Content uploaded by Marcelo Trovó
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Marcelo Trovó on May 13, 2021
Content may be subject to copyright.
Content uploaded by Marcelo Trovó
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Marcelo Trovó on May 13, 2021
Content may be subject to copyright.
Phytotaxa 500 (3): 248–252
https://www.mapress.com/j/pt/
Copyright © 2021 Magnolia Press Article PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
248 Accepted by Pedro Fiaschi: 24 Apr. 2021; published: 13 May 2021
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.500.3.9
Paepalanthus mellosilvae (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from the Mantiqueira
Range in Minas Gerais, Brazil
MARCELO TROVÓ
1 Laboratório Integrado de Sistemática Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas
Filho 373, 21941−590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
�
martrovo@gmail.com; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0478-2332
Abstract
Paepalanthus mellosilvae is here described and illustrated as a new species of Eriocaulaceae from the Atlantic Forest domain
in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The new species is known from a single locality in the Mantiqueira Range, growing along trails
through cloud forests. According to the IUCN criteria, it is suggested here as critically endangered. Paepalanthus mellosil-
vae is compared to P. harmsii, a morphologically similar species also growing in the Mantiqueira Range, being mainly distin-
guished by the presence of a rhizome, narrower leaves, more numerous scapes, narrower capitula, sparsely pilose involucral
bracts, and obdeltate floral bracts. Additional comments on the taxonomy, morphology, and distribution of the species, along
with illustrations are provided. The specific epithet is a tribute to Prof. Dr. Renato de Mello-Silva.
Keywords: Atlantic Forest, Endemism, Poales, Taxonomy, Tribute
Introduction
Paepalanthus Martius (1834: 28) nom. cons. (Eriocaulaceae) is a genus of Monocots widespread in the Neotropical
region with a few species occurring in Africa (Giulietti & Hensold 1990, Stützel 1998, Giulietti et al. 2012). Most of
its ca. 400 species occur in the Cerrado Domain, especially in elevated areas from Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Goiás
states (Giulietti & Hensold 1990, Stützel 1998, Giulietti et al. 2012), but a significant diversity is also reported for the
Atlantic Forest domain (Sano et al. 2009, BFG 2018). In the Atlantic Forest, such diversity is associated with coastal
sand dune habitats and especially with open fields in elevated areas, such as the Serra do Mar and the Mantiqueira
Range (Sano et al. 2009, Sano & Giulietti 2012, Trovó et al. 2015, BFG 2018).
The diversity of Paepalanthus from the Mantiqueira Range is poorly documented, being restricted to a few
checklists and local floras. Trovó et al. (2006) recorded four species of Eriocaulaceae from the Caparaó National Park
in the northernmost part of the Mantiqueira Range, all of them belonging to Paepalanthus. Records from the southern
part of the Mantiqueira Range are available from the Flora of São Paulo State, with eight species of Paepalanthus (Sano
& Giulietti 2012). Within the core of the Mantiqueira Range, two floristic treatments for Eriocaulaceae are available, for
the Ibitipoca State Park and for the Itatiaia National Park, recording 16 and five species of Paepalanthus, respectively
(Ferreira et al. 2011, Freitas & Trovó 2017). Trovó et al. (2015) provided a nomenclatural and taxonomic treatment
for the Eriocaulaceae from the core of the Mantiqueira Range between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, recording
a total of 15 species of Paepalanthus and indicating the need of further studies for the entire Mantiqueira Range.
In this manuscript a new species of Paepalanthus from the Mantiqueira Range is described and illustrated. The
species is known from a single locality in the state of Minas Gerais, growing along trails through cloud forests. The
first collection of this species dates back to 1999, while photos of the species were recently published in social media.
The specimens first caught my attention when I was analyzing the Paepalanthus collection of the SPF herbarium and
discussing taxonomic issues with the curator and collector of the specimens, Prof. Dr. Renato de Mello-Silva, to whom
I dedicate this species.
A NEW SPECIES OF PAEPALANTHUS Phytotaxa 500 (3) © 2021 Magnolia Press • 249
Materials and methods
The new species is here described according to the taxonomic species concept (Stuessy 1990), following the
recommendations of the current ICN (Turland et al. 2018). The species is described from herborized specimens
analyzed under a Leica EZ4 stereoscopic microscope with camera. The cited herbaria follow the acronyms provided by
Thiers (continuously updated) and the numbers between square brackets are herbarium barcodes. The morphological
concepts follow Radford (1974), Weberling (1989), and Stützel & Trovó (2013). A preliminary conservation status
following the IUCN (2019) criteria is suggested.
