Tillandsia uiraretama Sabino & Leodegario, 2024

Sabino, Gabriel Pavan, Leodegario, Marcio De Melo, Marcusso, Gabriel Mendes, David, Nathan Miranda Gazineu, Koch, Ingrid, Tavares, Danilo Ulbrich & Pinheiro, Fábio, 2024, Tillandsia uiraretama (Bromeliaceae), another new species from Alcatrazes Island, southeastern Brazil, Phytotaxa 676 (1), pp. 85-94 : 86-91

Tillandsia uiraretama Sabino & Leodegario , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3 )

Type:— BRAZIL. São Paulo: São Sebastião, Refúgio de Vida Silvestre do Arquipélago de Alcatrazes, Ilha dos Alcatrazes, em paredão granítico, na base do Pico Alto (Pico da Boa Vista), 24°6’16.32”S, 45°41’47.65”W, 270 m, 24 July 2023, G.P. Sabino, G. Marcusso & M. Tavares 897 (holotype UEC, isotype RB).

Diagnosis:— Tillandsia uiraretama is similar to T. aeranthos , T. araujei , T. iassuensis , and T. tenuifolia , but is distinguished of them by the unique combination of fertile portion of the inflorescence with 4–7.5 cm long, 8 to 16 flowers per inflorescence, flower length of 3–3.4 cm, floral bract length of 1.7–3.9 cm, petal lilac with 2.7–3.4 cm long and 0.9 cm wide, stamen length of 1.5–1.9 cm and style length of 1.8 cm.

Description:— Plant rupicolous or rarely epiphytic, heliophytic, caulescent, forming clumps, flowering 21–64 cm long, rosette 9–11 cm in diameter. Roots present. Leaves 5.7–8.5 cm long, numerous, densely spirally arranged, recurved, lepidote on both sides, greenish or vinaceous; sheath 0.5–1 × 1.5–1.6 cm, ovate-triangular, membranaceous; blade 5.2–7.6 × 0.8–1 cm, triangular, coriaceous, apex acute. Peduncle 6–8 cm long, 1–2 mm in diameter, recurved, green; peduncle bracts 1.8–6 × 0.7–1 cm, numerous, foliaceous, imbricate, almost completely covering the peduncle, whitish to greenish. Inflorescence (fertile part) 4–7.5 × 2–2.5cm, arcuate, simple spike, fusiform, with 8–16 flowers; floral bracts 1.7–3.9 × 0.6–1.5 cm, gradually decreasing in size toward the distal part of the inflorescence, elliptic, apiculate, pinkish, lepidote. Flowers sessile, polystichous, ca. 3– 3.4 cm long × 1.2 cm wide; sepals 14–17 × 4–5 mm, symmetrical, lanceolate, apex attenuate to acute, the abaxial one free, the adaxial ones connate, sparsely lepidote, green at the base, pink from middle to apex; petals spathulate, 2.7–3.4 × 0.8–0.9 cm, free, the blades spreading to reflexed, apex obtuse, entire or, sometimes, asymmetrical with margin irregularly bilobed in the apex, lilac; Stamens included, ca. 15 mm long; filament ca. 12–15 × 0.5–1 mm, plicate, flattened, flaccid, sublinear, whitish, slightly translucent, free; anther ca. 2–4 × 0.5–1 mm, basifixed at the base, base and apex acute, yellowish. Pistil exceeding the stamens; ovary ca. 3.5–5 × 2–3 mm, greenish to yellowish, ovoid; style ca. 18 mm long, ca. 0.5–0.6 mm in diameter, erect, whitish; stigma simple-patent, white, 0.1 cm long; Fruits and seeds not seen.

Etymology:—The Alcatrazes Island was called by the Tupinambás, the indigenous people that occupied the shores of São Paulo state, as “Uraritan’’ according to Knivet ([1625] 2015). But, in terms of linguistics, in Tupi language, it is composed by the prefix “wyrá” (bird) and the suffix “r-etám-a” (place) (Cabral, pers. comm.). The name is in reference to the large colonies of seabirds that inhabit the island. Therefore, the correct spelling should be wyrá r-etám-a. In this way, we choose “ uiraretama ” to be the most suitable epithet.

Phenology:—The blooming season is from May to September, during the winter and dry period in southeast Brazil. However, some individuals were also found blooming in October and February. Fruits not seen.

Distribution and habit:—Known only from the granitic walls of the Alcatrazes Island, a maritime rock massif 35 km far from the continent, within the municipality of São Sebastião, state of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Tillandsia uiraretama grows under full sunlight, mainly on rocky surfaces, particularly on vertical walls of the island, as hyperepilithic ( Couto et al. 2023). It stands as the most abundant bromeliad species on Alcatrazes Island, the main island of an archipelago with the same name. Individuals of Tillandsia uiraretama were also found growing on rocky shores, near the sea level, and very rarely as epiphytes in the forest patches. The species frequently forms densely aggregated specimens and often grows together with Tillandsia alcatrazensis , as well as Trilepis lhotzkiana Nees ( Arnott 1834: 267), Anthurium alcatrazense Coelho & Catharino (2008: 830) , Neoregelia insulana Leme ( Leme & Kollmann 2013: 28), Coleocephalocereus fluminensis ( Miquel 1838: 48) Backeberg (1942: 53) , and Rhipsalis grandiflora Haworth (1819: 83) .

