Vriesea badinii Guarçoni, A.F. Costa & Kessous, 2025

Guarçoni, Elidio Armando Exposto, Costa, Andrea Ferreira Da & Kessous, Igor Musauer, 2025, Vriesea badinii (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae), a new species from Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Phytotaxa 691 (1), pp. 103-111 : 104-109

Vriesea badinii Guarçoni, A.F. Costa & Kessous sp. nov. Figs. 1 , 2 .

Diagnosis: — Vriesea badinii differs from V. clausseniana by its general smaller size (53–72 cm vs. 120–160 cm), rosette tubuliform (vs. funnel-shaped), leaf sheath green with the upper half being vinaceous (vs. brown), floral bracts reddish-brown (vs. greenish to brown); sepals with an acute apex (vs. obtuse apex) and carinate (vs. not carinate), and petals free (vs. conate 3.5 mm).

Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais, Ouro Preto, Serra de Ouro Preto, Serra do Chafariz, Caminho Velho da Estrada Real, Campo Rupestre Quartizítico, 1530 m, 20º21’44”S, 43º34’06”W, fl., 4 February 2011, E. Guarçoni 1512 & C. C. Paula (holotype R!).

Description: — Plant lithophyte, heliophytic, flowering 53–72 cm tall, propagating by axillary shoots. Leaves ca. 14, erect to sub-erect, forming a tubuliform rosette; sheath not differentiated from the blade, oblong, 10–14 × 7.8–11 cm, green, upper half vinaceous on the adaxial surface, trichomes subdense and minutely brown-lepidote at the base on both surfaces; blade oblong, 10–22 × 7.2–7.4 cm, green, densely vinaceous-punctulate at the distal third on both surfaces, apex broad-obtuse, acuminate and cuspidate, with revolute margin. Inflorescence simple, or rarely compound, when compound with 2–3 lateral branches, second, with suberect position in pre-anthesis; peduncle of inflorescence erect, 34–40 cm long, 6–7.5 mm in diameter, purple, glabrous; fertile part of the inflorescence 13.6–19.2 cm long; peduncle bracts enfolding the peduncle, being the lower longer than the internodes, ovate, 2.2–2.6 × 2.1 cm, green, with vinaceous spots on the abaxial surface, cuspidate; the middle ones shorter than the internodes, broad-ovate, ca. 2.1 × 2.6 cm, dark brown, cuspidate; the upper shorter than the internodes, broad-elliptic, ca. 2.6 × 2.3 cm, dark brown, obtuse; rachis green to vinaceous. Floral bracts suborbicular to broad-ovate, 2.3–2.8 × 2.4–2.8 cm, reddish-brown, obtuse, glabrous, slightly carinate. Flowers 12–16, 5.4–7 cm long (including the anthers), anthesis nocturnal, with sweet scent, patent, sub-erect after the anthesis; sepals elliptic, 2.2–3.1 × 1.6 cm, green to yellowish towards edges and apex, acute, slightly carinate; petals elliptic to obovate, 4.5–4.8 × 1.8–2.1 cm, yellow, emarginate, free, forming a campanulate corolla; petal-appendages oblong, 8.3–10 × 2.2 mm, apex dentate, adnate to petals by 2.7–3.9 mm; stamens exceeding petals; filaments 4.5 cm long at anthesis, adnate by 2.5–2.7 mm; anthers oblong, 8.2–8.5 mm, dorsifixed at the base; stigma yellow, ca. 1.1 mm, convolute-blade type II, densely papillose; style light yellow, 4.6–5.2 cm long, 1 mm in diameter; ovary yellowish-green to light yellow, 6–6.3 mm long, 2.8–3 mm in diameter. Capsule ellipsoid, ca. 3.3 cm long, ca. 1.3 cm in diameter, light brown. Seeds plumose, 1.3 cm long, coma whitish, tegument light brown.