Taxonomic treatment
Paepalanthus mellosilvae Trovó, sp. nov. Fig. 1.
Paepalanthus mellosilvae differs from Paepalanthus harmsii Ruhland (1903: 216) by the presence of a rhizome, narrower leaves,
more numerous scapes, narrower capitula, sparsely pilose involucral bracts, and obdeltate floral bracts. The pilosity of the floral
parts are also rather different, being usually more densely pilose on the abaxial surface and margins of the petals and sepals of P.
mellosilvae.
Type:—BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: São Tomé das Letras, Pico do Gavião, contrafortes sudoeste. Mata Nebular. 21o37’S 44o55W. Elev.
1400m, 22 February 1999, R. Mello-Silva & al. 1620 (holotype, RB! [600436]; isotypes BHCB!, HUEFS! [83902], K!, NY!, SP!,
SPF! [135081]).
Herbs, solitary, 25.0−35.0 cm tall; rhizome present, shortly elongated, aerial stem short ca. 1.5 cm long. Leaves
persistent even when dry, chartaceous, lanceolate, multi-nerved, patent to recurved, rosulate, 12.0−16.0 × 0.5−1.0
cm, mostly glabrous with very sparse long trichomes, apex acute. Spathes 4.0−5.5 cm long, greenish, mostly glabrous
with very sparse long trichomes, apex acute. Scapes 80−130, arranged in subsequent terminal cohorts of 5−8 units,
20.0−27.0 cm long, mostly glabrous with very sparse trichomes on the distal part. Capitula 3.5−6.0 mm diam., usually
hemispherical, whitish to ochraceous; involucral bracts in 2−4 series, stramineous to light-castaneous, external just
slightly surpassing the floral disc, usually oblong with acute apex, internal deltate to obdeltate with obtuse apex, flat
to navicular, ca. 2.0 mm long, sparsely pilose with ciliate margin, glabrescent when older; receptacle flat with long
trichomes. Flowers trimerous, ca. 50 per capitulum; floral bracts obdeltate with obtuse to mucronate apex, flat to
slightly navicular, ca. 2.0 mm long, densely pilose distally, densely ciliate toward the margin. Staminate flowers ca.
3.5 mm long; pedicel ca. 0.5 mm long; sepals fused at the base, obovate, flat to navicular, castaneous, ca. 2.5 mm long,
pilose distally, margin ciliate toward the apex, apex obtuse to rounded; anthophore fleshy, elongated; corolla fused into
a tube, whitish, membranaceous, ca. 1.0 mm long; stamens ca. 1.5 mm long; carpellodes 3, papillose. Pistillate flower
ca. 2.0 mm long, sessile to sub sessile; sepals fused at the very base, narrowly oblong, castaneous, ca. 3.0 mm long,
pilose distally, margin ciliate toward the apex, apex obtuse to acute; petals linear to narrowly oblong, whitish, ca. 2.5
mm long, sparsely pilose distally, margin sparsely ciliate toward the apex, apex acute to obtuse; gynoecium ca. 3.5
mm long, stigmatic branches bifid at the apex, 3 × longer than the nectariferous branches. Fruits a loculicidal capsule.
Seeds elliptical, reddish.
Etymology:—The epithet “mellosilvae” is a tribute to Prof. Dr. Renato de Mello-Silva, who collected a very
complete set of specimens of this new species, which was selected as the type collection. Renato was a tenacious
botanist, an inspiring professor, and a good friend.
Distribution, Habitat, and Conservation:—Paepalanthus mellosilvae is known from a single locality within the
Mantiqueira Range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. From the collection label, discussions with the first collector of the type
specimens, and photos posted on popular social media, it is clear that the species forms small, dense populations growing
along trails in shaded areas of cloud forests, sometimes exposed to sunlight. However, according to Prof. Dr. Renato de
Mello-Silva, the surrounding area of the populations from São Tomé das Letras municipality is under intense quartzitic
mining activity. Considering the few known populations, and the absence of populations in conservation units, the
species is suggested here as critically endangered according to the IUCN (2019) distribution criteria B1B2ab(i, ii, iii,
iv).
