Agarista pulchella var. cordifolia (Meisn.) Judd, J. Arnold

Garcia, Lívia & Jr, José Nascimento, 2024, Ericaceae from Serra de São José and Serra do Lenheiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Rodriguesia (e 00832024) 76, pp. 1-12 : 6-7

1.4. Agarista pulchella var. cordifolia (Meisn.) Judd, J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 316. 1984. Fig. 2 d-f

Shrub 0.3–1 m tall; branches pubescent; non-glandular trichomes on branches, leaves, calyx, hypanthium, and fruits; glandular trichomes absent; glands clavate and pitted absent. Leaves with reticulodromous venation, petiolate, petiole robust, 2–4 × 0.3–0.6 mm, leaf blade coriaceous, elliptical to ovate, 8–18× 6–13 mm, apex acute to obtuse, acuminated, base cordate, margin more frequently flat or slightly revolute near the base, entire to repand, adaxial surface glabrous or pubescent only on the base of central vein, abaxial surface glabrous throughout the lamina but pubescent on central vein, without darkened foveolate glands associated with secondary vein. Inflorescence terminal or axillary raceme, peduncle 5–20 mm, rachis 20–35 mm long, densely pubescent; bracts triangular to deltoid, bracteoles sublinear to triangular. Pedicel 5–10 mm long; calyx lobes 1.5–2 × 1.2–1.5 mm, pubescent; corolla 8–10 × 3–5 mm, pink, urceolate, glabrous, style 5–6 mm long, glabrous; 10 stamens with filaments 3.5– 4.5 mm long, densely pubescent, geniculate below the anther, anthers 1.2–1.5 mm long. Submature capsules 3.5–4.5 mm diam., subglobose, pubescent, brown to black in sicco.

Examined material: Prados, Serra de José , trilha da Pedreira, 1.VII.2022, fl., JE Nascimento-Jr 03-2022 ( HUFSJ); fl., Cardoso 03 ( HUFSJ); fl. and fr., T Friedenberg 01 ( HUFSJ); next to Cruzeiro da Serra , 21°03’44.02”S, 44°07’12.11”W, 10.XI.2023, fl., JE Nascimento-Jr 1836 ( HUFSJ); fl., JE Nascimento-Jr 1837 ( HUFSJ); Tiradentes, trilha Tiradentes-Prados, 29.IX.2023, fl. and fr., JE Nascimento-Jr 1825 ( HUFSJ); JE Nascimento-Jr 1826 ( HUFSJ).

Agarista pulchella var. cordifolia is associated with vegetation on rocky outcrops in eastern Brazil, occurring from the state of Santa Catarina to Minas Gerais. In the study area, this taxon produces flowers and fruits from July to November.

For a detailed comparison between A. pulchella var. cordifolia and other species of Agarista with pink to red flowers found in the region, refer to the discussion under A. coriifolia var. coriifolia .

Figures

Figure 2 – a-h. Species of Agarista with pink to red flowers – a-c. Agarista coriifolia – a. general aspect of the paniculate inflorescence; b. leaf with glabrous abaxial surface and foveolate gland at the base of the lamina; c. immature fruits; d-f. Agarista pulchella – d. branch with terminal racemose inflorescence; e. branch with axillary racemose inflorescences; f. mature fruits after seed dehiscence; g-h. Agarista subrotunda – g. habit; h. paniculate inflorescence, and leaves with densely tomentose abaxial surface. Photographs: a. Maria Tereza Costa; g-h. Marcos Sobral; all other photographs are by the authors.