Trichostema gracile K. S. McClell., 2023

Trichostema gracile K. S. McClell. sp. nov. ( Figures 16 View FIGURE 16 and 17 View FIGURE 17 )

Diagnosis: —Suffrutescent perennial to 60 cm tall, morphologically most similar to Trichostema suffrutescens . It differs from T. suffrutescens by branching regularly in the middle to upper part of the plant ( vs. primarily near the base), its narrower leaves of 0.26–0.56 cm ( vs. 1.13–1.74 cm), larger leaf length/width ratio of 3.87–7.08 ( vs. 2.39–3.05), an ecological preference for mesic to scrubby flatwoods ( vs. and ecological preference for scrub and scrub-sandhill ecotones), and a geographic restriction to xeric habitats off the main central ridge systems of Florida ( vs. a geographic restriction to the main central ridge systems).

Type: — U.S.A. Florida. Highlands County. Roadside clearing in scrubby flatwoods, Avon Park Air Force Range , 14 October 2018, R. Kevan Schoonover McClelland, Edwin Bridges, and Steve Orzell 199a–f ( holotype NCU!; isotypes FLAS!, GH!, NY!, US!, USF!) . Note: Specimens R. Kevan Schoonover McClelland 199a–f represent a single gathering in accordance with Article 8.2 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018).

Suffrutescent perennial to 60 cm tall; branching primarily in the middle to upper part of the plant; stem hairs downwardly curved to two, occasionally to three, cells long ( Figure 1h View FIGURE 1 ), with sessile glands; node hairs downwardly curved, occasionally spreading, to two, occasionally to three, cells long ( Figure 1h View FIGURE 1 ); leaves widest towards the tip or near the middle, rarely widest towards the base, (1.3–)1.69–2.44(–3) × (0.2–)0.26–0.56(–0.88), average of 2.06 × 0.41, cm, (2.5–)3.87–7.08(–9.6), average of 5.47, times long as wide, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire, apex rounded, occasionally obtuse, rarely emarginate or ±90°; inflorescence hairs spreading, occasionally upwardly curved, rarely downwardly curved, to three cells long, with sessile and spreading glands to two cells long (including gland); bracts widest towards the tip, rarely widest near the middle, (2.5–)3.36–5.46(–6.7) × (0.7–)0.83–1.64(–2.3), average of 4.41 × 1.24, mm, (1.81–)2.86–4.63(–5.67), average of 3.74, times long as wide, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse, occasionally rounded; fruiting calyx (4.4–)5.07–5.87(–6.3), average of 5.45, mm long; buds purple-black to dark blue-purple, corolla dark blue or blue-purple to blue or blue-purple; anthers dark blue or blue-purple to blue or blue-purple; style bifid, the longer arm 4–6, rarely as little as 3 or as much as 9, times as long as the shorter; mature nutlets alveolate, (1.4–)1.48–1.73(–1.9), average of 1.61, mm long, hilum (0.3–)0.42–0.61(–0.7), average of 0.52, mm long, (0.21–)0.27–0.37(–0.44), average of 0.32, times the length of the nutlet, alveoli small, rarely mid-sized, ridges tall, occasionally mid-sized ( Figure 2i View FIGURE 2 ).

Phenology: —Flowers and fruits September to December. Some plants will have a small number of flowers March to April.

Etymology: —The epithet gracile (Latin: thin, slender) is given to this species based on its overall habit. It often has only one or a few erect stems whose short slender leaves give the plants a wand-like appearance, especially when vegetative. The common name Flatwoods Bluecurls is chosen for this species based on its ecological distribution.

Habitat and distribution: — Trichostema gracile occurs in mesic to scrubby flatwoods; 5–40 meters; USA: Florida: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia Counties. ( Figure 18 View FIGURE 18 )

Conservation status: —This species is quite widespread throughout the central and southern parts of the Florida Peninsula; however, the number of populations and their sizes are affected by its habitat requirements. Based on the data collected for this study, this species should be recognized at a G3 ranking (NatureServe 2020).

Notes: — Trichostema gracile corresponds to Lewis’ “ Trichostema suffrutescens with exceptionally narrow leaves” ( Lewis 1945).

