Zornia flemmingioides Moric., Pl. Nouv. Am.

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 flemmingioides Moric., Pl. Nouv. Am. 127. 1844.

Figs 7 , S 1

Type: BRAZIL. Bahia: Jacobina, 1843, Blanchet 3670 (holotype G–00370103! ; isotype P– 02142426! ).

Shrub to ca. 2 m tall. Stems erect, branched, villous. Leaves with 4 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 15–35 × 5–16 mm, obovate, glabrous. Stipules ovate to lanceolate, 5–10 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, axillary, 15 cm long. Bracteoles 12–16 × 9–10 mm, ovate, 7–15-veined, punctate, glabrous, red. Loment with 2–3 articles; articles 2–2.5 × 2–2.5 mm, not reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes absent.

Distribution and habitat: Brazil, endemic. Mainly occurs at high elevations (approx. 1300 m) in Caatinga and Campo rupestre vegetation of Tropical Dry Forest.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU). Zornia flemmingioides is limited to the Espinhaço mountain range, with an EOO of 109,269.462 km ² and an AOO of 16.000 km ².

Notes: This species can be easily identified by its distinctive ovate, red bracteoles.

Representative specimens examined: BRAZIL. Bahia: Lençois , 6 July 2024, G.M. Nascimento et al. 709 (BOTU). Minas Gerais: Formoso, Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, 4 December 1997, M.A. da Silva et al. 3708 (RB).

Figures

Figure 1. Timeline of the genus Zornia taxonomy in previous studies.

Figure 7. Zornia flemmingioides A. Flower detailB. Shrub inhabitat C. Bracteolesovate, punctate, and red-coloured; Zorniacryptantha D. Inflorescence spiciform terminal E. Flower detail F. Loment with 7 articles. (Photos A: R.T. Queiroz; B: L.C. Zeferino; C: T.M. de Lima; D, E, F: T.C. Monteiro).