Maerua pintobastoae J.A.Abreu, E.S.Martins & Catarino, 2014

Abreu, J. A., Martins, E. S. & Catarino, L., 2014, New species of Maerua (Capparaceae) from Angola, Blumea 59 (1), pp. 19-25 : 21-23

Maerua pintobastoae J.A.Abreu, E.S.Martins & Catarino , sp. nov. — Fig. 1 , 2; Map 1

Species M. junceae subsp. junceae affinis, qua differt per sepala 6–11 × 3–4.8 mm (17–19 × 5–6 mm in M. junceam subsp. junceam ); gynophorum 8–10 mm longum (19–22 mm in M.junceam subsp. junceam ); androphorum manifeste transitivus receptaculum (et haud equiparatum); discus multum mutabilis, integer, coronatus, vel dentibus separatis usque 1.4 mm longis (usque 2 mm in M. junceam subsp. junceam ). — Typus: Menezes, Santos & Barroso 3432 (holo LISC; iso LISC, LUAI), Angola, Huíla, Curoca, Chitado, 17 Sept. 1970 (fl, fr).

Etymology. The species is named after Maria Fernanda Pinto-Basto, in acknowledgement of her work on Angolan plants for more than four decades, at first in LUA herbarium, Huambo, and later in LISC herbarium, and her contribution to the study of the Angolan Flora.

Undershrub or small shrub up to 1.5 m high, rhizomatous, with slender woody branches, not exhibiting leaves at the time of collecting (September), only leaf insertion scars and persistent setaceous stipules (c. 0.5–0.7 mm). Leaves probably scaly, very early deciduous. Stems usually glabrous, occasionally with long hyaline hairs. Branches longitudinally striate, papillose. Inflorescence of few-flowered (1–5 flowers) lax racemes, terminal or axillary on short side branches. Flowers 4-merous, greenish, pedicel up to 10.5 mm, not clearly distinct from the receptacle, glabrescent to glabrous, articulated, slightly ribbed, frequently with 4 longitudinal prominent ribs. Receptacle 2.3– 5.4 mm long, 1.9–2.6 mm wide at the mouth, funnel-shaped, subquadrate to quadrate in cross section ( Fig. 2), rugose to faintly ribbed, frequently with 3–4 longitudinal prominent ribs, glabrous, pubescent or scabrous in the same individual, slightly widened and undulate at the mouth, extremely variable in the disc and margin, entire, coronated, scalloped or lobed; disc not formed, coronated with a minutely denticulate margin ( Fig. 2b) or lobed, with well-developed sharped and recurved lobes, with concavities opposing the petal bases, of 0.2–0.7(–1.4) mm. Sepals 4.2–8.0 by 2.0– 3.4 mm, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, acute to rounded, mucronate, and slightly hooded at the apex, triveined, occasionally with multicellular glandular golden hairs inside, glabrous outside, margin with dense short glandular hairs. Petals 3.7–8.0 by 2.0– 3.4 mm, lanceolate to obovate, acute to obtuse at the apex, clawed for up to 0.5 mm at the base, thinly nerved. Androphore 4.2–5.4 mm long, exserted for 1.4–2.0 mm above the receptacle. Stamens 20–30, including a few staminodes; filaments 12–18 mm long; anthers 2.1–2.4 mm long, oblong, basifixed, emarginated at the apex. Gynophore 8–10 mm long, markedly striate, papillose. Ovary 2.8–3.5 mm long, oblong to ellipsoidal, ovules 21–22 in two placentas; stigma ring-like, subsessile. Fruit slightly torulose, narrowing towards a pointed apex ( Fig. 2c), minutely granular, up to 39 mm long and 10 mm diam. Seeds c. 12, very irregularly angular, up to 3.0 mm long and 1.7 mm diam.

Ecology — In shrubby steppe-like vegetation on stony soils, at 800–900 m altitude.

Distribution — Known only from the type collection in southern Angola (Cunene province). However, considering its loca- tion near Namibia, it is likely that the species also occur in that country.

Phenology — Flowers and fruits in September.

Conservation status — The species is known only from the type collection. It should be considered as Data Deficient with insufficient information ( DD3 ) .

Figures

Map 1 Occurrence of Maerua mendesii (●) and M. pintobastoae (■) in Angola.

Fig. 1 Maerua pintobastoae J.A.Abreu, E.S.Martins & Catarino. Flowering twig (Menezes, Santos & Barroso 3432, holo LISC). — Scale bar = 10 cm.