Gaylussacia montana (Pohl) Sleumer var. montana

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 : 10-11

2.3. Gaylussacia montana (Pohl) Sleumer var. montana Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 86: 344. Fig. 4 d-g

Subshrub to shrub, 0.2–0.5 m tall; branches densely pubescent; non-glandular trichomes on branches; glandular trichomes present on branches, leaves, and calyx; glands absent. Leaves with brochidodromous venation, petiolate, petiole robust, 2–3.1 × 0.3–0.9 mm, leaf blade chartaceous, elliptical, 1.1–2.2 × 0.5–1.0 cm, apex rounded to obtuse, mucronate, thick apical gland, base cuneate, margin flat to slightly revolute, entire, sparsely pubescent adaxial surface, pubescent abaxial surface. Inflorescence axillary raceme, peduncle 6.1–9.2 mm, rachis 1.6–2.8 cm long, pubescent; bracts obovate and bracteoles linear. Pedicel 1.6–3.3 mm long; calyx lobes 0.9–1.1 × 0.7–1.1 mm, densely pubescent; corolla 5.8–7 × 2.5–3.2 mm, 4–5 petals, white, urceolate, glabrous; style approximately 6.1 mm long, glabrous, 9–10 stamens with filaments 1.5–1.7 mm long, sparsely pubescent, anthers approximately 1.9–2.2 mm long. Submature fruit 3.9–5.0 mm diam., subglobose to globose, pubescent, ribbed, brown in sicco.

Examined material: Tiradentes, Serra de São José, 1997, fr., AE Brina ( BHCB 39409); trilha Tiradentes-Prados , 29.IX.2023, fl., JE Nascimento-Jr 1824 ( HUFSJ); trail to Carteiro , 20.X.2023, fl., JE Nascimento-Jr 1833; fl., JE Nascimento-Jr 1834. Prados , Serra de São José, trail to Cruzeiro da Serra de São José, 10.XI.2023, fl., JE Nascimento-Jr 1838 ( HUFSJ) .

Gaylussacia montana occurs in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and Bahia, always associated with sandy and stony soils of campos de altitude e campos rupestres.

Traditionally, three varieties are recognized for this species, mainly based on the width of the leaves and the presence and distribution of trichomes on leaves and flowers. The typical variety is the only one occurring in our study area and is distinct from the other two varieties by the presence of leaves with entire margins up to the apex and flowers with a corolla provided with trichomes only at its angles. Compared to other Gaylussacia species occurring in the Serras de São José and Lenheiro, G. montana can be easily recognized by the presence of reddish young leaves and the long glandular trichomes throughout the plant. The species flowers from September to November and fruits from October to January.

Figures

Figure 4 – a-m. Species of Gaylussacia – a-c. Gaylussacia brasiliensis – a. branch with racemose inflorescences; b. flowers after anthesis; c. immature fruits; d-g. Gaylussacia montana – d. habit; e. branches with axillary racemose inflorescences; f. flowers after anthesis; g. glandular trichomes on the hypanthium and calyx; h-m. Gaylussacia chamissonis – h. branch with axillary racemose inflorescences, with immature fruits detailed in the bottom right corner; i. leaves with strongly revolute margins; j.leaf with abaxial surface bearing yellow glands and non-glandular white trichomes; k. lateral view of flowers after anthesis; l. frontal view of flowers after anthesis; m. stamens with filaments bearing yellow glands and non-glandular white trichomes.Photographs: c. Marcos Sobral; all other photographs are by the authors.