Eriosema parvifolium Pavan & Fort.-Perez

Eriosema parvifolium Pavan & Fort.-Perez , sp. nov. (Fig. 1,3)

Diagnostic Characters: Eriosema parvifolium is characterized by short habit ( 0.1–0.3 m tall), stipules 0.3–0.7 cm long, and leaflets discolored, narrow elliptical. E. parvifolium differs from E. crinitum var. crinitum by the diameter of its stipules that is 3–7 mm ( versus 7–17 mm), size of leaflets (including terminal and lateral) that is 1–3.5 x 0.25–0.5 cm ( versus 5–12 x 0.5–1.2 cm), and calyx lobes 2–3 mm ( versus 2.5–5.5 mm), differs from E. crinitum var. stipulare by leaves with narrow elliptical leaflets and yellow pubescent indumentum ( versus leaves with a densely whitish pubescent and puberulent indumentum), Eriosema parvifolium differs from E. violaceum by having pauciflorous racemes ( versus spiciform inflorescence and multiflora).

Type:— BRAZIL. Roraima: Caracaraí. Vista Alegre , 1º42’16’’N, 61º08’43’’ W, elev. 67 m, 11 February 2016, fl., H. C. de Lima et al. 8134 ( holotype RB [barcode] 01096592 !) GoogleMaps .

Subshrub ca. 0.1–0.3 m tall, stems erect, yellow hirsute pilose. Stipules connate, 3–7 × 1.5–2 mm, lanceolate, apex acute, persistent, externally pilose. Stipels absent. Leaves trifoliolate, subsessile petioles 0.5–1 mm long. Lateral leaflets 1–2.5 × 0.25–0.5 cm, terminal leaflets 2–3.5 × 0.35–0.5 cm, without clearly marked veins, adaxial and abaxial surfaces yellowish pubescent or whitish yellow pubescent, narrowly elliptic, apex mucronate, margins entire, discolored, slightly revolute, petiolule up to 1 mm long, pilose. Bracts 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm, ovate to lanceolate, adaxial surface densely pilose, abaxial surface glabrous, multi-veined. Racemes axillary, up to 2–5 flowers, 0.5–1.6 cm long (peduncle + rachis), pilose, pedicels 2.5–4 mm long, flowers 8.5–10 mm. Calyx 5-lobed, pilose, margins entire, 5- veined; tube 1.5–2 mm long, two vexillary lobes 2–2.5 mm long, three carenal lobes 2.5–3 mm long. Corolla yellow, standard 6.5–8 × 4–6 mm (excluding claw), obovate, multi-veined, apex slightly retuse or slightly emarginate, base auriculate, auricles 0.5 mm long, adaxial surface pubescent, abaxial surface glabrous; claw 1–1.5 mm; wing petals 6–6.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm (excluding claw), obovate, apex rounded, glabrous, slightly auriculate, auricles 0.5 mm long; claw 2–2.5 mm long; keel petals 4.5–5 × 1.5–2.5 mm (excluding claw), falcate to obovate, apex rounded, glabrous to pilose at the apex; claw 2.5–3 mm long. Stamens 8.5–9 mm long, uniform. Ovary densely sericeous, style straight, stigma minute. Fruit not seen.

Additional Specimens Examined ( Paratype):— VENEZUELA. Bolívar: Cedeño, Las Bonitas, Boca de Tucuragua , 7º48’N, 65º18’W, elev. 50 m, February 1988 (fl.), J. Velazco 114 ( US [barcode] US-815264 ) GoogleMaps ; Celedonia, em la sabana de Maripa , Bajo Caura , elev. 100m, 21 April 1939 (fl.fr.), L. Willians 11935 ( M [barcode] M-871195 image!) .

Distribution and habitat:— Eriosema parvifolium is known only from the holotype and paratypes locality ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ) where it grows in savannah areas of Bolívar-Venezuela and Roraima-Brazil.

Phenology: —The species was collected with flowers in February and April.

Etymology:—The specific epithet parvifolium derives from the combination of parvum + folium, due to the leaves of reduced proportions in relation to other species of the genus.

Conservation Status:—According to the IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN 2019), the conservation status of Eriosema parvifolium must be considered Data Deficient (DD), because it is represented by only three collections, one without location.

Taxonomic Comments:— Eriosema parvifolium resembles E. crinitum (Kunth) G.Don var. crinitum , E. crinitum var. stipulare (Benth.) Fortunato , and E. violaceum (Aubl.) G.Don. in having conate and lanceolate stipules and narrow elliptical leaflets ( Fig. 3A–F View FIGURE 3 ). Eriosema parvifolium differs from E. crinitum var. crinitum by the diameter of its stipules that is 3–7 mm ( versus 7–17 mm), size of leaflets that is 1–3.5 x 0.25–0.5 cm ( versus 5–12 x 0.5–1.2 cm), and leaflets pilose, ca. 1 mm long ( versus pilose to puberulous, 1–3 mm long; Fig. 3A–B View FIGURE 3 ). Differs of Eriosema crinitum var. stipulare by having yellow pubescent indumentum and leaves with narrow elliptical leaflets ( versus leaves with a densely whitish pubescent and puberulent indumentum and linear, lanceolate to narrow elliptical leaflets; Fig. 3C–F View FIGURE 3 ). Eriosema parvifolium differs from E. violaceum by having pauciflorous racemes, with length equal to or less than the leaves ( versus spiciform inflorescence and multiflora, generally larger than the mature leaves).