distinguish
P. trifida from other species.
Characters
Species Petiole
(length mm) Upper surface Pedicel
(length mm) Corolla
(length mm) Staminodes
(apex, indumentum) Anthers
Ovary
(n# locules) Distribution
Pouteria atlantica
Alves-A+raújo & M. Alves
15–26 Vi – To 10–20 3–4 entire, pilose pilose 2 Brazil (Bahia)
Pouteria gardneri (Mart. & Miq.)
Baehni1
5–10 Gc 6–25 3–4 entire, glabrous glabrous 2–3 Widespread SA
Pouteria macrophylla (Lam.)
Eyma1
15–24 Gc 10–15 6.5–9.5 entire, glabrous glabrous 5 Widespread SA
Pouteria trifida Alves-Araújo &
M. Alves
27–50 Gl – Gt 1–2 1.5–2.5 trifid , glabrous not seen 5 Brazil (Bahia)
Pouteria subrotata Cronq. 2 12–28 Gl – Gt 1.0–1.5 3.2–3.5 entire, glabrous glabrous 5 Northern SA
Pouteria decussata (Ducke)
Baehni2
1–2 Se 4–7 4.0–4.5 entire, glabrous glabrous 3 Brazil (Pará)