Zornia gardneriana Moric., Pl. Nouv. Amer.

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 : 18

Zornia gardneriana Moric., Pl. Nouv. Amer. 129. 1844.

Fig. S4

Type: BRAZIL. Piauí: Oeiras, May 1839, Gardner 2102 (holotype P–02142428 !; isotypes F–0093427F !, G–00370115 !, GH–00063394 !, K–000205309 !, NY–01477288 !) .

Shrub to ca. 60 cm tall. Stems erect, branched., villous. Leaves with 4 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 8–30 × 3–7 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, sericeous to glabrous. Stipules ovate to lanceolate, 5–6 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, axillary, 5 cm long. Bracteoles 7–11 × 5–6 mm, ovate, 7–13 veined, punctate, glabrous, green. Loment with 4–6 articles; articles 2–2.5 × 1.5–2 mm, not reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes 1.5 mm long.

Distribution and habitat: Brazil, endemic. It occurs mainly in sandy soils of the Caatinga vegetation in Tropical Dry Forest.

Conservation Status: Endangered (EN). Endemic to Brazil, Zornia gardneriana is exclusively found in the Caatinga. The EOO is estimated to be 25,957.607 km ², while its AOO measures only 24,000 km ².

Notes: Zornia gardneriana can be distinguished by its loments with 4–6 articles (each 2–2.5 mm × 1.5–2 mm), their surfaces not reticulate-veined and their trichomes 1.5 mm long.

Representative specimens examined: BRAZIL. Piauí: São Raimundo Nonato, Serra Branca , January 1907, E. Ule 7185 (K).

Figures

Figure 4. Neotropical Zornia fruit morphology showing variation in the loment. It shows the article indumentum and presence or absence of bristle-like trichomes. A. Z. subsessilis B. Z. sericea C. Z. myriadena D. Z. ulei E. Z. bracteata. (Photos A: T.C. Monteiro; B: T.M. de Lima C, D: R.T. Queiroz; E: N. Frade).