Agarista hispidula (Candolle) Hooker ex Niedenzu var. tomentosa Dalastra & G.Heiden, 2025

Dalastra, Claudenice Hilda & Heiden, Gustavo, 2025, Agarista hispidula var. tomentosa (Ericaceae), a new variety from Minas Gerais, Brazil, Phytotaxa 682 (3), pp. 240-250 : 242-248

1. Agarista hispidula (de Candolle) J.D.Hooker ex Niedenzu var. hispidula . Figs. 2 [B, D, F, H, K], 3.

Twigs sparsely to densely pubescent, sometimes with glandular trichomes. Leaves with petiole pubescent; blade 0.63– 2.5(–3.3) × 0.15–1.2 cm; adaxial surface sparsely to densely pubescent on midvein and often with scattered trichomes on lamina; abaxial surface with or without glandular trichomes on midvein, otherwise sparsely to densely pubescent on midvein and frequently sparsely pubescent, never covering the lamina; margins entire, sometimes serrulate due the glandular trichomes. Inflorescences 0.5–6.5 cm long, rachis sparsely to densely pubescent, with or without glandular trichomes. Flowers with calyx lobes with apex acuminate, rarely acute apex, abaxially sparsely to densely pubescent, otherwise with or without glandular trichomes; corolla cylindrical to urceolate-cylindrical, sparsely to densely pubescent; ovary densely pubescent. Fruit capsule 2.5–5.33 × 4–7.5; seeds 0.6–1.71 mm long.

Phenology:—flowers from July to September and dry fruits remains from the last season up to July.

Distribution & habitat:— Brazil (MG, RJ, SP). Atlantic rainforest cloud forests, thickets, thicket margins, highland grasslands; Cerrado rock outcrops, open boggy areas and campo rupestres; 1000–2500 m above sea level ( Fig. 3 ).