Paratypes: — BRAZIL, Minas Gerais, Ouro Preto, Serra de Ouro Preto, Estrada Real , Caminho Velho , 1554 m, 20º21’42”S, 43º34’06”W, fl., 19 January 2010, E. Guarçoni 1385 et al. ( RGN!) ; ibid, E.Guarçoni 1386 et al. ( SP!) ; ibid, E. Guarçoni 1387 et al. ( BHCB!) ; ibid, 1530 m, 20°21’44”S, 43°34’06”W, fl., 4 February 2011, E. Guarçoni 1962 & C. C. Paula ( R!) ; ibid, 1513 m, 20°21’43”S, 43°34’09”W, fl., 4 February 2011, E. Guarçoni 1963 & C. C. Paula ( BMA!) ; ibid, 1532 m, 20°21’30”S, 43°35’07”W, fl., 4 February 2011, E. Guarçoni 1964 & C. C. Paula ( VIC!) ; ibid, 1530 m, 20°21’30”S, 43°35’11”W, fl., 4 February 2011, E. Guarçoni 1965 & C. C. Paula ( BMA!) .

Etymology: —The specific epithet is in honor of Professor José Badini, for his importance and dedication to botanical knowledge, particularly in Ouro Preto and the surrounding region (Minas Gerais).

Distribution: —So far, Vriesea badinii has been exclusively documented in the rocky outcrops of quartzitic campo rupestre in Serra do Chafariz, Ouro Preto. No occurrences of V. badinii have been recorded in neighboring mountain ranges such as Serra de Capanema and Serra do Itacolumi.

Populations are observed along the margins of the historic Estrada Real (English: Royal Road) at the mountain’s summit. The species appears to exhibit a highly selective habitat preference, thriving solely at elevations exceeding 1,500 m, where fog formation is frequent. Below this threshold, the species remains absent.

Formerly known as Serra da Cachoeira, Serra do Chafariz serves as the type locality for Dyckia saxatilis Mez (1896: 518) .At its higher elevations within campo rupestre areas, additional Bromeliaceae species, including Aechmea nudicailis ( Linnaeus 1753: 286) Grisebach (1864: 593) , Billbergia elegans Martius ex Schultes filius (1830: 1265), Cryptanthus schwackeanus Mez (1894: 203–204) , and Pitcairnia flammea Lindley (1827: 1092) , are also present. Lower elevations feature areas of Seasonal Semideciduous Montane Forest, where species of Racinaea ( Mez 1896: 647) Spencer & Smith (1993: 151–160) and Vriesea have been recorded.

Mapping the distribution of Vriesea badinii , together with the related species, reveals an insular distribution pattern, with the Iron Quadrangle (QF) emerging as an area of occurrence for this species complex ( Fig. 3 ). Vriesea badinii and V. marceloi have localized distributions in the Serra do Chafariz and Serra do Caraça, respectively. Despite its specific distribution in the QF, V. stricta is also found in the Serra da Piedade (Coffani Nunes et al., 2010; Versieux, 2011). In addition to this distribution, in the Serra da Mantiqueira, V. claudiana is currently restricted to São Tomé das Letras ( Leme et al., 2010).

Taxonomic notes: — Vriesea badinii is morphologically related to V. clausseniana , a species also endemic to the Iron Quadrangle. Its main differences are the general smaller size (53–72 × 120–160 cm); the tubuliform shape of the rosette (vs. funnelform); the sheath oblong-elliptic sheath, green with the upper half vinaceous (vs. ovate and dark brown); the floral bracts reddish-brown (vs. greenish-brown to green or brown with green margins); the acute apex of the sepals (vs. obtuse); and the free petals (vs. connate). Additionally, V. badinii blooms from December to February, while V. clausseniana blooms between May and June ( Table 1). Distinct flowering times are an important characteristic in species delimitation, as phenology can act as a temporal pre-zygotic reproductive barrier between species, preventing gene flow in cases where there is no overlap in flowering periods.

Vriesea badinii also resembles an informal group of lithophytic species of Vriesea , referred to by Versieux (2011) as the “ Vriesea minarum complex.” These are generally small plants with simple or slightly branched inflorescences, growing on isolated mountain tops throughout the Espinhaço and Mantiqueira ranges in Minas Gerais ( Versieux, 2011; Versieux & Machado, 2012).