The isolation of the Alcatrazes Island is reinforced by the considerable distance from the mainland and its inselberglike feature ( Sabino et al., 2023), factors that may restrict the gene flow, thereby increasing genetic differentiation and reproductive isolation among insular species ( Pinheiro et al. 2021). The island’s landscape comprises rocky outcrops interspersed with rocky vegetation and forest patches influenced by the coastal Atlantic Forest. The terrain is predominantly steep, with areas of forest vegetation where soil has accumulated. On rocky outcrops where soil is scarce or absent, the forest transitions to shrubby or herbaceous vegetation providing the habitat for the described species.

The island is home to several endemic plant, such as Anthurium alcatrazense , Begonia venosa Skan ex Hooker (1899 : pl. 7657), Begonia larorum Smith & Wasshausen (1983: 446) , Neoregelia insulana , and Tillandsia alcatrazensis , and animal species, as Ololygon alcatraz Lutz (1973: 2) , and Bothrops alcatraz Marques, Martins & Sazima (2002: 304) . Both the different climate and the strong isolation from the continent are potential elements contributing to the differentiation of island populations, and the contribution of neutral (drift) and adaptive forces (selection) in shaping the island endemic species ( Losos & Ricklefs, 2009; Burns, 2009) should be investigated in the future

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— BRAZIL. São Paulo: São Sebastião, Refúgio de Vida Silvestre do Arquipélago de Alcatrazes, Ilha dos Alcatrazes, próximo ao tablado de madeira, 3 October 2022, 24° 5’55.01”S, 45°41’39.60”W, 15 m, G.P. Sabino, I.M. Cunha, M.M. Tavares, & P. Oliveira 638 (UEC). Ibidem, afloramento próximo à base da Marinha, floresceu em cultivo nas estufas da UNICAMP, 24 July 2023, 24°6’3.09”S, 45°41’30.11”W, 210 m, G. P. Sabino, F. Pinheiro, B.L. Arida & W.L.S. Júnior 896 (UEC). Ibidem, Próximo a costão rochoso, no ninhal, 10 May 2022, 24°6’3.17”S, 45°41’50.36”W, 17 m, G.P. Sabino, V. Kamimura & R.A. Pereira 505 (UEC). Ibidem, face sudeste da ilha, em vale voltado para o mar aberto, 19 February 2024, 24°6’20.84”S, 45°41’45.47”W, 115 m, G.P. Sabino, V. Kamimura & L. Oliveira 982 (UEC). Ibidem, próximo ao tablado de madeira, face oeste da ilha., 20 February 2024, 24°5’55.22”S, 45°41’39.04”W, 20 m, G.P. Sabino, V. Kamimura & L. Oliveira 988 (UEC). Ibidem, próximo ao tablado de madeira, face oeste da ilha., 22 Febrary 2024, 24° 5’53.32”S, 45°41’36.71”W, 20 m, G.P. Sabino, V. Kamimura & L. Oliveira 999 (UEC). Ibidem, na base do pico alto, face sul da ilha. 2 September 2024, 24° 6’18.29”S, 45°41’57.39”W, 72m, G.P. Sabino, V. Kamimura & G.M. Marcusso 1021 (UEC). Ibidem, October 1920. H. Luederwaldt & Fonseca s.n. (SP 12374 [image]; Ibidem, nas rochas nuas, 20 August 1895, A. Loefgren CGG3187 (SP 12372 [image]); Ibidem, no topo do pico ao N. do heliponto, 7 June 2006, R.J.V. Alves, R. Fernandes, D. Canabarro & Flávio do IEAPM 7789 (R 225969 [image]); Ibidem, encosta voltada para o Saco do Funil, 1 September 1988, L. Rossi et al. 437 (SP 248265 [image]).

Conservation status: — Tillandsia uiraretama exclusively inhabits the Alcatrazes Island, which, besides being a fragile environment within a protected area (ICMBio 2020), has a history of anthropogenic disturbances. A significant fire, caused by a Brazilian navy training course, destroyed 20 hectares of vegetation on the northeast side of the island, leading to the proliferation of exotic plants such as Melinis minutiflora Palisot de Beauvois (1812: 54) (ICMBio 2020).

The GeoCAT ( Bachman et al., 2011) found that the estimated area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) for T. uiraretama are 4 km ² and 0.252 km ², respectively. Although it is very abundant in the Alcatrazes Island (e.g. Fig. 1 ), it is restricted to this island, which qualifies it for the D2 category due to the limited number of locations where it occurs (endemic to the island) and the potential future threats that may lead the taxon to extinction. One such threat is the invasion of Melinis minutiflora , which increases flammable biomass, posing a risk of potential fires. Furthermore, rising sea levels could directly affect several individuals that grow near the sea water. Thus, we have preliminarily classified the new species as vulnerable (VU).

