Chamaecrista malacophylla (Vogel) Rando, 2025

Bastos, Maria Da Conceição De Carvalho, Marinho, Lucas Cardoso, Fernandes, Rozijane Santos, Zappi, Daniela Cristina, Silva, Tatiane Santana & Rando, Juliana Gastaldello, 2025, Nomenclatural and taxonomic adjustments in Chamaecrista (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) from the Brazilian Cerrado, Phytotaxa 702 (2), pp. 187-196 : 193

4. Chamaecrista malacophylla (Vogel) Rando , comb. nov.

Basionym: — Cassia malacophylla ( Vogel 1837: 55) . Type: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais, “In Brasilia: Sellow leg., 1818” (hb. Kunth. “Serra do Santo Antônio [=Serra do Cipó]) (lectotype, designated by Irwin [1964]: K!). Fig. 3E–G .

Chamaecrista desvauxii var. malacophylla ( Vogel 1837: 55) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (1982: 874)

Notes:— The decision to change the status of C. desvauxii var. malacophylla , thereby recognizing the circumscription followed by Vogel (1837), Bentham (1870) and Irwin (1964), is based on the unique combination of characters and distribution of this taxon. Chamaecrista malacophylla exhibits a prostrate to hemifuse growth habit, foliage typically pale-glaucous or grayish, appearing bluish-green in the field, hirsute indumentum, small cordiform stipules up to 1 cm long (smaller than the internodes), and well-developed petiole measuring (1.4–)2.0– 4.7 cm in length ( Rando et al. 2013b). This species is restricted to the campo rupestre vegetation of the Serra do Cipó and Diamantina area in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Irwin and Barneby (1982) noted that this variety may sometimes be associated with Chamaecrista desvauxii var. mollissima and suggested that together they might form a hybrid complex, pointing out that this could be happening in the Serra do Cipó region. However, a study carried out by Rando and collaborators ( Rando et al. 2013b), a population analysis of both taxa in the Serra do Cipó focusing on traits such as growth habit, indumentum, and stipule size did not reveal the presence of intermediate individuals. Resolving this taxonomic issue highlights the critical importance of observing natural populations in the field, particularly at infraspecific level. For further information on the species, including its description, morphology, imagens and distribution, see Irwin (1964), Irwin & Barneby (1982), Rando et al. (2013b, 2020).

Figures

FIGURE 3. A–B. Chamaecrista curvifolia. A. Habit. B. Branch with leaves and flowers. C–D. Chamaecrista latistipula. C. Habit. D. Branch with leaves and flowers. E–G. Chamaecrista malacophylla. E. Branch with leaves and flower. F. Flower in front view. G. Branch with leaves and flower. Photos A–C by M. Simon & H. Moreira; D by M. Simon; E–G by J.G. Rando.