Zornia afranioi Vanni, Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot.

Zornia afranioi Vanni, Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. 29 (3–4): 207–209. 1993. Fig. S1 Type: BRAZIL. Ceará: Parambú. BR 020, próximo à divisa com o Piauí, 18 April 1980, A. Fernandes & E. Nunes 8407 (holotype EAC–0008407!; isotype CTES–0000686!). Shrub to ca. 60 cm tall. Stems erect, branched, pubescent. Leaves with 2 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 7–30 mm × 3–11 mm, ovate to lanceolate, pubescent. Stipules lanceolate, 6–7 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, axillary, 10 cm long. Bracteoles 8–10 × 4–7 mm, ovate, 5–7 veined, punctate, glabrous, green. Loment with 4–5 articles; articles 2–3.5 × 2.5–3 mm, reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes 1.5 mm long. Distribution and habitat: Brazil, endemic. It occurs in sandy soils within Caatinga vegetation of Tropical Dry Forests. Conservation Status: Endangered (EN). Zornia afranioi is known only from northeastern Brazil and is restricted to a relatively small area of approximately 64 km ², resulting in an extremely limited AOO (EOO= 182,338.732 km ²; AOO= 64 km ²). Notes: Zornia afranioi differs from the other species in the genus by a combination of its erect stems and its bracteoles ovate and pubescent. Representative specimens examined: BRAZIL. Bahia: BR 235 em direção a Bem-Bom, Remanso, 10 April 2002, R.S.Rodrigues 1512 (UEC); Ceará: Rodovia Crato, Araripina, km 22. Aeroporto desativado de Crato. Chapada do Araripe, Crato, 24 July 1987, L. Coradin et al.7771 (BOTU); Pernambuco: Rodovia Petrolina, Santa Maria da Boa Vista, km 87, Petrolina, 5 April 1979, L. Coradin et al.1292 (BOTU); Piauí: São Miguel do Tapuio, 18 May 1988, L.B. Bianchetti et al. 679 (CEN).