Pombalia insignis Paula-Souza 2021, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Paula-Souza, J.
name: Lima, A. G.
name: Souza, V. C.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Malpighiales
Violaceae
Pombalia
Pombalia insignis

description: 2. Pombalia insignis Paula-Souza, sp. nov.
Pombalia insignis is morphologically similar to Pombalia lanata (A.St.-Hil.) Paula-Souza but is distinguished by its larger flowers with anterior petal c.27–30 × 28–29.5 mm (versus 16–18.5 × 13–22 mm) and larger, c. 1.5 mm long, orange-brown connective appendages (versus smaller, 0.3–0.5 mm long, hyaline connective appendages). –
Type: Brazil, Goiás, Chapadão do Céu, Parque Nacional das Emas, cerrado queimado recentemente, próximo ao portão Jacuba, Abundante ao longo da estrada beirando a rodovia, 8 km da sede em Chapadão do Céu, 11 x 2006, J. Paula-Souza, G.O. Rom ã o & G.S. Leite 8215 (holotype SPF [SPF188140], isotype BHO). Figures 2E,F, 4.
Suffrutescent herb, 30–50 cm high, branched from a well-developed, bud-bearing underground root-like system, erect; stems velutinous to villous, internodes 9–24 mm. Stipule c.1.5 × 0.5 mm, triangular to linear, margin entire, hyaline and inconspicuous among the dense indument; leaves alternate, sessile; blade 20–39 × 9–14 mm, lanceolate to oval, oblong, less frequently oblanceolate, apex acute to obtuse, margin entire to subentire, base round, velutinous to villous, the hairs grouped in tufts. Flowers bright blue with a yellow spot at the base of the anterior petal, solitary, axillary; pedicel 8–10 mm long, velutinous to villous; bracteoles c.1.5 × 0.5 mm, linear, hyaline and inconspicuous among the dense indument; sepals slightly unequal, 7–8.5 × c. 2 mm, lanceolate, apex acute to subacuminate, margin entire, base truncate, villous; posterior petals c.7.5 × c. 3 mm, lanceolate to slightly oval, subfalcate, apex acute; lateral petals c.16 × 4 mm, oblong, slightly constricted in the middle, falcate, apex round to truncate, sparsely villous beneath; anterior petal 27–30 × 28–29.5 mm, including a claw c. 10 mm long, transversely oblong, apex truncate, base obtuse to truncate, smooth, villous beneath; filaments c. 1.5 mm long, anthers c. 1.5 mm long, connective appendages orange-brown, c. 1.5 mm long, apex truncate to emarginate, asymmetrical, the 2 anterior stamens each bearing a noduliform gland at the base of the anthers, villous; style 3.5 mm long, glabrous, ovary 4 mm long, villous, ovules unknown. Capsule 8–10 × 7–8 mm, ovoid or ellipsoid; seeds 2.8–3 × c. 1.8 mm.
Etymology. The epithet is the Latin word for ‘remarkable, outstanding’, in reference to the new species’ large and showy flowers compared with the other species of this group.
Distribution and habitat. Pombalia insignis has a restricted distribution, known only from a few populations in savannas of Emas National Park, Goiás state, Brazil (see Figure 3).
Phenology. Flowering and fruiting specimens were recorded in October.
Conservation status. This new species is considered endemic to Emas National Park, whose surroundings are mostly occupied by agricultural land and livestock. The limited geographical distribution (AOO, 8 km 2) and the intense anthropogenic pressures that may eventually cause decline in the quality of the species’ habitats indicate a status of Critically Endangered (CR) for Pombalia insignis, according to IUCN (2012) criteria B2b(ii,iii,iv).
Additional specimens examined. BRAZIL. Goiás: Chapadão do Céu /Mineiros, Parque Nacional das Emas, 17°49′– 18°28′S, 52°39′– 53°10′W, Batalha 3937, 5 x 1999 (ESA); Heleno 2765, s.d. (UFG).
Pombalia insignis is morphologically similar to P. lanata in respect to its habit. However, the new species usually grows as larger plants, reaching up to 50 cm, and is unique for having orange-brown, large connective scales (see Figure 4B), in contrast with the reduced (except for Pombalia strigoides) and hyaline connective scales observed in the remaining species of the Pombalia lanata complex (e.g. Figures 6E, 8D). Additional diagnostic features are listed in the Table.
description: Published as part of Paula-Souza, J., Lima, A. G. & Souza, V. C., 2021, THE VIOLETS OF THE BRAZILIAN SAVANNA: A REVISION OF THE POMBALIA LANATA COMPLEX (VIOLACEAE), WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES, pp. 1-32 in Edinburgh Journal of Botany 78 (357) on pages 11-14, DOI: 10.24823/EJB.2021.357, http://zenodo.org/record/10513850