Abatia mantiqueirensis Nepom. 2024, spec.nov.

Abatia mantiqueirensis Nepom., spec.nov. Fig. 1 Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Delfim Moreira, Fazenda Boa Esperança, Trilha dos Romeiros, 22º35’02’’S, 45º19’03’’W, 1616 m elev., 19 March 2011, L. L. Giacomin et al. 1485 (fl., fr.) (holotype: BHCB!, isotypes: RB!). Abatia mantiqueirensis is morphologically similar to A. americana by presenting one of the largest leaves of the genus measuring 7–20 × 8–10 cm (vs. median leaves measuring 4–12(–15) × 3–6(–7) cm), a margin with acute serrations (vs. margin with rounded serrations), rounded to concave glands at the apex of the margin serrations projected outside the leaf blade (vs. non-concave curved glands at the apex of the margin serrations inserted into the leaf blade), canaliculated petiole (vs. non-canaliculate petiole), articulated pedicel winged in the upper portion (vs. articulated pedicel without winged in the upper portion), glands absent on the petiole and pedicel (vs. glands present on the petiole and pedicel) and seeds with tiny dorsal wings (vs. seeds without dorsal wings). Small tree, ca. 5–7 m tall, branches with simple, pubescent, light brown trichomes. Stipules absent. Leaves simple, opposite, petiolate, petioles 2–6 cm long, puberulent to tomentose, canaliculate; leaf blade 7–20 × 8–10 cm, chartaceous, elliptical to lanceolate, apex acute, base attenuated to rarely slightly rounded, margin ciliate, serrate, acute serrations with rounded to concave glands at the apex projected outside the blade, both surfaces with simple and golden trichomes dispersed throughout the blade with higher concentration of them on the primary and secondary veins, brochidodromous, secondary venation 8–13 pairs, opposite at the base, usually up to the fourth pair, alternating in the remaining pairs, prominent on the lower leaf surface, flat on the upper leaf surface, punctuations and translucent lines absent. Inflorescence racemous, terminal or axillary, peduncle 6–7 cm long, cylindrical, pilose, rachis 12–25 cm long, cylindrical, hirsute; bracteoles lanceolate, pilose; flower buds acute; flowers yellow, monochlamydeous, pedicellate, pedicel 3–6 mm long, persistent on the rachis, articulated in the median region, lower portion densely pilose, glands absent, upper portion pilose to glabrescent, winged; sepals 4.3–5 × 2–3 mm, yellow, lanceolate, trinervate, glabrous on the inner side, pilose on the outer side, persistent in the capsule; stamens with yellow filaments and anthers, numerous, persistent, forming a bundle, filaments 3–5 mm long, glabrous, anthers oblong, glabrous, dorsifixed; ovary 1–3 × 0.5–1 mm, yellow, ovate, hirsute, slightly furrowed, style 2–3 mm long, yellow, glabrous, persistent, stigma yellow, capitate and glabrous. Capsules septicide 4–5 × 3–4 mm, oblongoid to ovoid, slightly grooved, dividing into two parts, each part with two valves, glabrescent. Seeds>10, 1–2 × 0.5 mm, oblongoid to polyhedral, glabrous, foveolate, light brown with tiny hyaline dorsal wings. Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the Mantiqueira Montain Range, where the species was collected and comprises an important center of endemism, conservation and biodiversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Costa & Herrmann 2006). Paratypes:— Brazil, Minas Gerais: Caldas (old Parreiras), 08 November 1940, Mello Barreto 11075 (fl., fr.) (BHCB!, BHMH!); Delfim Moreira, Fazenda do Onça, 22º36’32’’S 45º20’47’’W, 1648 m elev., 14 March 2011, T. E. Almeida et al. 2805 (fl., fr.) (BHCB!, RB!); Itamonte, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, 18 February 2017, N. S. Streher & P. J. Bergamo 43 (fl.) (UEC!); 21 January 2020, D. Nunes et al. 305 (fl.) (RB!, SPF!); Poços de Caldas, 14 January 1965, O. Leoncini 470 (fl.) (R!); 12 February 1965, M. Emmerich 2386 (fl., fr.) (R!). Rio de Janeiro: Resende, Engenheiro Passos, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, 1800 m elev., 22 January 2023, V. F. Mansano et al. 180 (fl.) (IAC!, RB!); Itatiaia, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, 22º22’02’’ S, 44º41’23’’ W, 1000m elev., 08 December 2019, J. Külkamp et al. 1116 (fl.) (HUEFS!, RB!, SP!); 17 January 1979, P. Occhioni 8738 (fl.) (MBM!); 26 January 1975, G. Hatschbach et al. 35855 (fl.) (MBM!); 15 February 1995, J. M. A. Braga et al. 2081 (fl., fr.) (RB!); 09 January 1943, J. J. Sampaio 1059 (fl.) (RB!); 02 December 1997, J. M. A. Braga et al. 4462 (fl.) (RB!); February 1894, E. H. G. Ule 80 (fl., fr.) (R!); 14 January 1961, M. Emmerich & A. G. Andrade 602 (fl.) (R!). Phenology:—Flowers and fruits were observed from November to March. Abatia mantiqueirensis is a species with simultaneous flowering and fruiting. Notes:— Abatia mantiqueirensis is morphologically similar to A. americana (Gardner) Eichler (1871:510), one of the most widely distributed species of the genus in Brazil. Morphological features such as the serration on the leaf margin and curved glands not projected outside the leaf blade, non-canaliculated petiole with glands at the apex, close to the base of the leaf