Zornia cryptantha Arechav., Anales Mus. Nac.

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 : 12

Zornia cryptantha Arechav., Anales Mus. Nac. Montevideo 3: 358. 1901.

Figs 7 , S 4

Type: URUGUAY. Tacuarembo: s.loc, s.d., P. Pintos s.n. (holotype MVM–5362 !)

Zornia cryptantha Arechav. var. latibracteata Vanni, Bonplandia (Corrientes) 5: 180–181. 1981. Type : ARGENTINA. Corrientes: Dep. Lavalle, 3 km de Yataity Calle, Rt. 120, 25 November 1979, A. Schinini, R. Vanni & G. Normann 19140 (holotype CTES–0000817!).

Shrub to ca. 40 cm tall. Stems erect, branched., velutinous. Leaves with 2 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 10–42 × 6–12 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, velutinous. Stipules elliptic to lanceolate, 6–10 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, terminal, 50 cm long. Bracteoles 15–20 × 7–10 mm, ovate, 6–7 veined, punctate, velutinous, green. Loment with 5–8 articles; articles 2–3 × 2–2,5 mm, not reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes 2 mm long.

Distribution and habitat: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela. It occurs mainly at high elevations (approx. 1000 m) in the Savanna.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU). Zornia cryptantha presents a discontinuous geographical distribution. The species has an estimated area of occupancy of only 444,000 km ² (EOO= 8,000,766.794 km ²; AOO= 444.000 km ²).

Notes: Zornia cryptantha morphologically resembles Z. villosa . However, the bracteoles of Z. cryptantha are oval (vs. elliptic to lanceolate in Z. villosa ), and the trichomes on the articles are 2 mm long in Z. cryptantha (vs. 0.5 mm in Z. villosa ).

Representative specimens examined: ARGENTINA. Corrientes: Dep. Ituzaingó , 28 January 1987, A. Schinini et al.25303 (K). BOLIVIA. Yungas: s.loc., 1890, A.M. Bang 416 (K). BRAZIL. Distrito Federal: Brasília , 13 December 1965, H.S. Irwin et al. 11250 (NY); Goiás: Pirenópolis , Serra dos Pirineus, 14 January 1972, H.S. Irwin et al.34067 (NY); Mato Grosso: Fazenda Congonha , 22 October 1988, J.M. Pires & P.P. Furtado 17237 (NY); Mato Grosso do Sul: Amambaí , 24 April 1984, J.F.M. Valls et al. 7703 (RB); Minas Gerais: São Sebastião do Paraíso , 20 November 2008, A.P. Fortuna-Perez et al. 457 (UEC); Rio Grande do Sul: Júlio de Castilhos , 5 December 1993, J.R. Stehmann 1200 et al. (UEC); São Paulo: Floresta Estadual de Botucatu (FEB), Estrada Municipal Represa do Rio Pardo, Botucatu , November 2021, C.S.Ballarin 55 (BOTU); Santa Catarina: Lages , 16 January 1988, A. Krapovickas & C.L. Cristóbal 42026 (G). COLOMBIA. San José del Guaviare: s.loc., 10 November 1939, J.Cuatrecasas 7634 (US). PARAGUAY. Caaguazú: s.loc., 20 December 1876, B. Balansa 1524ª (P). VENEZUELA. Rio Orinoco , 27 September 1886, M. Chaffanjon 61ª (P).

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).

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).