Selected specimens:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo, Domingos Martins, Parque Estadual Pedra Azul , Pedra das Flores, 11 July 2006, A.P. Fontana et al. 2213 ( RB00562060 ). Minas Gerais, Aiuruoca, Parque Estadual da Serra do Papagaio , Trilha para o Retiro dos Pedros, UTM (23K), 0531999, 7562896, 24 September 2010, L. Menini-Neto 874 ( CESJ056866 , ESA125873 ) ; Matutu, 10 October 2004, R.C. Mota 2491 ( BHCB011269 ). Alagoa, Parque Estadual da Serra do Papagaio , 14 August 2008, K. Antunes 607 ( CESJ068038 ) ; K. Antunes 608 ( CESJ068039 ). Andrelândia, Faz. Parahyba, 26 August 1936, H.L. Mello-Barreto 5304 ( RB00078177 ) ; Bom Jardim de Minas, no topo da Serra da Bandeira , 10 June 2021, -21.9472007751465, -44.1911010742188, M.L. Brotto & R.R. Völtz 4299 ( MBM432217 ) ; Caldas , November 1876, J.B. Rodrigues 345 ( RB00078171 ) ; 10 September 1877, A.F. Regnell ( NY00009752 , NY00943091 ) ; J. Widgren 668 ( US 00116792). Itamarandiba, Padre João Afonso, Serra Negra , Parque Estadual da Serra Negra , 13 September 2006, A.P. Fontana et al. 2403 ( RB00562185 ) ; 13 September 2006, -18.00556, -42.724469, R.C. Mota et al. 3096 ( BHCB011272 , BHCB011272 ). Marmelópolis, Pico dos Marins , 1ºmaciço, -22.498333, -45.131389, 12 May 2017, L.N. Gonçalves 372 ( CESJ071688 ). Passa Quatro , Campo do Muro , 5 May 1948, A.C. Brade et al. 19079 ( RB00078183 ) ; 14 May 2005, L.D. Meireles 1890 ( ESA100125 ) ; 12 September 2006, L.D. Meireles ( ESA100126 ) ; 23 September 2006, L.D. Meireles 2603 ( ESA100127 ) ; 12 September 2006, L.D. Meireles 2515 ( ESA100128 ) ; 12 September 2006, L.D. Meireles 2521 ( ESA100129 ) ; 8 November 2005, L.D. Meireles 2011 ( ESA100130 ) ; 30 August 2007, L.D. Meireles 3280 ( ESA100131 ) ; 15 May 2005, L.D. Meireles 1660 ( ESA100132 ) ; Serra Fina, região da Pedra da Mina, -22.431389, -44.834722, 5 September 2016, R.R. Völtz & M.L. Broto 960 ( MBM406603 ). Rio Preto , São Francisco do Prata , Serra das Flores , 23 March 1991, F.R.S Pires et al. 24621( CESJ) ; Serra Negra, trilha atrás da Gruta do Funil , 16 March 2007, N.L. Abreu et al. 139 ( HUFU00077239 ) ; Gruta do Funil , 24 July 1988, M.M.N. Braga 218 ( BHCB059106 , SPF00081771 ) ; R.P.P.N. São Lourenço do Funil , -18.600444, -43.951167, 8 December 2007, F.R.G. Salimena 2548 ( CESJ049607 ) ; 14 September 2013, F.R.G. Salimena 3652 ( CESJ063596 ) ; 22º01’32,7’’S, 43º54’14,2’’W, 19 September 2013, F.R.G. Salimena et al. 3580 ( CESJ63188 ) ; Serra Negra, Fazenda Santa Luzia , -21.977972, -43.875194, 30 June 2007, F.R.G. Salimena 2455 ( BHCB, CESJ049239 , ESA, HUEFS) ; Serra Negra, Vilarejo do Funil, 21 May 2004, F.R.G. Salimena 1312 ( CESJ042316 ), Gruta do Funil , 30 September 1989, T.S.M. Grandi 2678 ( SPF00081784 ) ; Cachoeira da Água Vermelha , 26 June 2008, F.S. Souza 482 ( CESJ050724 ) ; trilha para Ninho da Égua , 31 June 2009, J.H.C Ribeiro et al. 178 ( CESJ053932 , RB01426575 ) ; subida para o Burro de Ouro , -21.974167, -43.889167, 16 June 2014, L.L. Justino et al. 72 ( CESJ064742 , HUFU00071912 ) ; trilha para o Ninho da Égua , 22 March 2005, K. Antunes 173 ( CESJ043959 ) ; Ninho da Égua, em direção ao Burro de Ouro , 21 January 2006, T. Konno et al. 86 ( CESJ46665 , HUFU) ; Fazenda São Lourenço do Funil , 21 July 2004, M.C. Weyland- Vieira 2063 ( RB00420351 , RB00524871 ) ; 12 July 2008, N.L. Abreu 248 ( CESJ051132 , ESA, HUEFS) ; trilha atrás da Gruta do Funil , 16 March 2007, N.L. Abreu 139 ( CESJ048673 ) ; RPPN São Lourenço do Funil ; 27 October 2013, P.F. Santos 7 ( CESJ076612 ) ; 29 March 