blade, pedicel with glands, not winged, with articulation close to the base are the main morphological characteristics of A. americana that differentiate this species from A. mantiqueirensis. Furthermore, A. mantiqueirensis differs from other Brazilian species such as A. microphylla Taubert (1892:11) and A. glabra Sleumer (1980: 49) by yellow petioles (vs. reddish petioles) in fresh material, and A. angeliana M.H. Alford (2006: 296) by having leaf blade chartaceous, peninnerve veins and flowers with staminodes (vs. leaf blade membranaceous, 3–5 nerves at the base and flowers without staminodes). Abatia americana has attractive numerous golden to yellow flowers on terminal inflorescences and is one of the most common species in Brazil for the genus and the most collected, especially in the high-altitude fields of the Atlantic Forest. Abatia americana shows phenotipic plasticity across its range, especially when comparing specimens found in the Serra dos Órgãos region, in Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, in the division among the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, Caparaó National Park, in the Division of the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and the “ Campos rupestres ” in the region of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. In herbaria collections, it is common to observe morphological divergence inside specimens identified as A. americana. Among the morphological characters with the greatest divergence among the specimens, the dimensions, type and density of trichomes on the leaf blade, the shape of the leaf margin, as well as the glands, and the articulation of the pedicel and morphology of the floral bud stand out. Distribution and Habitat:—So far, Abatia mantiqueirensis is only known from three populations (Fig. 2) located in the Mantiqueira Mountain Range (“Serra da Mantiqueira”). The first one is located in the Delfim Moreira region, in Minas Gerais, where the species is found in the areas of two eco-lodges, Hotel Fazenda Boa Esperança (typus locality) and Fazenda do Onça, being subject to the pressures of ecotourism practices. The second population occurs in a forest fragment close to the urban area of the municipality of Caldas, also in Minas Gerais, facing pressures from ecotourism and, in this case, associated with agricultural fragmentation. The third population is located in the Itatiaia National Park, between the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, this being the only population protected by legislative instruments as the area is an integral conservation unit. Covering approximately 130,000 km 2, the Mantiqueira Montain Range encompasses the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and is located in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil (Cruz & Feio 2007; Silva et al. 2018), however, there are some geographically more restricted delimitations, not including Espírito Santo. The region is characterized by significant altitudinal variation with several points recognized as “ campos de altitude ”, one of the phytophysiognomies of the Atlantic Forest. Examples include the Pico da Bandeira (2897 m elev.), Pedra da Mina (2798 m elev.), Pico das Agulhas Negras (2791 m elev.), Morro do Couto (2680 m elev.), Pedra do Sino de Itatiaia (2670 m elev.) and Pico dos Três Estados (2665 m elev.) which are considered the highest points in the Mantiqueira Montain Range (Peixoto et al. 2020). Furthermore, the region hosts seasonal forests and rainforests, as well as ecotone areas. Geologically, it is composed of pre-Silurian gneiss and granite, together with a disjoint layer of different types of rocks, in predominantly granitic and metamorphic soils, in addition to small alluvial stretches (Gatto et al. 1983; Benites et al. 2007). The predominant climate is classified as humid subtropical, with dry winters and mild summers (Cwb) (Alvares et al. 2013). These climatic, geological and environmental conditions found in the Mantiqueira Mountain Range seem to influence the distribution of the species, since, like other species of the genus in Brazil, Abatia mantiqueirensis is endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with the exception of A. americana, which is also found in the “ campos rupestres ” of the Cerrado. Overall, Abatia species are recorded at high altitudes, often above 1,000 m elev., in open areas or on the edges of forest fragments. Potential distribution for the present and future:—The modeled potential geographic distribution of Abatia mantiqueirensis for the present and future climatic scenarios (Fig. 3a–b) partially agrees with the current known range of the species. Habitat suitability areas, especially the ones with higher suitability, appeared concentrated in the Mantiqueira Montain Range. The regions of maximum suitability correspond to two protected area, the Itatiaia National Park and the Serra do Papagaio State Park, in Minas Gerais. To date, there are no reports of records of the species for the second protected area, however, it may probably be suitable for the occurrence of A. mantiqueir