Zornia laevis Schltdl. & Cham. Linnaea

Zeferino, Laís Couto, Lewis, Gwilym Peter, Pezzini, Flávia Fonseca & Fortuna-Perez, Ana Paula, 2025, A taxonomic synopsis of the genus Zornia J. F. Gmel. (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae) for the Neotropics, Acta Botanica Brasilica (e 20240197) 39, pp. 1-37 : 20-22

Zornia laevis Schltdl. & Cham. Linnaea 5: 582. 1830.

Fig. S3

Type: MEXICO. Collibus apricis prope Jalapam , August 1828, Deppe & Schiede s.n. (holotype HAL–0098427 !) .

Shrub to ca. 60 cm tall. Stems prostrate, branched, glabrous. Leaves with 2 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 12–36.3 × 1.3– 12.2 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, glabrous. Stipules elliptic, 3–5 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, axillary, 18 cm long. Bracteoles 13.5–14 × 4.8–7 mm, ovate, 5–7 veined, punctate, glabrous, green. Loment with 3–5 articles; articles 1.6–2.4 × 1.3–1.6 mm, reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes absent.

Distribution and habitat: Mexico, endemic. It occurs in Tropical Dry Forest.

Conservation Status: Data Deficient (DD). With only three points of occurrence, there is insufficient information available to assess the conservation status of the species (EOO= 249,828.333 km ²; AOO= 12.000 km ²).

Notes: Zornia laevis differs from other species by its prostrate and glabrous stems. The loments have a reticulate-veined pattern on their articles and no trichomes.

Mohlenbrock (1961) proposed a neotype of Zornia laevis based on Muller 1625 (NY) from Vera Cruz, Mexico. However, here we disregard this neotype as the species was originally described from material collected by Deppe & Schiede s.n. and deposited in the Martin-Luther-Universität herbarium (holotype HAL–0098427!).

Representative specimen examined: MEXICO. Jalisco: Guadalajara, s.d., Palmer 495 ( US); Vera Cruz: Orizaba, s.d., Muller 1625 (NY).

Figures

Figure 3. Main preferred vegetation types of Zornia species.A. Campo rupestre vegetation, sandy soil, Savanna B. Cerrado vegetation, Savanna C. Roadsides D. Caatinga vegetation, Tropical Dry Forest E. Campo rupestre vegetation, Savanna F. Cerrado vegetation, Savanna G. Cattle pastures H. Caatinga vegetation, Tropical Dry Forest. (Photos A, B, C, E, F, G: L.C. Zeferino; D, H: F.F. Pezzini).