A new species of Schefflera (Araliaceae) from Espírito Santo state, Brazil

KEW BULLETIN 61: 187-191

(2006)

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A new species of Schefflera (Araliaceae) from Espirito Santo state, Brazil Pedro Fiaschil & David G. Frodin2 Summary. Schefflera racemifera, a new species of Araliaceae from the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil, is described and illustrated. It resembles S. longipetiolata (Pohl ex DC.) Frodin & Fiaschi, from which it is distinguished by its leaves with 11 - 14 (vs. 7 - 10) leaflets and, in the inflorescences, by flowers racemosely (vs. umbellately) arranged in the primary (as opposed to the secondary) branches. It is so far known only from submontane rainforests in the vicinity of Santa Maria de Jetiba in the aforementioned state. Resumo. SchefJZeraracemifera, uma especie nova de Araliaceae do estado do Espirito Santo, Brasil, e aqui descrita e ilustrada. Assemelha-se a S. longipetiolata (Pohl ex DC.) Frodin & Fiaschi, da qual e diferenciada essencialmente pelas folhas com 11 - 14 (vs. 7 - 10) foliolos, e nas inflorescencias, pelas flores agrupadas em racemos (vs. umbelas) ao longo dos ramos primarios (vs. secundarios). Schef.fera racemifera e conhecida apenas de florestas ombr6filas submontanas dos arredores de Santa Maria de Jetiba, no estado do Espiro Santo. Key words.

SchefJfera,Didymopanax, Araliaceae, Espirito

Introduction Schefflera, currently the largest genus of Araliaceae, is composed of just over 580 accepted species with, in addition, many others to be described, yielding in all a probable total of almost 900 (Frodin & Govaerts 2003 publ. 2004; Frodin 2004). As presently delimited (Frodin 1975), the genus is of pantropical no distribution but with infrageneric group stretching across a major modern ocean. However, recent putative phylogenies of the family suggest that this circumscription encompasses five independent lineages, one of them including as far as presently known the neotropical species (Wen et al. 2001; Plunkett et al. 2004; Plunkett et al. 2005; Lowry et al. Its chief centres of diversity are in the 2004). American tropics and different parts of Indo-Malesia, with some interesting smaller radiations in Madagascar and the South-western Pacific Islands (particularly New Caledonia). In the Americas, it is best represented in areas of moderate to high the elevation along northern Andes and Amazonian front ranges and in the neighbouring Shield and the central Brazilian Guayana Plateau (Frodin 1995; Frodin & Govaerts 2003 publ. 2004).

Santo, Brazil

The taxonomy of the Brazilian species of Schefflera the great majority of them part of the former Didymopanax, a group centred in the country is currently under study. Results to date have included evidence that its main centres of diversity in the country are to be found along the border between Brazil and Venezuela (within the above mentioned Guayana Shield), the Espinhaco Range of Minas Gerais state, and the coastal mountains in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo (Frodin 1997; Fiaschi 2004; Fiaschi & Pirani 2005a; Fiaschi & Pirani 2005b). ScheffZera racemifera, the new species here described and illustrated, is a member of the Didymopanax group. It further emphasises the mountainous region of Espirito Santo as an important centre of diversity of Brazilian Schefflera (Fiaschi & Pirani 2005b), being the tenth species so far known from there; others include S. calva (Cham.) Frodin & Fiaschi, S. capixaba Fiaschi, S. grandigemma Fiaschi, S. kollmannii Fiaschi, S. morototoni (Aubl.) Maguire, Steyermark & Frodin, S. ruschiana Fiaschi & Pirani; S. sellei (Marchal) Frodin & Fiaschi, S. sp. aff. morototoni [Linhares], and S. sp. aff. varisiana Frodin [Santa Teresa].

Accepted for publication December 2005. 1 CEPEC/CEPLAC, Rodovia Ilh6us-ltabuna, Km 22, ltabuna, Bahia, C.P. 7, 45600-970, 2 Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, U.K.

Brazil.

