Polygala obovata, A. St. - Hil. & Moq., Ann. Soc. Roy. Sci. Orleans

Bar, Jose Floriano, Mota, Michelle, Amano, Erika & Martinez, Agustina, 2021, Disentangling Polygala obovata Complex (Polygalaceae), with a Description of Three New Species for Brazil, Systematic Botany (Basel, Switzerland) 46 (4), pp. 985-997 : 986-988

POLYGALA OBOVATA A.St.-Hil. & Moq., Ann. Soc. Roy. Sci. Orleans 9: 52 1828. “Crescit inter rupes prope urbem S.Pauli, necnon in pascuis prope praedium Rincao de Sanelons ad fines provinciae Rio Grande de Sul et provinciae Missionum” TYPE: BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Sul: Uruguaiana , 7–9 February 1821, A.Saint-Hilaire C2 2609 (lectotype, designated by Pastore 2014: 212, P [000733518]!; isolectotype: MPU [9937]!) .

Polygala albicoma Arechav., Anales Mus. Nac. Montevideo 3: 69. 1898. or Fl. Uruguay, 1: 69. 1898 [Arech.]. “Vive en colinas pedregosas de las cercanias del Salto. Flores en Septiembre y Novembre.” TYPE: URUGUAY. Salto: Salto ‘Terrenos Pedregosos,’ Nov 1897, J. Arechavaleta 52 (holotype: SI[3305]!).

Decumbent herbs to 15 cm tall. Roots fleshy, lignified. Stems slender, with a few to many sub-angulose stems arising from the base, green, without yellowish glands forming spots, densely puberulous, trichomes short-clavate. Leaves sub-opposite or alternate, petiole ca. 0.5–1 mm long, chartaceous, laminas (0.45–)0.8–1.3 3 (0.2–)0.35–0.5(–0.6) cm, wide elliptical to obovate, apex apiculate, margins slightly thicker, base acute, densely covered by small glandular trichomes. Racemes spiciform, 0.6–1.2 3 1.1 cm, reaching 1.5 cm after fruits fallen, flowers congested; peduncles short, 0.2 cm, bracts 1.1 3 0.4 mm, lanceolate, apex acuminate, ciliate, with a pair of small yellowish spots at the base, bracts caducous post-anthesis and during capsule development, 3 times longer than bracteoles; bracteoles 0.4–0.6 3 0.4 mm, deltate, ciliate; pedicel 1.8–2.2 mm, glabrous. Flowers white colored, 6.6–7 mm long (counting the pedicel); outer sepals with ciliate margins; lower outer sepal ca. 1.4–1.5 3 1–1.1 mm, ovate, with a slightly acuminate apex and two pairs of yellow spots at the base; upper outer sepals ca. 1.6 3 1 mm, ovate, apex acute, free almost to the base, with 2 pairs of small yellow spots on the base; inner sepals (wings) ca. 3.5–5 3 1.3–2.6 mm, elliptic, apex acuminate, margins not ciliate, longer than the mature fruits; lateral petals 3.4 3 1.5–1.6 mm, apex acute, elliptic; keel ca. 4.2–4.5 mm long, cristate, with yellow spots along the dorsal central vein, persistent on mature fruits; crest 6–8-lobed, lateral and central lobes deeply separated, style erect, terminated by an oblique cymbiform pre-stigmatic cavity, posterior extremity with a conspicuously crested appendage with abundant trichomes and an anterior globose stigma. Capsules 2.6 3 1.5 mm, ovate, asymmetric, with dark yellow spots along the central nerve, style caducous in fruit; seeds 2 3 0.6 mm, ovate, pubescent; appendages oblong, 1/4 to 1/2 of the length of the seed, 0.6–0.7 3 0.2 mm. Figure 5 .

Distribution — Polygala obovata occurs at low altitudes of 50–100(–350) m in open fields along the Parana river basin, from southern Paraguay to the west of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, eastern Argentina, and western Uruguay ( Fig. 3 ).

Notes —Fertile structures of specimens of Polygala obovata examined for this study show noticeable variations ( Fig. 6 ). However, they are not here considered to be taxonomically relevant.

P. obovata was described by Saint-Hilaire and Moquin-Tandon (1828 a, 1828b) on the basis of two specimens belonging

to two different species: one specimen (Saint-Hilaire, C2 1254 bis), from S ~ ao Paulo state, is conspecific with P. multiceps , while the other (Saint-Hilaire C2 2609, P[00733518]), from Rio Grande do Sul state, and likely from the municipality of Uruguaiana, was chosen by Pastore (2014) as a lectotype.

