Orthophytum pseudoestevesii Leme 2025, sp. nov.

Orthophytum pseudoestevesii Leme, sp. nov. (Fig. 15 A–L) Diagnosis:—This new species is morphologically close to Orthophytum estevesii but differs by its larger size when in bloom (ca. 70 cm long vs. 12–30 cm long), long caulescent habit (vs. stemless), inflorescence densely subcylindrical-rosulate (vs. capitate-rosulate), and by the shorter sepals (14–15 mm vs. 18–20 mm long). Type:— Brazil. Bahia: Guaratinga, entre Buranhém e a divisa com Minas Gerais, ca. 300 m elev., August 2019, J. E. dos Santos s.n., fl. cult. E. Leme 9712 (holotype RB!). Description:— Plants saxicolous, long caulescent, ca. 70 cm tall when flowering, stem prostrate, ca. 30 cm long, 0.7–0.8 cm in diameter, propagating by shoots at the base of the stem and near the proximal portion of the peduncle. Leaves ca. 28 in number, equally arranged along the stem, subspreading at anthesis, subdensely disposed; sheath inconspicuous, subtrapeziform, ca. 1.2 × 2.1 cm, sparsely and inconspicuous white lepidote toward the distal end to glabrescent; blade narrowly subtriangular-lanceolate, 15–20 × 1.4–1.7 cm, soft in texture but slightly thick, ca. 1.5 mm thick near the base, flat or nearly so, green, abaxially near the base inconspicuously white lepidote, glabrous toward the apex, distinctly nerved, adaxially glabrous, apex attenuate-caudate, margins subdensely spinose; spines triangular, antrorsely uncinate, glabrous, 0.3–0.5 mm long, 3–7 mm apart. Inflorescence (fertile part) pseudosimple, elongate mainly at the end of anthesis, densely subcylindrical-rosulate, ca. 18 cm long, 4.5–5 cm in diameter, with ca. 35 densely arranged flowers; peduncle ca. 17 × 0.4 cm, green, glabrous, nearly straight, suberect but becoming prostrate with the increasing height during the development of the inflorescence; peduncle bracts foliaceous, laxly arranged, not concealing the peduncle, spreading-recurved, the upper ones resembling the basal floral bracts; primary bracts resembling the basal floral bracts; fascicles abortive, rarely 1 in number; floral bracts strongly recurved, exceeding the sepals, ecarinate to obtusely carinate mainly the apical ones, subtriangular-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, green to light green, 27–32 × 15–19 mm, thinly coriaceous, finely nerved, glabrous, acuminate, margins densely spinose, spines 0.5–1 mm long, straight to antrorsely uncinate. Flowers sessile, ca. 23 mm long (with extended petals), odorless; sepals narrowly lanceolate, attenuate-caudate, erect, thin in texture, 14–15 × 3.5 mm, free, pale green, glabrous, entire, the abaxial one ecarinate, the adaxial ones distinctly carinate with the keel decurrent on the ovary; petals narrowly spathulate, free, apex obtuse and slightly cucullate, ca. 20 × 4 mm, white, apical portion subspreading at anthesis, bearing 2 longitudinal callosities slightly exceeding the antepetalous filaments; petal appendages echinatiform, ca. 1 mm above the base, with spreading or nearly so irregularly fimbriate-digitate prolongations; filaments unequal in length, the antesepalous ones ca. 14 mm long, free, the antepetalous ones ca. 11 mm long, adnate to the petals for 7–8 mm; anthers 2–2.5 mm long, dorsifixed in the middle, base obtuse, apex obtuse and inconspicuously apiculate, slightly complanate at anthesis; ovary ca. 4 × 4.5 mm, white, glabrous, trigonous, carinate laterally; epigynous tube ca. 0.5 mm long, crateriform; stigma simple-dilated, lobes broadened, lip-shaped, spreading, ca. 0.7 mm long, white, margins sparsely long-papillate; placentation apical; ovules many, obtuse. Fruits unknown. Distribution and habitat:–– Orthophytum pseudoestevesii grows as a saxicole in shallow soils on horizontal rocky outcrops at the top of inselbegs, or on its nearly bare steep rocky slopes, in the district of Buranhém, county of Guaratinga, Bahia state, northeastern Brazil, near the border with Minas Gerais state, in southeastern Brazil. It is a heliophile that forms small group of plants scattered in the area, under full exposed condition or sometimes partially protected under thin bushes. Despite the area where this new species was found is a difficult-to-reach one, it suffers periodical fires, which represents an important threat to its survival. On the other hand, the absence of data on its occurrence does not allow to accurately point out its current conservation status. Etymology:––The Greek prefix “pseudo” is used to mark something that appears to be one thing but is something else. It indicates here that this new species is a “false” Orthophytum estevesii, its likely closest morphological relative, and can be easily confused with it, mainly at the beginning of the anthesis, when its inflorescence is not at all distinctly elongate. These species share very similar general color pattern mainly of the bracts and petals, despite the presence of important morphological differences. Distinctive characters:— Orthophytum pseudoestevesii is morphologically related to O. estevesii and can be confused with it due to the similar color pattern of the inflorescence and flower conformation. However, this new species can be distinguished by its larger size when in bloom (ca. 70 cm long vs. 12–30 cm tall), the long caulescent habit (vs. stemless), and greater number of leaves (ca. 28 vs. 7–10 in number). On the other hand, its inflorescence is elongate and densely subcylindrical-rosulate mainly at the end of anthesis (vs. capitate-rosulate), being distinctly longer (ca. 18 cm vs. 2.5–3 cm long). The floral bracts have shorter marginal spines (0.5–1 mm vs. 1.5–2.5 mm long), and the sepals are shorter (14–15 mm vs. 18–20 mm long).