Zornia bracteata J.F.Gmel., Syst. Nat.

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 : 10

Zornia bracteata J.F.Gmel., Syst. Nat. [ed. 13] 2 (2): 1096. 1791 [1792].

Figs 4E , 5 , S 1

Type: UNITED STATES. Georgia: McDuffie County, 3 miles west of Marion , 7 July 1927, K. M. Wiegand & W. E. Manning 1624 [Neotype GH–00277013 ! designated by R.H. Mohlenbrock (1961)]

Shrub to ca. 80 cm tall. Stems erect, branched, glabrous. Leaves with 4 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 12.8–25 × 3.6–8 mm, ovate to lanceolate, glabrous. Stipules lanceolate, 5–7 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, axillary, 10 cm long. Bracteoles 10 × 7 mm, lanceolate to ovate, 5–7 veined, punctate, glabrous, green. Loment with 2–6 articles; articles 2.5–3.5 × 2.4–3.5 mm, not reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes 1 mm long.

Distribution and habitat: Mexico, United States. It occurs mainly in sandy soils of Temperate Grasslands.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU). Zornia bracteata is relatively widespread, occurring from northern Mexico to the southeastern United States. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 3,041,883.396 km ², while its area of occupancy (AOO) is only 268 km ². This suggests that the species has fragmented populations.

Notes: Zornia bracteata is distinguished by the 4 leaflets that are ovate to lanceolate and glabrous, and by its relatively large articles of the loment (up to 2.5–3.5 × 2.4–3.5 mm).

Representative specimens examined: MEXICO. s.loc., s.d., Berlandier 2034 (P). UNITED STATES. Alabama: Ozark , s.d., Biltmore 4512f (NY); Florida: Hawthorn , s.d., Barnhart 2047 (NY); Georgia: West of Swainsboro , s.d., Duncan 9919A (GH); Mississippi: Bay St. Louis, s.d., Langlois 35 (NY); North Carolina: 6 miles South of Hallsboro , s.d., Wilbur 4189 (GH); South Carolina: 3 miles West of Marion , s.d., Wiegand & Manning 1624 (GH); Texas: Bastrop, s.d., Duval 37 ( US); Virginia: Richmond, s.d., Fernald & Long 12381 (GH).

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 5. Zornia brasiliensis A. Inflorescence spiciform B. Shrub habit C. Flower detail; Zornia bracteata D.Detail of ovate bracteole, loment with 2–6 articles, and presence of bristle-like trichomes E. Leaves with 4 leaflets F. Flower. (Photos A, B, C: R.T. Queiroz; D, E, F: N. Frade).