Zornia cearensis Huber, Bull. Herb. Boiss. Ser. II.

Zornia cearensis Huber, Bull. Herb. Boiss. Ser. II. 1(3): 307. 1901. Figs 6, S 4 Type: BRAZIL. Ceará: Fortaleza, 09 September 1897, Huber 21 (holotype G–00370077!; isotype BM–000931681!). Shrub to ca. 50 cm tall.Stems prostrate, branched, tomentose to glabrous. Leaves with 4 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 4–30 × 5–10 mm, oblong to lanceolate, glabrous. Stipules ovate, 4–6 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, axillary, 2.2 cm long. Bracteoles 4–6 × 4–4.5 mm, ovate, 5–7 veined, punctate, glabrous, green. Loment with 4–5 articles; articles 2 × 2 mm, not reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes 2 mm long. Distribution and habitat: Brazil, endemic. It occurs preferentially in sandy soil in the Caatinga and Cerrado vegetation, within the Tropical Dry Forest and Savanna biomes. Conservation Status: Near Threatened (NT). Zornia cearensis has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 2,245,044.283 km ², which places it outside the threshold for the threatened category. However, its area of occupancy (AOO) is only 152.000 km ² and it is considered vulnerable in its restricted area of occupancy in the Caatinga and Cerrado vegetation, fragile environments in Brazil known to suffer from anthropization. Notes: Zornia cearensis and Z. gardneriana are morphologically similar, but Z. cearensis has oblong to lanceolate leaflets (vs. elliptic leaflets in Z. gardneriana). Also, Z. cearensis has bracteoles with up to 6 veins (vs. up to 13 veins in Z. gardneriana). Representative specimens examined: BRAZIL. Bahia: Urandi, 4 April 1992, G.Hatschbach et al.56530 (NY); Ceará: Fortaleza, 29 June 1977, L. Coradin et al. 7848 (UEC); Goiás: Caiaponia, 20 April 1978, G.J. Shepherd et al. 748 5 (UEC); Maranhão: Poconé, 104 km E de Cáceres, 17 May 1985, A. Krapovickas et al. 40105 (K); Mato Grosso do Sul: Aquidauana, saída norte de Aquidauana, junto a um posto de saúde no final do asfalto, 30 October 1986, J.F.M. Valls et al. 10408 (BOTU); Minas Gerais: Entroncamento dos Pastos, 30 March 1985, M. Brandão 11190 (PAMG); Piauí: Campo Maior, 12 June 1995, M.S. Bona Nascimento & M.E.Alencar 1039 (K); São Paulo: São José do Rio Preto, 15 April 1964, Y. Tsuda & Hiroko 11 (RB).