Additional Specimens Examined — Argentina. — CORRIENTES: Bella Vista 10 km S de Bella Vista, cauce seco del arroyo Toropi , 13 Sep 1972, A. Schinini 5244 ( CTES) ; Beron de Astrada 46 km W de Ita Ibate, Valencia , 15 Jan 1977, A. Schinini 14052 ( SI) ; Beron de Astrada Ruta Nacional 12 y arroyo Santa Marıa , 31 Mar 1974, A. Krapovickas 24817 ( CTES) ; Concepcion Ea. Buena Vista , 25 Sep 1971, T.M. Pedersen 9857 ( CTES) ; Empedrado Estacion Experimental INTA, 7 Dec 1978, A. Schinini 16197 ( CTES) ; General Paz 15 km E de Ita Ibate, arroyo Santa Lucıa , 9 Apr 1972, L.A. Mroginski 573 ( CTES) ; Ituzaingo Ruta 34, 7 km NW de San Carlos. Campo em beira de estrada, 18 Jan 2007, J. Paula-Souza et al. 7442B ( SI) ; Ituzaingo Ea. Puerto Valle , 10 Nov 1962, W. Partridge s.n. (BA 59595) ; Ituzaingo 10 km NNE de Ituzaingo, camino a Guardia Cue. , 13 Dec 1973, C.L. Quarın 1857 ( CTES) ; Mburucuya Estancia “Santa Marıa”, 9 Aug 1952, T.M. Petersen 1787 ( LP) ; Mercedes Ruta 119, 7 km S del acceso a Mercedes. , 20 Feb 1984, S.G. Tressens 2244 ( CTES) ; Mercedes Justino Solari , cercanıas, 10 Mar 1945, T.S. Ibarrola s.n. (LP 290390) ; Mercedes Arroyo Ypane , a 8 km N de la ruta 14, 3 Sep 1997, M.S. Ferrucci 1223 ( CTES) ; Monte Caseros La Potota , orilla de laguna, 10 Feb 1957, E.G. Nicora 5701 ( SI) ; Monte Caseros Campo General Avalos, Arroyo Curupı Chico , 11 Sep 1979, A. Schinini 18791 ( CTES) ; Monte Caseros Monte Caseros , La Potota, orilla de laguna, 22 Nov 1949, E.G. Nicora 5109 (SI 093177) ; Paso de los Libres Estancia “La Si ~ na,” Ao Tapebicu y rıo Uruguay , 7 Aug 1974, R. Carnevali 3466 ( CTES) ; Paso de Los Libres Ruta 117, acceso a Paso de Los Libres , 14 Dec 1991, N.M. Bacigalupo & E. R. Guaglianone 1491 ( SI) ; San Cosme Paso de la Patria , 30 Oct 1936, T. Meyer 2171 ( SI) ; San Martın La Cruz , vıas, 7 Nov 1936, A. Burkart 7934 ( SI) ; Santo Tome cerca de Santo Tome , 10 Oct 1977, A.L. Cabrera et al. 28408 ( SI) ; Santo Tome Camino de Santo Tome a Arroyo Cuay Grande , 22 Oct 1975, E.M. Zardini et al. 1082 ( LP) ; Santo Tome a. San Lorenzo, 4 km N de Galarza, ruta 41, 14 Nov 1994, M.M. Arbo 6180 ( CTES) ; Santo Tome Galarza , 6 Dec 1974, C.L. Quarın 2473 ( CTES) ; Santo Tome RP 94 entre Santo Tome y Cnia. Garabı, 6 Dec 2017, L. Aagesen & M. J. Bena 35 ( SI) ; Paso Ibera, 7 Oct 1886, G. Niederlein 2234 (1009) ( BA). — MISIONES: Candelaria Santa Ana , 3 Feb 1913, F.M. Rodrıguez 12545 ( LIL) ; Candelaria Loreto , 4 Jun 1957, J.E. Montes 27265 ( BAA) ; Candelaria Loreto , 27 Sep 1919, A.A. Muniez 21 (BA 44492, BAF) ; Candelaria Estancia Sol de Mayo , Sep 1947, E.M. Grondona 1430 ( BAB) ; Capital alrededores del pueblo, 1 Jan 1922, L.R. Parodi 4595 ( BAA) ; Capital cerca de Lanus, Sep 1947, E.M. Grondona 1276 ( BAB) ; Posadas , Oct 1911, A.A. Muniez 