A NEW SPECIES OF DAVILLA (DILLENIACEAE) AMONGST THE FLORA OF SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

Gerardo A. AYMARD C.

UNELLEZ-Guanare, Programa de Recursos Naturales

Renovables, Herbario Universitario (PORT),

Mesa de Cavacas. Estado Portuguesa. Venezuela 2333.

RESUMEN

  Se describe e ilustra Davilla cuatrecasasii, una especie nueva perteneciente a la sección Davilla, del estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Se discuten sus relaciones morfológicas con la especie afín, D. grandiflora St. Hil. y se incluye una clave de las especies del género presentes en Brasil.  

Palabras clave: Brasil, Davilla, Dilleniaceae, Estado de São Paulo.  

ABSTRACT

Davilla cuatrecasasii from amongst the flora of São Paulo, Brazil is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically most closely related to D. grandiflora St. Hil. from Brazil. A key to the species of Davilla from Brazil is provided.  

Key words: Brazil, Davilla, Dilleniaceae, São Paulo state.  

INTRODUCTION

 Herbarium studies at the New York Botanical Garden and United States National Herbarium, Washington, over the past several years by the author have confirmed the diversity species of Dilleniaceae in the Brazilian flora (Aymard 1998a, c, 2001). With about 30 species, Davilla Vandeli is one of most diverse genera of lianas, vines, erect or scandent shrubs of Dilleniaceae. They are distributed from southern Mexico, to Bolivia, and Paraguay, with the greatest species diversity in Brazil (Aymard 1998b, c). The genus can be distinguished from other neotropical Dilleniaceae by the following features: sepals unequal in size, the two inner ones larger, becoming crustaceous and covering the fruit completely, a paniculate inflorescence and the fruit a capsule.

Davilla cuatrecasasiiAymard. Fig. 1.

TYPE: BRAZIL. São Paulo: Piraçununga, “Cerrado” de Cachoeira-Emas, Octubre- 1962, J. Cuatrecasas 26615 (holotype, NY; Isotype: US).

Species proxima Davillae grandiflorae St. Hil., sed differt: foliis subcoriaceis, ellipticis, ovato-ellipticis, basi obtusis, margine non revolutis, 2,5-6 cm latis, facie papillatis et sparse pilosis, nervis lateralibus10-14, petiolis 0,5-1,5 cm longis; inflorescentiis 3-7 cm longis, sparse strigosis, pedicellis 2-6 cm longis, sepalis externis 2-4 mm longis, internis ca. 8 mm longis, staminibus 50-60.

Scandent shrub or shrubs; branches and branchelets gray, sparsely pilose, glabrescent when mature; bark flaking off. Leaf blades subcoriaceous, 6-13 cm long, 2.5-6 cm wide, elliptic, ovate-elliptic, base obtuse, apex rounded or acute, margins flattened, entire or sinuate mostly in the upper half, scabrous, papillate and sparsely pilose on the upper surface, more densely so along the midrib, sparsely villose on the lower surface, more densely so along the midrib and secondary nerves; lateral nerves 10-14, convergent and fusing close to the margin; petioles subwinged, canaliculate 0.5-1.5 cm long, 2-3 mm wide, sparsely appressed pubescent. Inflorescence 3-7 cm long, sparsely strigose pubescent; pedicels 2-6 mm long, pubescence as of the inflorescence; bracteoles oblong, ca. 4 mm long, densely appressed pubescent; sepals 5, the external 3, suborbicular, 3-4 mm long, sparsely villose externally, glabrous internally and ciliate at the margin, internal sepals 2, sparsely pilose externally, glabrous internally and ciliate at the margin, ca. 0.8 mm long, papyraceous when mature; petals not seen. Stamens 50-60; filaments 4-6 mm long, glabrous; anthers ca. 0.8 mm long, glabrous; carpels 2, glabrous, style ca. 3 mm long, glabrous, stigma capitate. Seeds 1 per carpel, black, shiny, subreniform, 5-7 mm long; aril white, almost completely enveloping the seed.

