Dichorisandra forzzae sp. nov. (Commelinaceae) from Espírito Santo State, Brazil, with notes on the Dichorisandra acaulis group

Abstract

The Dichorisandra acaulis group has its circumscription broadened to include two additional species, viz. D. oxypetala and the herein newly described D. forzzae. Dichorisandra oxypetala has previously not been included in this morphological group due to its deviant vegetative morphology. However, its reproductive morphology is congruent with the D. acaulis group and, thus, it is here included as a member of the later. Dichorisandra forzzae is here described to accommodate the specimens with anthers dehiscent through one apical pore, erroneously identified as D. acaulis in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. We provide illustrations, taxonomic comments and an updated identification key for the species of the D. acaulis morphological group. Furthermore, a table of comparison among the morphologically similar species of the Dichorisandra acaulis group is presented.

Flora of Espírito Santo: Commelinaceae

“…9). The largest known population is registered for the Estação Biológica Santa Lúcia (Moraes et al 2020). Dichorisandra forzzae is morphologically most similar to the D. acaulis group (Moraes et al 2020) Rodriguésia 73: e00522021.…”

“…The largest known population is registered for the Estação Biológica Santa Lúcia (Moraes et al 2020). Dichorisandra forzzae is morphologically most similar to the D. acaulis group (Moraes et al 2020) Rodriguésia 73: e00522021. 2022 young leaves (vs. light green), chartaceous mature leaves (vs. membranous), shorter pedicels (≤ 2 cm vs. ≤ 4 cm long), sepals sparsely sericeous (vs. glabrous, rarely sparsely setose at base), filaments basally connate (vs. free), anthers dehiscence through one apical pore (vs. two), and slightly trilobate white stigma (vs. truncate, purple to mauve) (Moraes et al 2020).…”

“…Dichorisandra forzzae is morphologically most similar to the D. acaulis group (Moraes et al 2020) Rodriguésia 73: e00522021. 2022 young leaves (vs. light green), chartaceous mature leaves (vs. membranous), shorter pedicels (≤ 2 cm vs. ≤ 4 cm long), sepals sparsely sericeous (vs. glabrous, rarely sparsely setose at base), filaments basally connate (vs. free), anthers dehiscence through one apical pore (vs. two), and slightly trilobate white stigma (vs. truncate, purple to mauve) (Moraes et al 2020). It was collected with flowers from November to March and fruits in March and April (Moraes et al 2020).…”

“…Studies in the family, especially addressing the morphology and delimitation of genera and species, are still very scarce (Pellegrini 2017b(Pellegrini , 2019. In Brazil, only a handful of studies have been published for Commelinaceae: 1) floristic studies (Barreto 1997;Maia 2006;Aona & Pellegrini 2014;Aona et al 2020); 2) taxonomic studies and revisions (Aona 2008;Aona et al 2016a;Pellegrini 2017bPellegrini , 2018Pellegrini & Almeida 2016;Pellegrini & Faden 2017;Pellegrini et al 2013Pellegrini et al , 2015Pellegrini et al , 2016; and 3) the description of new species (Aona-Pinheiro & Amaral 2012;Aona et al , 2016bAona et al , 2016cPellegrini 2016Pellegrini , 2017aPellegrini , 2018Pellegrini & Faden 2017;Moraes et al 2019Moraes et al , 2020.…”