Zornia subsessilis Fort.-Perez & A.M.G.Azevedo, Brittonia

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 : 31

Zornia subsessilis Fort.-Perez & A.M.G.Azevedo, Brittonia 60(3): 271. 2008.

Figs 4A , 12 , S 1

Type: BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Serra do Cabral, a 3 km de Armazém da Lage , Joaquim Felício, Fortuna-Perez et al. 105 (holotype UEC–142241 !; isotypes HUEFS–142241 !, K–000555222 !, MBM–348024 !, NY–01043477 !, HUEFS–142241 !, K–000555222 !) .

Shrub to ca. 1.60 m tall. Stems erect, branched, glabrous. Leaves with 4 leaflets, sessile or subsessile. Leaflets 6.7– 52.5 × 0.6–7.4 mm, lanceolate to linear, glabrous. Stipules lanceolate, 3–4 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, terminal, 50 cm long. Bracteoles 5–10 × 2–5 mm, elliptic, 4–5 veined, punctate, villous, green. Loment with 2–4 articles; articles 4–5 × 2–3 mm, reticulate-veined; bristle-like trichomes 3.5 mm long.

Distribution and habitat: Brazil, endemic. It occurs in sandy soil at high elevation (1200 m) of the Campo rupestre vegetation in the Savanna biome.

Conservation Status: Endangered (EN). Zornia subsessilis is limited to a single mountain, the Serra do Cabral region , in the state of Minas Gerais (EOO= 362.788 km ²; AOO= 44.000 km ²).

Notes: Zornia subsessilis can be distinguished from other 4–foliolate species of Zornia , primarily by its almost sessile leaves. Additionally, the leaflets are lanceolate on the basal portion of an individual plant and linear on the apical portion. The inflorescences are spiciform, terminal and ca. 50 cm long.

Zornia subsessilis has a xylopodium, which enables it to regenerate after fire. In regions where human-induced fires are prevalent and for a species with a limited distribution, the presence of this adaptive trait is vital for its survival. However, despite this characteristic, there are concerns over the longer-term survival of the species.

Representative specimen examined: BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Parque Estadual da Serra do Cabral, Buenópolis , 4 November 2022, L.C. Zeferino et al. 132 (BOTU).

Figures

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

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).

Figure 12. Zornia subsessilis A. Habit with erect, branched stems B. Loment articles C. Inflorescences spiciform terminal; Zornia thymifolia D. Flowers E. Inflorescences with obovate bracteoles, stems prostrate. (Photos A, B: T.C. Monteiro D, E: J.C.G. Morales).