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racemifera Fiaschi & Frodin sp. nov. a Schefflera Schefflera longipetiolata (Pohl ex DC.) Frodin & Fiaschi ramis (non 7-10)-foliolatis, foliis (11 -)12 -14 secondariis absentis (vs. ramis secondariis praesentis), lamina floribus in racemis (vs. floribus in umbelis), 14 x 1.5 - 3.7 cm, nervis 1215 x 1.1 - 1.9 vs. 911 - 17 vs. 5 - 11, bractis floralibus 1 - 3 secondariis floralibus 4 mm vs. usque 0.5 mm longis, pedicellis 6 vs. 2 - 4 mm longis differt; a S. capixabae Fiaschi ramis foliis 12 -14 (7)8 -12]-foliolatis, [non primariis 3 - 6 (vs. ramis primariis 2), usque 30 cm vs. absentis maioribus 90 cm longis, ramis secondariis floribus in racemis (vs. ramis secondariis praesentis), basis stipularum 6- 7 mm (vs. floribus in umbelis), (4- 5 mm vs. 5 vs. 12 - 19 mm longis, lobis minoribus - 7.5 mm longis), lamina 12 - 15 x 1.1 - 1.9 vs. 11.2 minoribus 21.3 x 2.7 - 6 cm, petalis staminibusque differt. Typus: Brazil, Espirito Santo, Santa Maria de Jetiba, Belem, Terreno de Paulo Seick, 700 m alt., 18 March 2003, L. Kollmann & M. S. V Berger 6057 (holotypus MBML). treelets, 2 - 4 m high. Branchlets Slender monocaulous 5.5- 7 mm diam., ochraceous-sericeous, glabrescent, in rosettes at striate. Leaves arranged longitudinally the tops of the stems, the internodes up to c. 0.5 cm notable, long, the leaflets (11 -) 12- 14; petiole-bases their total length 6- 10 mm, the free portion of the stipular ligule deeply bifid at apex, the individual adaxially lobes 4- 5 mm long, abaxially sericeous, glabrous; petioles 14 - 23.5 cm long, cylindrical, to slightly striate, glabrescent, constricted smooth above the insertion of the stipules when dry; leaflets not or slightly plane, membranous, horizontal, the the juvenile completely sericeous, contrasting, and abaxial mature with adaxial surfaces glabrous any indumentum sparsely ochraceous-sericeous, mainly near to margin and main vein. Median leaJfets: surface 2.4 - 3.5 cm long, the adaxial petiolule blade 12 - 15 x 1.1 - 1.9 cm, linear to canaliculate; almost narrowly oblong, the apex acute, passing and mucronate tip, insensibly into the long-attenuate to obtuse, symmetric, the margin the base rounded toward the entire, sometimes with small denticules 0.8 - 1 cm long, apex, plane. Basal leafletsx petiolules x 1 -1.2 blade 7-10 cm, similar to the median; main vein venation in all blades brochidodromous; more so on both surfaces, sharply prominent veins only secondary (10 -) 11-17, abaxially; veins sometimes intersecondary abaxially prominent; from tertiaries. or indistinct distinct present,

13 - 20 cm long in flower, 25 - 27 cm long in fruit, long; secondary 3 - 5 mm by bracts subtended absent. Partial inflorescences each with 45 branches flowers borne arranged racemosely 50 individual, the distal 1/3 or 1/2 of the primary mostly along branches. Flowers on pedicels 4 - 6 mm long in flower, by in fruit, these basally subtended 11 - 14 mm ochraceous 1 - 3 mm long; hypanthium bracteoles evident; petals white, c. sericeous, lacinia denticulate, abaxially ovate, adaxially glabrous, 2.5 x 1 mm, c. 0.8 mm long; filaments ochraceous-sericeous; anthers 1.5 - 2 x 0.5 - 0.8 mm; styles c. 1.2 mm long, in fruit. Drupes laterally flattened, free, reflexed 3-lobed, 6- 7 x 9 - 10 mm, glabrescent, sometimes sericeous on calyx and pedicels; calyx c. persistently erect; pericarp thin; pyrenes 2( 0.8 mm, persistent, 3), 6 - 6.5 x 4.5 - 5 mm, dimidiate. Fig. 1. racemifera DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. Schefflera to the rainforests of the is endemic presumably in the Brazilian state vicinity of Santa Maria deJetiba, of Espirito Santo. CONSERVATIONSTATUS.As it is currently known only from the type locality, S. racemiferamust be considered (CR) according to the following critically endangered IUCN criteria (2001): B la, b (i, iii). to ETYMOLOGY.The epithet chosen makes reference this flowers characteristic of the racemosely arranged species, an unusual feature in Brazilian Schefflera as in other parts of the world. SPECIMENS EXAMINED. BRAZIL.Espirito Santo, Santa Maria de Jetiba, Belem, Terreno de Paulo Seick, 700 m alt., 3 Dec. 2002 fl. L. Kollmann et aL 5800 (MBML, de Jetiba, 14 Jan. 2003 fl. L. SPF); Santa Maria Kollmann et al. 5893 (MBML); Santa Maria de Jetiba, 18 March 2003 fl., fr. L. Kollmann & M. S. V Berger 6057 (MBML). Diagnostic features Schefflera racemifera resembles both S. longipetiolata and habit S. capixaba, sharing with these the monocaulous model of growth of Chamberlain's characteristic (Halle et al. 1978), the stipules with deeply bifid apex, above the stipule insertion, the petiole constricted

of a and pendant due to development pseudolateral new axillary successor shoot, entirely ochraceous sericeous; main axis up to 4 cm long, the peduncle reduced, up to 0.5 cm long, the rachis 1 - 4 cm long;

inflorescences, the glabrescent the pseudolateral leaflets, and the fruits with thin pericarp. From S. longipetiolata the present species can be by the leaves with (11 -) 12 - 14 (vs. 7 distinguished 10) leaflets, the blade linear (12 - 15 x 1.1 - 1.9 cm) the vs. narrowly oblong (9 - 14 x 1.5 - 3.7 cm), number of secondary veins (11 - 17 vs. 5 - 11), the branches without (vs. inflorescences secondary the flowers racemosely secondary branches present), in (vs. flowers grouped arranged in primary branches and the branch floral longer secondary umbels), bracts (1 - 3 mm vs. up to 0.5 mm long) and pedicels

primary branches 3 - 6 of which 2 - 3 are terminal,

(4-6mm vs. 2-4 mm).