Relationships

Because of its the innermost sepals being overlapped at the margins by the adyacent inner sepals, and the margin reflexed, not alate, Davilla cuatrecasasii belongs to the section Davilla (Kubitzki 1971). Within this group the latter is most related to Davilla grandiflora St. Hill. However, this new species differs from the latter by its subcoriaceous, elliptic or ovate-elliptic leaf blade, the obtuse base, the flattened margins, 2.5-6 cm wide, sparsely pilose on the upper surface, the lateral nerves 10-14, and the petioles 0.5-1.5 cm long. The inflorescences of the new species are 3-7 cm long, sparsely strigose, the pedicels 2-6 cm long; sepals not papillate externally, external, 2-4 mm long, internal ca. 0.8 mm long, and the stamens 50-60. In contrast, D. grandiflora has coriaceous, elliptic, oblong or lanceolate leaf blades, the base rotundate, the margins subrevolute 2.5-10 cm wide, glabrescent on the upper surface, the lateral nerves 8-12 (-17), the petioles 0.7-2 cm long, the inflorescences 5-15 cm long, glabrescent, pedicels 3-10 mm long, glabrous, sepals papillate externally, the external ones 3-7 mm long, the internal ones 1-1.5 cm long, and the stamens 80-100.

Distribution and ecology

Davilla cuatrecasasii is known only from the type locally, in Brazil, where it has been collected in macrothermic shrubby savannas “Cerrado”.

This species is named in honor of Dr. José Cuatrecasas†, who was a pioneering botanist and taxonomist in the neotropics. His research, especially in the flowering plant family Asteraceae, was devoted to the classification, biogeography, exploration, and ecology of plants of the páramo and subpáramo region of Andean South America. The type specimen was one of his collections.  

KEY TO THE BRAZILIAN SPECIES OF DAVILLA

1.   Margins  of the  innermost  sepals reflexed, not  alate; innermost  sepals 

      overlapped  by the adjacent  inner  sepal (section Davilla )…….……..2

1.   Margins  of  the  innermost  sepals  pressed  against  each  other  forming  

      circular wings;  innermost  sepals not overlapped by the inner sepals 

      (section Homalochleaena)..........................................................12

2.    Carpels 2...........................................................................................3

2.    Carpel 1.............................................................................................7

3.    Leaves  densely  tomentose-pubescent  or sparsely pilose  on  the  lower surface;  

       sepals  villose-sericeous  externally  or sparsely pilose.......................................4

3.    Leaves  glabrous on the lower surface or sparsely  pilose-pubescence  along  

       the  midrib  and  secondary  nerves;  sepals glabrescent externally .....................5

4.    Leaves  lanceolate-ovate, suborbicular or  oblong, densely  pubescent tomentose 

       on the lower surface; inflorescences 10-15 cm long; sepals 5, villosesericeous  

       externally .................................................................................D. elliptica St. Hil.

       (Bahia, DF, Goiás, Maranhâo, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Sâo Paulo).

4.    Leaves  elliptic,  ovate-elliptic, sparsely  pilose  on  the  lower surface;  inflorescences  

       3-7 cm l  ong;  sepals 4, sparsely pilose externally ....................................................

       ........................................................................D. cuatrecasasii Aymard (Sâo Paulo).  

5.    Branches and branchelets glabrescent; leaves, inflorescences and pedicels 

       glabrous or glabrescent, trichomes not ferrugineous ….........D. grandiflora 

       St. Hil. (Bahia, DF, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Pará, Rondônia).

5.    Branches and branchelets  sparsely strigose; leaves sparsely pilose along the 

       midrib and secondary  nerves  on   the  lower     surface, inflorescences   and  

       pedicels  strigose,  the trichomes ferrugineous and spreading …....…...….. 6 

6.    Branches and branchlets  gray; leaves  subcoriaceous,  5-8 cm long, not papillate  

       on the  upper  surface,  apex  cuspidate, lateral  nerves  8-10;  petioles  0.4-1.5 

       cm   long, 0.5-2 mm  wide,  sparsely  strigose  pubescent;  internal  sepal  papillate

       externally …….............D. cuspidulata Mart. ex Eichler (Amazonas, Minas Gerais)

6.    Branches and branchlets  brown;  leaves  coriaceous,  7-15 cm  long,   papillate  

       on  the  upper  surface,  apex   acute  or emarginate, lateral  nerves 11-19;  petioles 

       1-2,5 cm  long, 3-6 mm wide, densely   appressed   pubescent;  internal  sepal not 

       papillate externally……….....................................................…...D. sp. A (Bahia) 

7.    Petioles,  lower  surfaces of leaves, inflorescences, and sepals glabrous or 

       sparsely pilose ...........….........................................D. nitida (Vahl) Kub.

       (Acre,  Amazonas,  Bahia,  DF,  Goiás,  Maranhâo, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, 

       Pará, Piauí, Rondônia).

7.    Petioles, lower  surfaces  of  leaves, inflorescences, and s epals always notably 

       pubescent...............................................................................................….8  

8.    Venation prominently lacunose-areolate on the lower surface .........................

       .........…D.   lacunosa Mart. (Amazonas, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais).