24 ( BAF) ; Capital Itaembe , 8 Oct 1934, F.M. Rodrıguez 364 (BA 16206) ; Montecarlo Completar datos, 15 Mar 1958, J.E. Montes 27727 ( NY) ; San Ignacio Teyucuare , 13 Feb 1945, A. Burkart 15381 ( SI) ; San Ignacio San Ignacio, 17 Feb 1978, A.L. Cabrera & A. A. Saenz 29251 ( SI) ; San Ignacio San ignacio, campo alto, arenoso, 7 Feb 1914, H. Quiroga 316 ( BAF 6987 ) ; San Ignacio Camino al Parque Provincial Teyu Cuare, campos antes del cruce a Payal. , 3 Apr 1998, F. Biganzoli 25 ( SI) ; San Ignacio campo antes de la entrada al Parque Provincial Teyucuare , 21 Apr 1996, F.O. Zuloaga 5751 ( SI) ; San Ignacio San Ignacio, camino a Teyucuare , 29 Jul 1992, A. Krapovickas 44139 ( CTES) ; San Ignacio San ignacio, 31 Jul 1913, H. Quiroga s.n. ( BAF, BA) ; San Ignacio San Ignacio, 25 Aug 1978, A.L. Cabrera et al. 29351 ( SI) ; San Ignacio Teyucuare. Campos , 19 Sep 2000, M.E. Mulgura 2068 ( SI) ; San Ignacio San Ignacio, 4 Oct 1913, H. Quiroga s.n. ( BAF, BA) ; San Ignacio 5 km de San Ignacio camino al Teyu-cuare , 12 Nov 1976, C.L. Quarın 3482 ( SI) ; San Ignacio camino al Parque Prov. Teyu Cuare, campos, 23 Nov 1995, E.R. Guaglianone et al. 3032 ( SI) ; San Ignacio Campo saliendo de la casa de Horacio Quiroga, 15 Nov 2011, F.O. Zuloaga et al. 13291 ( SI) ; San Ignacio San Ignacio, campos, 22 Nov 1896, N. Alboff s.n. ( LP 042188 ) ; San Ignacio Campo con afloramiento rocoso en la entrada del acceso a Teyu Cuare , 8 Dec 2017, L. Aagesen & M. J. Bena 44 ( SI) . Brazil. — RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Santiago , 04 Sept. 2006, R. Schmidt, 1519 ( ICN) ; Triunfo , 13 Sept 1974, K. Hagelund 8221 ( ICN) . Paraguay. — CENTRAL: Cordillera Barrero Grande , Jun 1968, A. Schinini 1942 ( SI) ; Trinidad-Luque, Campo de aviacion, Dec 1945, T. Rojas 13054 ( SI) ; Ypacarai , 15 Oct 1944, T. Rojas 12441a ( BAF) ; Ytororo, Jan 1918, T. Rojas 3152 ( SI). — GUAIRÁ. San Salvador, Alto Paraguay, Feb 1917, T. Rojas 2488 ( SI) ; MISIONES: San Juan Bautista , Oct 1931, T. Rojas 5721 ( SI) . Uruguay. — SALTO: Salto, 1897, J. Arechavaleta 51 ( SI) ; Cercanıas de Salto, Nov 1897, J. Arechavaleta s.n. (SI 3312) .

Figures

FIG. 5. Polygala obovata A.St.-Hil. & Moq. A. Bract and bracteoles. B. Inferior outer sepal. B'. Two superior outer sepals. C. One of the two inner sepals (wings). D. Keel. D'. Keel crest, opened. E. Androecium and lateral petals. F. Capsule. G. Seed. H. Leaf. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Photos by J. F. B. Pastore. (A–H. K. Hagelund 8221 (CTBS)).

FIG. 3. Distribution map for Polygala capitolensis J.F.B.Pastore, P. jardimii J.F.B.Pastore, P. paganuccii J.F.B.Pastore, P. obovata A.St.-Hil. & Moq., and P. multiceps Mart. ex A.W.Benn.

FIG. 6. Infraspecific morphological variation in Polygala obovata A.St.-Hil. & Moq.