Comments:—Paepalanthus mellosilvae is provisionally placed in P. subg. Paepalanthus Ruhland (1903: 122) in
TROVÓ
250 • Phytotaxa 500 (3) © 2021 Magnolia Press
Ruhland’s (1903) classification system due to its unicapitulate scapes, involucral bracts adaxially glabrous, trimerous
flowers, and capsulate fruits. This placement is not definitive within the classification system and may need further
adjustments when a much-needed revised classification system is available (Andrade et al. 2010, Trovó et al. 2013,
Andrino et al. 2020). The species is placed along with P. harmsii, P. acuminatus Ruhland (1903: 217), and P. leiseringii
Ruhland (1903: 216), which were previously described in P. subg. Xeractis Koernicke (1863: 336) and later transferred
to P. subg. Paepalanthus (Hensold 1988). Paepalanthus harmsii and P. acuminatus emerged as sister species, nested
within a clade of species mostly occurring in the Mantiqueira Range (Andrino et al. 2020). Based on the morphological
similarities and the geographical distribution of these species, I suspect that P. mellosilvae may be related to this
clade.
FIGURE 1. Paepalanthus mellosilvae Trovó. A. Habit detail. B. Capitulum detail. C. Outer involucral bract, abaxial surface. D. Floral
bract, abaxial surface. E. Staminate flower. F. Staminate flower with opened corolla and sepals removed. G. Pistillate flower. H. Pistillate
flower with sepals removed, evidencing the gynoecium. (line drawing: Klei Sousa).
A NEW SPECIES OF PAEPALANTHUS Phytotaxa 500 (3) © 2021 Magnolia Press • 251
The morphologically most similar species to Paepalanthus mellosilvae is P. harmsii, which also occurs in the
Mantiqueira Range, being restricted to Ibitipoca State Park and Serra Negra, two localities at approximately 100 km
far from the occurrence site of P. mellosilvae. Both species share the robust habit, the stramineous to light castaneous
involucral bracts just slightly surpassing the floral disc, and the shaded habitat. Paepalanthus mellosilvae is mainly
distinguished by its rhizome present (vs. usually absent), narrower leaves (0.5−1.0 vs. 0.7−2.7 cm wide), more
numerous scapes (80−130 vs. 15−50), narrower capitula (3.5−6.0 vs. 7.0−12.0 mm diam.), sparsely pilose involucral
bracts (vs. tomentose) and obdeltate floral bracts (vs. linear). The outer involucral bracts of P. harmsii are also useful
for distinction, as they are frequently greenish, while in P. mellosilvae they are stramineous to light-castaneous in all
series. Additionally, the pilosity of the floral parts are also rather different in these species, being usually more densely
pilose on the abaxial surface and margins of petals and sepals in P. mellosilvae when compared to P. harmsii.
Finally, Paepalanthus mellosilvae also resembles P. macaheensis Koernicke (1871: 311) and an unidentified
collection from Santa Rita do Jacutinga in Minas Gerais state. Paepalanthus macaheensis is a more gracile species
with usually elongated stem, being also easily differentiated by its densely packed capitula with castaneous involucral
bracts shorter than the floral disc, and gynoecium with stigmatic branches only slightly longer than the nectariferous
branches. At first glance, the unidentified specimens L. Krieger s.n. (CESJ 8900, RB 806590, SPF 151271) from Santa
Rita do Jacutinga (Minas Gerais) are morphologically similar to P. mellosilvae, being relatively smaller and more
glabrous. However, the brow and ovate, glabrous involucral bracts, and especially the linear floral bracts with sparse
trichomes are much too different to be included in the morphological variation of P. mellosilvae. Additional specimens
of this taxon would be worth analyzing to assure its identity.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the curators of the cited herbaria for access to the Eriocaulaceae collections. Financial support
was provided by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, FAPERJ (E-26/202.708/2019—JCNE) and CNPq (proc.
306758/2019-9—Pq2).
References
Andrade, M.J.G. de, Giulietti, A.M., Rapini, A., Queiroz, L.P. de, Conceição, A.d.S., Almeida, P.R.M. de & van den Berg, C. (2010)
A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Eriocaulaceae: Evidence from nuclear (ITS) and plastid (psbA-trnh and trnL-F) dNA
sequences. Taxon 59: 379–388.
https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.592004
Andrino, C.O., Sano, P.T., Inglis, P.W., Hensold, N., Costa, F.N. & Simon, M.F. (2020) Phylogenetics of Paepalanthus (Eriocaulaceae), a
diverse Neotropical monocot lineage. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 195 (1): 34–52.
https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boaa070
Ferreira, C.S.A.M., Trovoì, M. & Forzza, R.C. (2011) A famiìlia Eriocaulaceae no Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Boletim de Botânica da Universidade de SaÞo Paulo 29: 19–35.
