Rediscovery of Utricularia cutleri Steyerm. (Lentibulariaceae) in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil: Taxonomic Reestablishment, Geographic Distribution, and Notes on Pollen and Bladder-Trap Micromorphology

Abstract

Abstract—The rediscovery of a carnivorous plant, Utricularia cutleri, in a seasonally flooded coastal plain in the Atlantic Forest domain, is here reported. This species was first described in 1952 with a few collections from that time, and since 1989 was considered a synonym of U. viscosa. Combined macro- and micromorphological evidence using SEM analysis is provided to propose its taxonomic reestablishment. Utricularia cutleri was originally known only from the type collection in Ceará state, and here we report two new records from Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Norte states, in central-western and northeastern Brazil. Updated morphological description, geographic distribution, and conservation status are provided, as well as comparative discussion with U. viscosa. Moreover, an updated identification key to species of Lentibulariaceae from Rio Grande do Norte is also presented.

New records of Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) for the state of Maranhão, Brazil

“…When in wet areas, the plants bore only one flower, while those plants in the small lagoons produced multiflowered inflorescences. A comparison with the species' description by Guedes et al (2019) shows that plants in the Lençóis Maranhenses population have shorter but wider leaves (5.8 × 0.7 mm vs 6-10 × 0.1 mm) and smaller utricles (0.4 vs 1 mm). In addition, plants of the Lençóis Maranhenses population bore inflorescences with 1-5 flowers (vs up to 10 flowers) and a white corolla (vs pale lilac).…”

“…Among other morphological characteristics, it can be recognized by the sticky viscosity produced by glands located on the scapes and pedicels; the subpeltate bracts and scales with irregularly toothed margins; a relatively large corolla compared to the sister taxa; the triangular upper corolla lip, with strongly reflexed margins and an emarginate apex; the quadrate and emarginate lower corolla lip; and a spur that is longer than the lower lip compared to the sister taxa (Guedes et al 2019). Utricularia cutleri has recently been reestablished and differs from U. viscosa by a combination of macro-and micromorphological characters (Guedes et al 2019). This species is endemic to Brazil, occurring in Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, and Mato Grosso; it is reported here for the first time in Maranhão.…”

“…Utricularia resupinata occur along the eastern portion of North America, Central America and extending to Brazil where it is cited to Amazonas, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe and Ceará (Taylor 1989;Guedes et al 2018), where inhabits shallow water environments of seasonal white-sand wetlands at low altitude, such as the ''campinaranas'' in Amazonas state and the coastal plains in the Northeast Region (Guedes et al 2018). Already U. cutleri occor in restinga areas in northeastern Brazil, Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, in areas seasonally flooded coastal plains, and in the Mato Grosso state, constituting a highly isolated population, where grows, mainly, on sandy quartzitic soil (Guedes et al 2019).…”

“…Our study was based on field collections, a literature review (Taylor 1989;Guedes et al 2018Guedes et al , 2019; Mota and Zappi 2018; Flora of Brazil 2020), and reviews of digital collections in Reflora databases (http://reflora.jbrj.gov. br; accessed on: 2019-7-2) and SpeciesLink (http://www.…”

Hidden biodiversity of Amazonian white-sand ecosystems: two distinctive new species of Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) from Pará, Brazil

“…About 30-40 species (depending on species concepts) have been described after Taylor's monograph (for compiling works, see Fleischmann 2012bFleischmann , 2015Jobson et al 2018), and the infrageneric classification has undergone a few changes based on molecular phylogenetic data (Jobson et al 2003;Müller and Borsch 2004). In recent years, several new species have been described or reestablished for the genus in Brazil (Bove 2008;Fleischmann and Rivadavia 2009;Souza and Bove 2011;Baleeiro et al 2015Baleeiro et al , 2019Gonella and Baleeiro 2018;Guedes et al 2019;Baleeiro et al in prep. ), revealing the potential for the discovery of new species even in a genus that had been thoroughly revised taxonomically in the late 20 th century (Taylor 1989).…”