Taxonomic notes:—We have found specimens collected in previous expeditions identified as Tillandsia araujei Mez (1894: 600) : H. Luederwaldt 12374 (GH), A. Löfgren 12372 (GH), R. Alves 7789 (R), A. Löfgren s.n. (SP); and as Tillandsia aeranthos (Loiseleur-Deslongchamps 1821: t. 304) Smith (1943: 200): H. Luederwaldt s.n (SP), and L. Rossi 437 (SP). After a carefully evaluating through digitized photographs, we concluded that all these specimens correspond to the new species.

Tillandsia uiraretama belongs to subgenus Anoplophytum by the included stamens, strongly plicate filaments, and a slender style considerably longer than the ovary ( Smith & Downs 1977). According to the phylogenetic analysis, T. uiraretama (sample JB1934) was also confirmed as part of the subgenus Anoplophytum ( Paixão-Souza 2016) . Indeed, it is morphologically related to Tillandsia araujei , T. aeranthos , T. iassuensis , and T. tenuifolia . A morphological comparison with these putative similar species is presented on Table 1.

Tillandsia uiraretama differs from T. araujei by the longer floral bract (1.7 – 3.9 cm vs. 1.5 – 2.3 cm), longer flower (ca. 3 – 3.4 cm vs. ca. 2 – 2.5 cm), longer petal (2.7–3.4 cm vs. 2.4 cm), wider petal (ca. 8 – 9 mm vs. ca. 5 mm), lilac petal (vs. white), longer style (ca. 1.8 cm vs. 1.3 cm), and longer ovary (ca. 3.5 – 5 mm vs. ca. 3 mm); from T. aeranthos by the longer fertile part of the inflorescence (4 – 7.5 cm vs. 3 – 4.2 cm), floral bract longer (1.7 – 3.9 cm vs. 1.4 cm), petal lilac (vs. dark blue), longer petal (2.7 – 3.4 cm vs. 1.7 – 2.7 cm), wider petal (ca. 8 – 9 mm vs. ca. 5 mm), and longer style (18 mm vs. 9 mm); from T. iassuensis by the shorter leaves (5.7 – 8.5 cm vs. 20 cm), peduncle shorter (6 – 8 cm vs. 7 – 11 cm), fertile part of the inflorescence longer (4 – 7.5 cm vs. 4 – 5 cm), longer flower (3 – 3.4 cm vs. 2 cm), longer floral bract (1.7 – 3.9 cm vs. 1.4 cm), longer sepal (1.4 – 1.7 cm vs. 0.6 – 1.2 cm), longer petal (2.7–3.4 cm vs. 2 cm), wider petal (ca. 8 – 9 mm vs. ca. 2 – 4 mm), petal color (lilac vs. white); and from T. tenuifolia by its longer fertile portion of the inflorescence (4 – 7.5 cm vs. 3 cm), longer flower (3 – 3.4 cm vs. 1.8 – 2 cm), higher number of flower per inflorescence (8 – 16 vs. 6 – 8), longer floral bracts (1.7 – 3.9 cm vs. 1.8 – 2 cm), longer petal (2.7 – 3.4 cm vs. 1.8 cm), wider petal (ca. 8 – 9 mm vs. ca. 4 mm), and longer style (1.8 cm vs. 0.7 cm).

Tillandsia uiraretama occurs sympatrically with T. gardneri Lindley (1842 : sub t. 63) and T. alcatrazensis of subg. Anoplophytum , and Tillandsia usneoides (Linnaeus) Linnaeus (1762: 411) of subg. Diaphoranthema .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Geographical location and habitat of Tillandsia uiraretama in the Alcatrazes Island, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. A. South America and Alcatrazes Island location. B. White dots indicating the collection points of T. uiraretama on the island (adapted from Google Earth Pro). C. Overview of Alcatrazes Island (photo by Luciano Candisani). D. Overview of a vertical granitic wall, the habitat of T. uiraretama (photo by Gabriel Mendes Marcusso). E. Tillandsia uiraretama grows together with T. alcatrazensis and Vriesea sp. nov. (photo by Gabriel Mendes Marcusso) F. Close up of the flowers (photo by Gabriel Pavan Sabino).

FIGURE 2. Tillandsia uiraretama. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence. C–D. Flower. E. Floral bracts F. Sepals. G. Petals. H. Androecium and Gynoecium. I. Stamens. J. Gynoecium. Bars: A = 2 cm; B–G= 1 cm; H–J = 0.5 cm. (Photos by G.P. Sabino based on G.P. Sabino 897).

FIGURE 3. A–J Tillandsia uiraretama (G.P. Sabino 897). A. Habit. B. Inflorescence branch. C–D. Flower. E. Floral bracts. F. Sepals. G. Petals. H. Androecium and Gynoecium. I. Stamens. J. Gynoecium. Illustration: D.U. Tavares.