Inflorescence initially

terminal

but

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FROMBRAZIL NEW SPECIESOF SCHEFFLERA(ARALIACEAE)

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Fig. 1. Schefflera racemifera A terminal portion of the flowering plant; B median leaflet, abaxial surface; C leaf base showing stipule, lateralview; D distal portion of inflorescence branch; E floralbud, lateralview; F flower with petals and stamens removed to show styles; G stamen, adaxial view; H stamen, abaxial view; J fruit, lateralview. A, C - D fromKollmann et a!. 5800; B, E, H fromKollmann et a/. 5800; J from Kollmann & Berger 6057. ? The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2006

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have linear leaflets when young. The Caledonia), at maturity retention of juvenile features in S. racemifera could be considered neoteny. The same process also explain could of S. the similarity longipetiolata (Pohl ex DC.) Frodin & Fiaschi to juvenile stages of S. angustissima (Marchal) Frodin and S. calva (Cham.) Frodin & Fiaschi (Fiaschi 2002).

species can From S. capixaba Fiaschi the present with 3 - 6 (vs. by the inflorescences be distinguished 2) primary branches up to 30 cm long (vs. more than branches absent (vs. 90 cm long), secondary in racemosely arranged present), the flowers (vs. flowers grouped in secondary primary branches the shorter stipules (6 - 7 mm vs. 12 branch umbels), - 19 mm long at base) with shorter apical lobes (4 5 mm vs. 5 - 7.5 mm long), the leaves with (11 -)12 14 vs. 7 - 12 leaflets, the blade linear (12 - 15 x 1.1 (11.2 1.9 cm) vs. narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate

Acknowledgements We are grateful to project "Mata Atlantica Nordeste" for financial support to PF, to the (CEPLAC/NYBG) curators of MBML, MBM, RB and Z herbaria for the loan of critical collections, Wayt Thomas, Matthew reviewers for suggestions Jebb and two anonymous Boudet on the text, Helio Fernandes for the institutional help provided of by the Museum and Ludovic Kollmann, Andre Biology Mello-Leitao, and Claudio Fontana Fraga for their help during to the Herbarium, fieldwork. DF is grateful Royal access to its Botanic Gardens, Kew, for continuing of loans, as an facilities, along with availability Honorary Research Associate.

21.3 x 2.7- 6 cm), and the shorter petals (c. 2.5 x 1 mm vs. 4.1 - 4.7 x 1.8 - 2.3 mm) and anthers (c. 1.5 - 2 x 0.5 - 0.8 mm vs. c. 2.6 x 1.6 mm).

Flower arrangement As indicated above under "Etymology", the presence arranged of racemosely rather than umbellulately flowers is unusual for Brazilian species of Schefflera. are S. cordata (Taub.) the few exceptions Among from the "campos rupestres" of Frodin & Fiaschi, Diamantina (MG), and S. morototoni var. sessilijlora between Sao Frodin, from the border (Marchal) or states. Racemosely Paulo and Rio de Janeiro for arranged flowers are also unusual spicately include S. rufa Frodin examples Schefflera elsewhere; (Bernardi) S. capuroniana (Andean Venezuela), Elm. and S. multiramosa Bernardi (Madagascar), such a (Mindanao, Philippines). With rare exceptions is not characteristic for any terminal clade disposition within the genus.

in the flowers The presence of just bisexual is noteworthy, as most Brazilian collections examined the are andromonoecial, species of Schefflera individuals bearing both male and bisexual flowers. or, This suggests that S. racemifera is hermaphrodite This last pattern of more probably, androdioecious. at was supposed to characterise, sexual expression S. longipetiolata, S. capixaba and least morphologically, some undescribed species from Brazilian Amazonia is necessary (Fiaschi 2002), but further investigation to corroborate this suggestion. the hypothesis of Further evidence favouring with respect to S. racemifera comes from androdioecy collection Hatschbach (MBM, Z). This 46679 related a male plant from a presumably represents as good additional species, but remains undescribed

S?o

Brazil.

Paulo,

Leaflet shape as The presence of linear leaflets is also noteworthy, few species of Schefflera share this feature when are S. bodinieri (Uvl.) mature. Some exceptions Rehd. and S. stenophylla Harms (New (China)

species, such as S. veitchii (New

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(2005a).

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of

species

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