8.    Venation not lacunose-areolate on the lower surface …...............………….9

9.     Petioles,  midribs,  and  lateral veins on lower surface of leaf blades pilose, the 

        trichomes spreading-ferrugineous ...............................................................10

9.     Petioles,  midribs, and  lateral  veins on lower surfaces of leaf blade appressed-

        pubescent, the trichomes  white  or  brown, but never ferrugineous …...…...11  

10.   Leaves  blades elliptic, oblong  or o vate, sparsely-strigose  on the lower surface, 

        with trichomes ferrugineous-spreading       along the midrib and secondary nerves; 

        lateral nerves 6-12.......…........……………………..D. rugosa Poir. var. rugosa

        (Amapá,  Amazonas, Bahia, Espirito Santo,  Maranhâo,  Mato  Grosso, Minas Gerais, 

         Pará, Paraná, Rio Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Sâo Paulo).

10.    Leaves  blades  ovate  lanceolate,  white  pubescent  on the lower surface; lateral 

         nerves 15-18…….........…………..D. rugosa var. riedelii Eichler (Mato Grosso). 

11.    Leaves  2-10  cm  wide,  elliptic  to suborbicular,  sometimes lanceolate;  leaf 

         margins dentate;  petioles 2-4 mm  wide, appressed white pubescent; petals 4- 

         6; carpels glabrous, to sparsely pubescent ……….....………D. kunthii St. Hil.       

         (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Maranhâo, Pará, Roraima).

11.     Leaves 7-15 cm wide,  broadly  ovate to  orbicular, margins grosse-serrate,  

          petioles 5-6 Mm  wide, densely  appressed incanous-pubescent;  petals 3-4; 

          carpels  densely hispid-incanous………………...D. sp. B (Amazonas, Pará). 

12(2). Leaves prominently reticulate-bullate on the lower surface…...……………..

           .......................................................…...D. glaziovii Eichler (Rio de Janeiro).

12.     Leaves not reticulate-bullate on the lower surface ………….....………….13  

13.     Petiole vaginate, the wings 5-12 mm wide…...........………………..…….14

13.     Petiole not winged or discretely winged; the wings 0-4 mm wide ........……16  

14.     Leaves, petiole wings and  bracteoles papyraceous, 5-14 mm  wide; leaves 

          ovate, ovate-elliptic;  lateral   nerves  26-34; inflorescences   3-4 cm  long;  

          pedicels  3-4  mm  long; stamens 40-60………....... D. papyraceaAymard 

          (Minas Gerais).

14.     Leaves,  petiole  wings  and   bracteoles  coriaceous or  rigidly  coriaceous,  2-7  

          mm  wide; leaves  elliptic or obovate- lanceolate; lateral nerves 14-22; inflorescences 

          6-18 cm long; pedicels 6-15 mm long; stamens 100-200 …....……...............15  

15.     Leaves  elliptic,  smooth   on  the  upper  surface  sparsely  yellow  pubescent, 

          glabrescent  when  mature,  venation  not lacunose-areolate on  the lower surface;  

          petioles 4- 6 cm long; petals 5 ……….…........…D. alata (Vent.) Briq. (Amapá).

15.     Leaves obovate-lanceolate, scabrous on the upper surface; densely ferrugineous 

          pubescent and venation prominently lacunose-areolate on the lower surface; petioles 

          1-2 cm long; petals 3 ………..…...........................................D. steyermarkii Kub.

          (Brazil-Venezuela border, Bolívar State).  

16.     Inner sepals glabrous to glabrescent, ciliate at the margins ….......................…...17

16.     Inner  sepals  sparsely  pilose  or  densely  appressed  pubescent externally, margins 

          not ciliate .…..…......……….......................................................................…..22 

17.     Tertiary  venation   strongly  reticulate  on  both  surfaces,  more  evident  on  the  

          upper surface ...…………..…......................................................................…18

17.     Tertiary venation evident or inconspicuous on both surfaces …...................……19  

18.     Leaves 2-16  cm  long, 2-7  cm  wide,  petioles 1-2 cm long, 1-2 mm  wide; internal  

          sepals 1.2-1.4 cm  when  mature, stamens 90-100, filaments ca. 3.5 mm long………

          ........................................................................................…...….D. flexuosa St. Hil.

          (Bahia, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Sergipe).

18.    Leaves 11-27 cm long, 6-12 cm  wide, petioles 0.5-1 cm  long, 3-5 mm wide; 

         internal sepals 1.5-1.8 cm when mature, stamens ca. 130, filaments ca. 8 mm long

         …….……………....……….D. macrocarpa Eichler (Bahia, Espirito Santo).  

