Lessingianthus cipoensis Dematt., 2012

1. Lessingianthus cipoensis Dematt. View in CoL , sp. nov. — Fig. 1, 3a–c View Fig

Lessingiantho vestito simile sed capitulis latioribus et folis brevioribus differt. Frutex erectus, caulibus lanatus dense foliatis. Inflorescentiae cymosa, ramis 4–5, erectis. Capitula sessilia, solitaria, late campanulata, 9–11 mm altae. — Typus: G. Hatschbach 30041 (holo MBM), Brazil, Minas Gerais, Mun. Jaboticatuba, Serra do Cipó , orla matinha de galeria, capítulos lilás, ereta, 50 cm alt., 7 Aug. 1972 .

Erect shrub, 50–70 cm tall. Stems rounded, densely white-tomentose, leafy to the inflorescence, 3 – 5 mm diam., internodes 1– 2 cm along all the stem. Leaves alternate to subopposite, sessile, dense, ascending, coriaceous, 25 –35 by 14–18 mm. Leaf blades ovate to elliptical, entire to denticulate, basally subcordate, acute at the apex, smooth and laxly lanate above, veins impressed, densely lanate beneath, pinnatinervate, secondary veins 4 – 5, slightly arcuate. Inflorescence seriate-cymose, erect, branches 4– 5, short, with 2 – 3 heads. Bracts of the inflorescence leafy, densely lanate, larger than the heads or equal. Capitula sessile. Involucre widely campanulate, 9 –11 mm high, 8–10 mm diam. Phyllaries 6 –7 seriate, imbricate, appressed, acuminate, densely lanate, inner phyllaries ovate-lanceolate to linear, 7–8 by 1–1.5 mm, middle phyllaries ovate-lanceolate, 3 –5 by 1–1.2 mm, outer ones ovate, 2 –3.5 by 0.7–1 mm. Florets violet. Corollas 6 –8 mm long, lobes lanceolate, 2.5 – 3 mm long, glandular, laxly pilose at the apex. Anthers basally calcarate, thecae 3.2 –3.6 mm long, apical appendages ovate, 0.3 – 0.4 mm long. Style 9–10 mm long, branches linear, 1.5–1.8 mm long. Cypselas obconical, ribbed, densely sericeous pubescent, 2 – 2.5 mm long, with idioblasts and prismatic crystals in the wall. Pappus biseriate, greyish, inner bristles 6 –7 mm long, outer scales linear-lanceolate, fimbriate, 1.6–1.8 mm long. Pollen grains oblate-spheroidal (P/E = 0.99), tricolporate, echinolophate, germinal furrows very long, converging at poles. Polar diam. 59.84–(61.2)–62.56 μm, equatorial axis 59.8–(61.8)–63.9 μm. Exine, excluding the spines, 8.2– 8.4 µm thickness. Lacunae 12.2–14.9 µm diam., disposed in a regular pattern, polar lacuna absent. Spines 2.5 – 3.9 long with apex acute.

mm 2 4 mm b 2 mm j 0.5 mm i c d e f g h 2 cm a

Distribution — The new species is only distributed in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

Habitat & Ecology — In gallery forest and campo cerrado habitats.

Additional specimens examined. BRAZIL, Minas Gerais, BR 267 , km 207, 4 km depois de Bom Jardim de Minas, indo para Juiz de Fora , campo de altitude ao lado da estrada, subarbusto de aproximadamente 50 cm, com flores magenta e com frutos, 2 Feb. 1998 , J.H.A. Dutilh & W. Marcondes Ferreira 35 (CESJ).

Note — Lessingianthus cipoensis bears a resemblance to L. vestitus (Baker) H.Rob. , but can be separated by its shorter and less branched inflorescence, acuminate phyllaries, ovate leaves and leaf blades 2.5 –3.5 cm long. Lessingianthus vestitus has more branched inflorescences, with long branches, acute phyllaries, lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate leaves and leaf blades 10–15 cm long. The new species is also related to L. lacunosus (Mart. ex DC.) H.Rob. , which has stems lanate, lanceolate leaves, phyllaries 5 –6 seriate and leaf blades rugulose above. Lessingianthus cipoensis has stems tomentose, leaves ovate to elliptical, phyllaries 6–7 seriate and leaf blades smooth on the adaxial surface.