Despite being more associated with Vriesea sect. Xiphion , V. badinii have exserted stamens. Compared to V. marceloi , V. badinii can be easily distinguished by its larger flowers with a campanulate corolla ( Fig. 2D ), whereas in V. marceloi they are tubuliform. This characteristic potentially suggests that the pollination of V. badinii is carried out by bats, whereas in V. marceloi it is carried out by two different species of hummingbirds ( Versieux & Machado, 2012). Other differences can also be recognized between the two taxa, with V. badinii having dark brown peduncle bracts (vs. yellow to yellowish-brown). Additionally, the inflorescence is usually simple in V. badinii (vs. always compound), with sepals having an acute apex (vs. obtuse), petals with a mucronate apex (vs. acute), and petal appendages oblong, with a branched apex and 8.3–10 mm long (vs. lanceolate, acute, and 5-6 mm).

The most notable differences between Vriesea badinii and V. stricta are the general size of the plant (53–72 vs. 30–50) cm and flowers (5.4–7 vs. 3 cm). Other characteristics that separate V. badinii from V. stricta are the upper peduncle bracts broad-elliptic with an obtuse apex (vs. ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate with a mucronate apex), petals obovate (vs. oblong). V. badinii also differs from V. stricta by having a simple inflorescence, or when compound, lax (vs. compound and congested), and with an acute leaf apex (vs. obtuse). In the complex, Vriesea claudiana is the most distinct taxon from V. badinii , having a larger plant size and upper peduncle bracts longer than the internodes.

Another characteristic that aids in distinguishing Vriesea badinii from the other Vriesea species mentioned earlier is the shape of the flowers. In V. badinii , the flowers are campanulate, with the petals curving from the middle region, similar to V. clausseniana . However, in V. badinii the diameter of the corolla is wider than in V. clausseniana due to the width of the petals (1.8–2.1 vs. 1.3–1.6 cm). In V. marceloi , V. stricta , and V. claudiana the flowers are tubuliform, with flat petals (in V. claudiana ) and slightly curved petals (in V. stricta and V. marceloi ). Other distinctive characteristics between the species are provided in Table 1.

Conservation status: — Vriesea badinii is restricted to the rocky outcrops of the campos rupestres above 1,500 m in the Serra do Chafariz. It has an area of occurrence (EOO) of 36 km 2 and an area of occupation (AOO) of 4 km 2. As well as having a restricted geographical distribution, its area of occurrence is also subject to periodic fires, putting the entire population at risk, as the species is located at the top of the mountain.

According to the criteria adopted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2011), Vriesea badinii can be considered Critically Endangered because of its restricted geographical distribution due to its small AOO and EOO [CR; B1a, b (iii, v), B2a, b (iii, v)]. V. badinii is known from only one population at the top of the Serra do Chafariz and is subject to population decline, as the area is constantly subject to fire. In addition, the new species has a high ornamental potential and is subject to extractivism (illegal removal of plants from the environment). Urgent measures must be taken to conserve the species, since it occurs outside protected areas.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–M. Vriesea badinii (E. Guarçoni et al. 1512). A. Habit. B. Leaf. C. Proximal peduncle bract. D. Median peduncle bract. E. Distal peduncle bract. F. Floral bract. G. Flower. H. Sepal. I. Petal with appendages and stamens. J. Detail of the appendages. K. Pistil. L. Fruits. M. Seed. Drawings by Reinaldo Monteiro.

FIGURE 2. Vriesea badinii, habitat and related taxon. A. General view of the Serra do Chafariz, Ouro Preto, a type locality of V. badinii. B. Habit of V. badinii growing on rock outcrops. C. Habit. D. Detail of the inflorescence showing peduncle bracts and dark brown floral bracts and strongly open corolla. E. V. clausseniana. Photos by E. Guarçoni.

FIGURE 3. A–B. Serra do Chafariz in the Iron Quadrangle, between the municipalities of Ouro Preto and Mariana: A.Area of the Vriesea badinii type locality (Seasonal forest area—green; Exposed canga area—brown); B. Location of the study area in the Iron Quadrangle and in Minas Gerais (Ouro Preto—yellow; Mariana—orange); C. Map showing the collection points for the species covered here (V. badinii—A; V. clausseniana—B; V. marceloi—C; V. minarum—D).