19.    Leaves  3-6 cm  wide;  lateral  nerves  joining ca.  mm  to  the  margins; carpels 

         apically pilose ….. D. glabrata Mart. ex Eichler (Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo).

19.    Leaves 6-12 cm wide; lateral nerves joining 2-5 mm to the margin; carpels 

         glabrous...............................................................................................20  

20.    Petiole  deeply  canaliculate,  pedicels  2-8  mm long...D. latifolia Casaretto  

         (Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Sâo Paulo).

20.    Petiole not canaliculate, pedicels 10-30 mm long ……………………..21  

21.    Branches  and branchlets striate, scabrous;  leaf  blades  lanceolate to  lanceolate-elliptic, 

         The  lateral  nerves  joining 1-2 mm to the margin; petioles 3-5 cm long; stamens 

         150-200; carpels lenticellate …...…..…..............................D. moriiAymard (Bahia).

21.    Branches and branchlets smooth;  leaf  blades  elliptic to oblong, the lateral 

         nerves joining 3-5 mm to the margin; petioles 1-3 cm long; stamens 120-130; 

         carpels smooth ……...........…D. macrocarpa Eichler (Bahia, Espirito Santo).  

22.    Leaves narrow-lanceolate to lanceolate, 1.5-3.5 cm wide …..………...........

         .................................................D. angustifolia St. Hil. (Bahia, Minas Gerais).

22.    Leaves oblong, ovate, elliptic, obovate, elliptic-lanceolate or ovatelanceolate, 

         4.5-18 cm wide ….…………....................................................…….…23  

23.    Inner sepals 2-2.5 cm wide…......................D. grandifolia Moric. ex Eichler 

         (Bahia, Espirito Santo).

23.    Inner sepals 1-1.5 cm wide ………………………............…………….24  

24.    Leaves  coriaceous,  branchlets  and  leaves  on  the lower surface densely 

         ferrugineous-tomentose ….............…D. sellowiana Schltdl. (Rio de Janeiro). 

24.    Leaves subcoriaceous or chartaceous, branchlets and leaves on the lower 

         surface glabrescent, pilose or densely strigose  …………………………25  

25.    Leaves  scabrous  on the upper surface, densely  strigose  along  midrib and  the 

         secondary nerves on the lower surface; inflorescences 20-40-flowered ……

         .....................................................……D. strigosa Kub. (Maranhâo, Pará).

25.    Leaves smooth on the  upper  surface,  glabrescent  to  sparsely  appressed 

         pubescent along midrib  and  the secondary nerves on the lower surface; 

         inflorescences 1-15-flowered…...…………………………….……….26

26.    Inflorescences 1-4-flowered, pedicels 1-3 cm long …D. pedicellaris Benth.

         (Amazonas, Pará).

26.    Inflorescences 6-10-flowered, pedicels 0.3-1 cm long ……….....……..27 

27.    Leaves elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, base obtuse-cuneate;  lateral  nerves 17-21; 

         inner sepals  not sericeous-pubescent .................... D. kubitzkiiAymard (Pará).

27.    Leaves oblong, the base rotundate or subcordate; lateral nerves 10-15, inner 

         sepals sericeous-pubescent ……….D. cearensis J.Huber (Ceará, Maranhâo).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  

I thank P. Delprete (NY), P. Berry (MO) and B. Stergios (PORT) for their observations on the manuscript, Prof. Bruno Manara (VEN) for revising the Latin description, and preparing the illustration, to the New York Botanical Garden staff for making their facilities available for my research.  

BIBLIOGRAPHY  

1. Aymard, G. 1998a. Four new species of Doliocarpus from Brazil-Amazonian region. Kew Bull. 53(3): 133-140.           [ Links ]

2. Aymard, G. 1998b. Dilleniaceae. In: Flora of Venezuelan Guayana (Berry, P., B.Holst & K. Yatskievych, eds.), 4: 676-685. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.           [ Links ]

3. Aymard, G. 1998c. Dilleniaceae Novae Neotropicae VIII. Two new species of Davilla from Brazil. Brittonia 50(1): 51-55.           [ Links ]

4. Aymard, G. 2001. Dilleniaceae Novae Neotropicae: XII. Doliocarpus humboldtianus, una nueva especie de la Amazonia Brasilera. BioLlania Edic. Esp. 7: 8-12.           [ Links ]

5. Kubitzki, K. 1971. Doliocarpus, Davilla, und verwandte Gattungen (Dilleniaceae). Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml München 9: 1-105.        [ Links ]