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9052.v29i1p19-36
Freitas, S.N.S. & Trovoì, M. (2017) Eriocaulaceae no Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Brasil. Rodriguésia 68: 1387–1395.
https://doi.org/10.1590/2175-7860201768419
Giulietti, A.M. & Hensold, N. (1990) Padrões de distribuição geográfica dos gêneros de Eriocaulaceae. Acta Botanica Brasilica 4: 133–
159.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33061990000100010
Giulietti, A.M., Andrade, M.J.G., Scatena, V.L., Trovó, M., Coan, A.I., Sano, P.T., Santos, F.A.R., Borges, R.L.B. & van den Berg, C.
(2012) Molecular phylogeny, morphology and their implications for the taxonomy of Eriocaulaceae. Rodriguésia 63: 1–19.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S2175-78602012000100001
Hensold, N. (1988) Morphology and Systematics of Paepalanthus Subgenus Xeractis (Eriocaulaceae). In: Anderson, C. (Ed.) Systematic
Botany Monographs 23. The American Society of Plant Taxonomists. Michigan, 150 pp.
https://doi.org/10.2307/25027709
IUCN (2019) Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 14. Available from: http://www.iucn.org (accessed
10 November 2020)
TROVÓ
252 • Phytotaxa 500 (3) © 2021 Magnolia Press
Koernicke, F. (1863) Eriocaulaceae. In: Martius, C.F.P. & Eichler, A.W. (Eds.) Flora brasiliensis 3 (1). Royal Typography, Munich, pp.
273–508.
https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.454
Koernicke, F. (1871) Symbolae ad floram Brasiliae centralis cognoscesdam. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra den Naturhistoriske Forening
i Kjøbenhavn 20–22: 309–316.
Martius, K.F.P. (1834) Eriocaulaceae. Anales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique 2: 25–43.
Radford, A.E., Dickson, W.C., Massey, J.R. & Bell, C.R. (1974) Vascular plant systematics. Harper & Row Pub, New York, 891 pp.
Ruhland, W. (1903) Eriocaulaceae. In: Engler, A. (Ed.) Das Pflanzenreich. Regni vegetabilis conspectus 4 heft 30. Wilhelm Engelmann,
Leipzig, 294 pp.
Sano, P.T., Echternacht, L.A., Trovó, M. & Giulietti, A.M. (2009) Eriocaulaceae. In: Stehmann, J.R., Forzza, R.C., Salino, M., Sobral,
M., Costa, D.P. & Kamino, L.H.Y. (Eds.) Plantas da Floresta Atlântica. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, pp.
242–246.
Sano, P.T. & Giulietti, A.M. (2012) Eriocaulaceae. In: Wanderley, M.GL., Shepherd, G.J., Melhem, T.S., Guilietti, A.M. & Martins, S.E.
(Eds.) Flora Fanerogâmica do Estado de São Paulo. Instituto de Botânica, São Paulo, pp. 173–200.
Stuessy, T.F. (1990) Plant taxonomy, the systematic evaluation of comparative data. Columbia University, Press New York, 562 pp.
Stützel, T. (1998) Eriocaulaceae. In: Kubitzki, K. (Ed.) The families and genera of vascular plants IV - flowering plants: Monocotyledons
- Alismatanae and Comelinanae (except Gramineae). Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 197–207.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03531-3_18
Stützel, T. & Trovó, M. (2013) Inflorescences in Eriocaulaceae: taxonomic relevance and practical implications. Annals of Botany 112:
1505–1522.
https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mct234
Thiers, B. (2020 [continuously updated]) Index Herbariorum: A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York
Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/ih/ (accessed 10 November 2020)
Trovó, M., Sano, P.T., Costa, F.N. & Giulietti, A.M. (2006) Flora Fanerogâmica do Parque Nacional do Caparaoì: Eriocaulaceae. Pabstia
17: 2–8.
Trovó, M., Andrade, M.J.G. de, Sano, P.T., Ribeiro, P.L. & van den Berg, C. (2013) Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of
Neotropical Paepalanthoideae with emphasis on Brazilian Paepalanthus (Eriocaulaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society
171: 225–243.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2012.01310.x
Trovó, M., Echternacht, L.A., Costa, F.N., Giulietti, A.M. & Sano, P.T. (2015) Nomenclatural and taxonomic notes on Eriocaulaceae from
the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Phytotaxa 205: 249–258.
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.205.4.4
Turland, N.J., Wiersema, J.H., Barrie, F.R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D.L., Herendeen, P.S., Knapp, S, Kusber, W.H., Li, D.Z., Marhold,
K., May, T.W., McNeill, J., Monro, A.M., Prado, J., Price, M.J. & Smith, G.F. (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for
algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code) adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017.
Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashütten, 254 pp.
https://doi.org/10.12705/Code.2018
Weberling, F. (1989) Morphology of flowers and inflorescences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 423 pp.