2008, S.A. Roman 69 ( CESJ050213 ) ; 30 September 1989, T.S.M. Grandi 2678 ( NY00943088 ). Olaria, Serra Negra, Serrinha , 22 August 2009, J.H.C. Ribeiro 198 ( BHCB219208 , CESJ054203 , RB01426572 ) ; Serra Negra, Serrinha, Sítio do Degredo , borda da Gruta das Ericáceas , 22 August 2009, J.A. Oliveira 101 ( CESJ054247 ) ; São Francisco do Prata, Serra das Flores, Fazenda da Cachoeirinha, 14 May 1994, M.C. Brügger s.n. ( CESJ027561 ). Santa Bárbara do Monte Verde , Fazenda da Cachoeira Alta , 21°49’0’’S, 43°49’11’’W, 16 September 2004, E.B. Miranda 644 ( ESA100148 , HUEFS0088082 ). Rio de Janeiro , Itatiaia, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia , base das Prateleiras, -22.2352, -44.4011, 15 November 2014, L.M. Borges 1087 ( SPF00224595 ) ; Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, estrada entre a guarita do Planalto e o abrigo Rebouças , 22º23’ 6”S, 44º40’ 54”W, 30 November 2010, C. Mynssen & J.L. Luteyn 1207 ( RB00618783 ) ; Planalto, início da trilha do Morro do Couto. PARNA Itatiaia , 22º22’ 47”S, 44º42’ 9”W, 24 October 2018, D.R. Couto & M.M. Moreira 4184 ( RB01401282 ) ; Planalto, proximidade do Abrigo Rebouças , 22º23’ 7”S, 44º40’ 43”W, 24 Ocotber 2018, D.R. Couto & M.M. Moreira 4198 ( RB01401296 ) ; parte alta do PARNA do Itatiaia, estrada entre a Portaria e o Abrigo Rebouças , -22.381944, -44.685833, 23 August 2015, Grupo Verde 80 ( ALCB068326 ) ; entre Pico das Agulhas Negras e Prateleiras , 22º23’ 8”S, 44º40’ 47”W, 13 October 2006, L.F.G. da Silva 125 ( RB00473987 ) ; Planalto, ao lado do Abrigo Rebolças , 22º22’ 34”S, 44º41’ 51”W, 7 February 2015, R.G. Barbosa-Silva 391 ( RB01034645 ) ; Planalto , 12 December 1941, W. Duarte-Barros 516 ( RB00473093 ) ; Planalto, trilha para as Prateleiras , -22.35833, -44.65833, 26 September 1995, S.J. da Silva-Neto 834 ( NY01844379 ). Resende, campos de altitude entre abrigo Rebouças e travessia Couto-Prateleiras, 22º23’ 10”S, 44º40’ 47”W, 29 October 2019, C. Baez & A. Sá 1740 ( RB01423605 ) ; Planalto do Itatiaia, base da escarpa para Asa do Hermes , 22º22’ 34”S, 44º39’ 58”W, 23 September 2018, D.R. Couto et al. 3933 ( RB01399023 ) ; trilha do Morro do Couto, 22º22’ 56”S, 44º42’ 2”W, 24 October 2018, M.M. Moreira & D.R. Couto 280 ( RB01401355 ). Teresópolis, Parque Estadual dos Três Picos, -22.2115, -42.4538, 3 February 2015, C. Baez 226 ( SPF00231082 ). São Paulo, Campos do Jordão , -22.687374, -45.540301, 14 September 1958, R.A.A. Schnell 8944 ( NY01181725 ) ; Morro do Castelo , s.d., A.B. Joly s.n. ( RB00077735 ) ; Parque Estadual Campos do Jordão, Instituto Florestal, Campo do Moreira , 6 December 2000, P. Fiaschi 519 ( SPF00144183 ) ; 23 November 1979, H.C. de Lima, 1154 ( RB00078193 ) ; 22 November 1975, H.P. Bautista 211 ( RB01075369 ) ; August 1893, Magalhães-Gomes 1125 ( BHCB059422 ) ; 20 November 1985, J.R. Pirani 1372 ( SPF00040504 ) ; 10 November 1937, P. Campos-Porto 3393 ( RB00078169 ) ; 7 October 1990, L.P. de Queiroz 2691 ( HUEFS0011521 ) ; Morro do Elefante , 24 January 1991, M.J. Robim 682 (B00686904) ; nas proximidades do Pico do Itapeva , 4 October 2007, R. Tsuji 2243 ( RB01122922 ) ; Morro do Elefante , 3 June 1991, S. Xavier 55 ( RB00686910 ) ; 24 January 1991, M.J. Robim 682 ( RB00686904 ). Piquete, Pico dos Marins —APA Serra da Mantiqueira, trilha de acesso ao Morro do Careca , 22º30’ 20”S, 45º8’ 32”W, 3 September 2013, L.N. Gonçalves 163 ( RB00844937 , NY03044840 ). Queluz, 31 August 1991, A.B. Joly 1352 ( SPF00075079 ). São Paulo, Pico do Gavião , 7 October 1995, R.R. Rodrigues 383 ( SPF00118474 ) .