Additional specimens examined ( paratypes): — U.S.A. Florida: S. Florida, s.d., Anonymous s.n. ( USCH!); Brevard County: Near Cocoa Fla., April 1935, Beardslee s.n. ( MU!); Indian River region , Brevard Co. , 26 October 1902, Fredholm 5508 ( US!); N. verge of disturbed field behind horse barns, 28.162883 N, 80.667483 W, 15 November 2002, MacClendon 119 ( FTG!, USF!); Wickham Park, 28.158017 N, 80.659217 W, 12 October 2002, MacClendon & Weichman 108 ( USF!); Broward County: Tamarac, sand pine area south of Executive Airport, 8 October 1973, Correll, Correll & Brackmann 40211 ( FTG!); Charlotte County : Prairie / Shell Creek ( SWFWMD) property; 0.5 km W of US 17, 0.6 km N of Taralane Drive., 26.991389 N, 81.964167 W, 11 September 2010, Franck 2300 ( USF!); GoogleMaps Prairie / Shell Creek ( SWFWMD) property; 0.25 km W of US 17, 0.4 km N of Taralane Drive., 26.989722 N, 81.795 W, 30 October 2010, Franck 2416 ( USF!); Collier County: Collier Enterprises Scrub ( Coll 26). Sec 23, T50 S, R25 E (Naples South Quad )., 26.101616 N, 81.774102 W, 19 February 1986, Huck & Christman 3392 ( FLAS!); Highlands County: Avon Park Air Force Range, 27.603922 N, 81.15660278 W, 14 October 2018, McClelland , Bridges & Orzell 200 ( NCU!); Avon Park Air Force Range , 27.601983 N, 81.157172 W, 12 November 2017, Schoonover, II, Bridges & Orzell 121 ( NCU!); Hillsborough County : End of Allen Rd. off C. R. 674, 2 October 1990, Eilers s.n. ( USF!); Ca. 3.5 mi. SE of Riverview at Shadow Run development; ca. 0.5 mi. S of W end of lake., 26 October 1979, Hansen, Richardson & Crewz 6766 ( USF!); Balm-Boyette Tract , 3.0 mi. SSW of Boyette. T31 S, R21 E, Sec. 18, SE 1/4 of SW 1/4., 27.782776 N, 82.248499 W, 23 September 1994, Landry & Vandaveer s.n. ( USF!); Balm-Boyette Tract , 2.9 mi. SSW of Boyette. T31 S, R21 E, Sec 18, SE 1/4 of SE 1/4., 27.782776 N, 82.248499 W, 8 September 1994, Landry & Vandaveer s.n. ( USF!); Little Manatee River State Park, 27.673819 N, 82.37720833 W, 8 June 2018, McClelland 133 ( NCU!); Triple Creek Nature Preserve , 27.786342 N, 82.262044 W, 16 October 2021, McClelland & Schoonover 214 ( NCU!); Little Manatee River State Park : T32 S, R19 E, Sect. 23, SE 1/4, SW 1/4. Picnic area; between 2 pavilions to the East., 27.676477 N, 82.37945 W, 15 October 1998, Myers 185 ( USF!); About six miles southeast of Tampa, 28 October 1960, Ray, Jr., Lakela & Patman 10564 ( USF!); East of Balm-Boyette Road about 1.5 miles north of Balm , section 18, Township 31 S, Range 21 E., 27.782776 N, 82.248499 W, 23 October 1975, Shuey 1502 ( USF!); Indian River County: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, southwest quadrant along blue trail, 27.805497 N, 80.51129167 W, 9 August 2017, McClelland & Schoonover 100 ( NCU!); Lee Co. , Florida, 18 October 1931, Buswell s.n. ( FLAS!, FTG!); Estero Bay Preserve , Estero River Scrub Unit , south of Lazy Creek Blvd. , 26.47229214 N, 81.8370023 W, 14 October 2021, Horn s.n. ( NCU!); Manatee County : Wingate Creek State Preserve : SW 1/4, NW 1/4, NE 1 /4, S7 , T35 S, R22 E, 27.453731 N, 82.140431 W, 11 September 1997, Becker & Hattaway WC 0268 ( USF!); South Fork State Preserve [ Now part of Beker State Park]: in S portion of preserve; SE 1/4, SW 1/4, SW 1/4, NE 1 /4, S20 , T33 S, R21 E, 27.593339 N, 82.225057 W, 1 April 1995, Cole & Owens SF0320 ( USF!); Hwy 64, 15 mi. E of Bradenton, Manatee River Fish Control , park area., 25 October 1975, Genelle & Fleming 2222 ( USF!); Wingate Creek State Park , 27.454975 N, 82.14414444 W, 8 June 2018, McClelland 132a ( NCU!); Wingate Creek State Park , 27.454975 N, 82.14414444 W, 8 June 2018, McClelland 132b ( NCU!); Martin County: on N side of main road through Jonathan Dickinson SP, ca. 0.6 I W of railroad crossing, ca. 3.4 air mi SSE of Hobe Sound, 27.011667 N, 80.123611 W, 1 November 1995, Bridges & Mears 23964 ( FTG!); Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 27.015697 N, 80.12630556 W, 13 November 2017, McClelland & Orzell 123 ( NCU!); Haney Creek Park, Stuart, 27.225553 N, 80.257111 W, 15 October 2021, McClelland & Schoonover 212 ( NCU!); Jonathan Dickinson State Park . near the river camping area., 15 October 1978, Popenoe 1446 ( FTG!, NCU!); on St. Rd. 85, 5 miles S. of Stuart, 9 November 1945, West & West s.n. ( FLAS!); Orange County: UCF Campus, next to Lake Claire , 28 October 1986, Bard 861028-1 ( FTU!); Christmas Florida, 26 October 1962, Craighead s.n. ( FTG!); Osceola County : Bull Creek Mgt. Area . T27 S, R34 E, Sec 30., 28.077666 N, 80.915205 W, 13 October 1977, Huck 1512 ( NCU!); NC edge of Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area , S31 , R34 E, T27 S., 28.074755 N, 80.911369 W, 15 October 1978, Lotspeich 522 ( FLAS!); Palm Beach County: Riverside Drive, Tequesta, 4 October 1969, McCart 11065 ( FLAS!, NCU!); Sarasota County : Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, Jordyn Parcel, northern parcel limit 4.5 miles east of intersection of S. Moon Dr. and Border Road, I-75 borders to the south., 27.102778 N, 82.266944 W, 23 October 2009, Birch, Amos, Holst & Troxell 434 ( USF!); Seminole County: Longwood, Fla. , October 1930, Beardslee 288 ( MU!); Resience at 2409 Fawn Run , Oviedo. Found in the Oak hammock in the middle of the property., 15 November 2010, Onisko 62 ( FTU!); Volusia County : Tiger Bay State Forest , 29.187583 N, 81.16824167 W, 12 August 2017, McClelland & Schoonover 103 ( NCU!); Tiger Bay State Forest : Rima Ridge Tract , 29.173 N, 81.160936 W, 15 October 2021, McClelland & Schoonover 211 ( NCU!) GoogleMaps .