Zornia echinata Mohlenbr., Webbia

Zornia echinata Mohlenbr., Webbia 16 (1): 132. 1961. Fig. S3 Type: ARGENTINA. Salta: Caldera, Mojotoro, 9 January 1941, Meyer 3563 (holotype LIL–000656!; isotypes MO–714951!, NY–01477287!). Shrub to ca. 50 cm tall. Stems decumbent, branched, glabrous. Leaves with 2 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 7–35 × 5–10 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, glabrous. Stipules ovate to lanceolate, 5–7 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, terminal, 30 cm long. Bracteoles 8–14 × 4–6 mm, elliptic, 4–6 veined, punctate, glabrous, green. Loment with 4–7 articles; articles 2–3 × 2–3 mm, not reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes 2 mm long. Distribution and habitat: Argentina, Brazil. It occurs in open grassy field of Savanna. Conservation Status: Data Deficient (DD). Zornia echinata has only been recorded from a few locations, and it is not possible to access its conservation status (EOO= 129,898.387 km ²; AOO= 16.000 km ²). Notes: Zornia echinata morphologically resembles Z. reticulata, but is distinguished by its fruit characteristics, a loment comprising 4–7 articles, each measuring 2–3 mm in both length and width, the surface with a non-reticulate pattern, and trichomes that are 2 mm long. In contrast, Z. reticulata has a loment with 4–9 articles, each measuring 1.4–2.5 × 1.9–2 mm, the surface with a reticulate-veined pattern, and with trichomes 1 mm long. Zornia echinata was synonymized under Z. reticulata (Pena-Chocarro et al., 2010), but here we recognize it as a distinct species. Representative specimens examined: ARGENTINA. Salta: Caldera, Mojotoro, 9 January 1941, Meyer 3563 (NY). BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Sul: Fazenda do Arroio, 4 January 1950, Rambo 45113 (MO).