Sida carrascoana, 2016

Bovini, Massimo G., 2016, Two new species of Sida (Malvaceae: Malvoideae) for Brazil, Phytotaxa 282 (4), pp. 291-295 : 293

SIDA CARRASCOANA Bovini , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2 )

Erect shrub; synflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers; lamina 0.8–1.2 × 0.7– 0.5 cm.

Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Cristália, 10 November 1991, G. Hatschbach et al. 55034 (holotype: MBM!) .

Shrubs ca. 0.5 m tall, erect. Branches terete, scabrous; trichomes simple, some longer (ca. 1 mm), caducous, ferruginous and scattered, hyaline in branch tips,,trichomes simple, thicker further down. Stipules caducous. Leaves with petioles ca. 8 mm long, indumentum and trichomes like in the branches; lamina 0.8–1.2 × 0.7– 0.5 cm, concolorous, membranaceous, ovate, base rounded to subcordate, apex acute, margin crenate to serrate; adaxial surface sericeous, trichomes simple, or occasionally fasciculate at midvein; abaxial surface like adaxial. Synflorescence of flowers solitary, axillary; anthopodium ca. 9 mm long, pubescent, trichomes simple. Flowers with pedicel ca. 1 cm long, indumentum and trichomes similar to that of the anthopodium; calyx ca. 1 cm long, ca. half-divided, sepal apex acute, trichomes simple and fasciculate externally; corolla ca. 1.3 cm in diameter, yellow with vinicolor center; staminal column with few simple, hyaline trichomes, free portion of filaments ca. 1 mm long; ovary 5 celled. Schizocarp ca. 4 mm in diameter, hirsute, 5 mericarps, ca. 2 × 1 mm, trichomes simple hyaline, muticous.

Habitat, distribution and phenology:— Sida carrascoana occurs in the state of Minas Gerais, in a carrasco environment, on rocky outcrops and open vegetation. It was found bearing flowers and fruits in November.

Conservation status:—To date, Sida carrascoana is represented by only a single voucher specimen found outside the protected area. Despite occurring in an area of difficult access, the surrounding areas are under strong human pressure, such as expansion of livestock and commercial plantations. According to the IUCN (2014), this species can be treated as CR B1a, with an estimated area of occurrence smaller than 100 km ².

Etymology: —The epithet carrascoana comes from the carrasco vegetation, a xerophilous, shrubby, high, and dense vegetation, which is common in the Caatinga and Cerrado, where the species was found.

Taxonomic notes:— Sida carrascoana is very different from the other species of section Muticae , due to its much reduced petioles and leaves. Compared to other species of the section Muticae from the state of Minas Gerais, it can be identified by the following characters.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Sida carrascoana. A. Flowering branch. B. Detail of branch. C. Leaf. D. Calyx. E. Mericarp. Scale bars A = 2 cm; B = 1 mm; C, D = 5 mm; E = 1 mm. Drawn from the holotype.