2. Agarista hispidula (Candolle) Hooker ex Niedenzu var. tomentosa Dalastra & G.Heiden , new var. ( Figs. 1 , 2 [A, C, E, G, I, J], 3)

Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais, Lima Duarte, Conceição do Ibitipoca , Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca , trilha para a Janela do Céu , 21º40’44”S, 43º53’04”W, 10 October 2022, C.H. Dalastra 26 (holotype ICN; isotypes BHCB, ECT, HDJF, NY, RB, SPF) .

Twigs sparsely pubescent to tomentose, rare with glandular trichomes. Leaves with petiole pubescent to tomentose; blade 0.57–2.69 × 0.37–0.91 cm; adaxial surface sparsely to densely pubescent on midvein and lamina; abaxial surface tomentose covering the lamina; margins entire. Inflorescences 0.27–2.46 cm long, rachis densely pubescent to tomentose, with or without glandular trichomes. Flowers with calyx lobes with apex acute to long acuminate, abaxially densely pubescent, rarely with glandular trichomes; corolla urceolate, sparsely to densely pubescent; ovary tomentose to lanate. Fruit capsule 3.22–5.45 × 2.59–5.76; seeds 1.2–1.71 mm long.

Flowering and fruiting:—flowers from August to September and dry fruits remain from the last season up to August.

Distribution & habitat:— Brazil (MG). Atlantic rainforest cloud forests and rocky outcrops; Cerrado rock outcrops and campos rupestres ( Fig. 3 ).

Etymology:—“tomentosa” is proposed based on the leaf abaxial indumentum white and densely pubescent, covering the surface.

Selected specimens (Paratypes):— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Juiz de Fora, Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca , próximo à Janela do Céu , 6August 2014, A. Cabral 89 ( CESJ065653 ) ; - 21º40’08”S, 43º52’26”W, 10 October 2022, C.H. Dalastra 27 ( ECT, HDJF, ICN, NY, RB, SPF) ; 21 October 2018, M.D. Arenas 6 (R010072327); L. Krieger 9334 ( ESA070333 ) ; s.d., L. Krieger 9398 ( ESA069896 ) ; 14 October 1986, P.M. Andrade 770 ( NY00943089 ) ; 30 September 1970, E. Confúcio 9401 ( MBM275524 ) ; 3 October 2004, R.C. Forzza 3117 ( ESA100143 ) ; R.C. Forzza 3574 ( ESA100144 ) ; 27 September 2001, L.C. Giordano 2443 ( RB00551016 ) ; M. Magalhães 465 ( ESA079025 ) ; Pirapitinga, 15 August 1990, M.C. Brügger 693 ( CESJ026961 ). Minduri, Chapada dos Perdizes, no topo da Chapada, -21.611556, -44.594222, 31 August 2013, V.A.O. Dittrich 1854 ( CESJ063948 ). Santa Rita do Ibitipoca, Serra de Ibitipoca , 28 September 1970, L. Krieger s.n. ( CESJ009334 ). São Thomé das Letras, Serra de São Thomé , 30 October 1984, R. de Mello-Silva et al. CFCR5659 ( NY00390808 ) .

Notes:—Meisner in Martius (1863) published two taxonomic entities that were posteriorly synonymized to Agarista hispidula . Leucothoë breviflora Meisner in Martius (1863: 165) was described based on the gathering G.A. Lindenberg 418, 1854, from Caldas, Minas Gerais State, and was synonymized by Sleumer (1959) to A. hispidula . Leucothoë intermedia Meisner in Martius (1863: 163) was described based on the gathering J.F. Widgren 329, also from Caldas, Minas Gerais State, in 1845, and published in Flora Brasiliensis (Martius 1863) . This one was kept as a separated species by Sleumer (1959), but was later synonymized to Agarista hispidula by Judd (1984).

Agarista sect. Agarista have two different types of indumentum: unicellular trichomes, and multicellular, multiseriate-stalked (hispid glandular trichomes) and the presence/absence of hispid glandular trichomes was extensively used in the taxonomy of the genus ( Sleumer 1959). Judd (1984) considered this type of indumentum variable to have taxonomic significance to justify separate specific taxa, as 13 of the American species have both glandular and non-glandular indumentum as it can vary even into the same population (e.g. in A. subrotunda gatherings from Lavras H.F. Filho et al. 11977 without glandular trichomes and H.F. Filho et al. 11995 with glandular trichomes). Because of that, Judd (1984) synonymized many similar taxa that used to be considered different (species or varieties), such as Leucothoë intermedia in A. hispidula .

The indumentum with unicellular trichomes is present in most Agarista species and the distribution and density of such trichomes in the plant and its organs is of taxonomic significance ( Judd 1984, 1995). The unicellular indumentum of the inflorescence axis and other reproductive structures, despite quite variable, is distinctive in some species. For example, the indumentum ferruginous pubescent with trichomes undulate in Agarista eucalyptoides ( Chamisso & Schlechtendal 1826: 518) Don (1834: 837) and indumentum whitish pubescent with trichomes straight and elongate in A. albiflora ( Fedtschenko & Basilevskaja 1926: 23) Judd (1984: 282) .

Additionally, some taxa have a distinguishing dense covering of unicellular hairs on their abaxial leaf surfaces, as Agarista subrotunda G.Don (1834: 837) , A. chapadensis ( Kinoshita-Gouvêa 1981: 127) Judd (1984: 306) , and A. paraguayensis ( Sleumer 1959: 465) Judd (1984: 307) , and the varieties A. mexicana ( Hemsley 1881: 282) Judd (1979: 495) var. pinetorum (Standley &.Williams 1952: 54) Judd (1979: 495), and A. revoluta ( Sprengel 1821: 131) Hooker ex Niedenzu (1889: 236) var. velutina Judd (1984: 289) Judd (1979 , 1984, 1995). Agarista mexicana var. pinetorum was primarily described as a new species— Leucothoë pinetorum Standley & Williams (1952: 54) —due its distinguished indumentum feature of a dense covering of unicellular hairs on the entire abaxial leaf surface, that differs from Agarista mexicana var. mexicana with glabrous to occasionally sparsely pubescent indumentum on the leaf abaxial surface, but never entirely covering the epidermis. Judd (1979) proposed a new rank and combination to Leucothoë pinetorum as A. mexicana var. pinetorum and indicated that this dense layer of unicellular hairs on the abaxial leaf surface also appears in many species of Lyonia sect. Lyonia and may function as an adaptation to avoid water loss.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Agarista hispidula var. tomentosa (Ericaceae). (A, B) Habitat on rocky outcrops at Atlantic Rainforest highlands in Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, Lima Duarte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (C) tomentose indumentum covering the leaf abaxial surface; (D) inconspicuous glandular dots along midvein of young leaves; (E) detail of ant associated with the inconspicuous glandular dots; (F) detail of the inflorescences; (G) detail of glandular trichomes on the inflorescence axis; (H) urceolate corolla with pubescent surface; (I) detail of persistent stamens after corolla drop; (J) capsules. Photos A, D, E, F: C.H. Dalastra 26; Photo B, I, H, J: C.H. Dalastra 27; C, G: V.A.O. Dittrich (FVD00060).

FIGURE 2. Varieties of Agarista hispidula (Ericaceae): A. hispidula var. tomentosa (C.H. Dalastra 26)—(A) flower with corolla sparsely to densely pubescent, (C) inflorescence rachis tomentose, (E) calyx lobe tomentose, (G) ovary tomentose to lanate, (I) abaxial leaf surface tomentose, covering the abaxial epidermis, (J) detail of the abaxial surface indumentum; A. hispidula var. hispidula (M.M.N. Braga et al. 218)—(B) flower, with corolla sparsely to densely pubescent, (D) inflorescence rachis sparsely to densely pubescent, (F) calyx lobes sparsely to densely pubescent, (H) ovary densely pubescent, (K) leaf abaxial surface sparsely to densely pubescent on midvein and with no indumentum covering the abaxial epidermis.

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Agarista hispidula (Ericaceae). (A) The overview map in upper left corner indicates the position of Southeast Brazil in South America; light gray areas represent the other South American countries and territory; continuous lines represent the boundaries between countries; the highlighted line indicates Southeast Brazil. (B) The overview map indicates the distribution area of Agarista hispidula in Southeast Brazil, star= A. hispidula var. tomentosa, circle= A. hispidula var. hispidula; BA= Bahia, DF= Distrito Federal, ES= Espírito Santo, GO= Goiás, MG= Minas Gerais, MS= Mato Grosso do Sul, PR= Paraná, RJ= Rio de Janeiro, RS= Rio Grande do Sul, SC= Santa Catarina, SP= São Paulo, TO= Tocantins; continuous lines represent the boundaries between states, Southeastern Brazilian states are highlighted in bolder continuous lines; black to white scale represents the elevation ranges, whereas darker tones characterize higher elevations and brighter tones lower elevations.