Zornia ulei Harms, Bot. Jahrb. Syst.

Zornia ulei Harms, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. View in CoL 42: 213. 1908.

Figs 4D View Figure 4 , 13 View Figure 13 , S 4 View Figure 4

Type: BRAZIL. Bahia: Remanso , 1 January 1907, Ule 7201 (holotype: K–000205311!; isotypes: F–0 BN002254 View Materials !, G–00370180!, HBG–518944!, L–0416939!) .

Shrub to ca. 40 cm tall. Stems prostrate, branched, villous. Leaves with 4 leaflets, petiolate. Leaflets 10–25 × 5–15 mm, ovate to obovate, pubescent. Stipules lanceolate, 5–7 veined. Inflorescences spiciform, axillary, 7 cm long. Bracteoles 10–15 × 5–7 mm, oblong, 5–8 veined, punctate, villous, green. Loment with 3–4 articles; articles 1.5–2 × 1.5–2 mm, not reticulate-veined, bristle-like trichomes absent.

Distribution and habitat: Brazil, endemic. It occurs in sandy soil of the Caatinga vegetation, in Tropical Dry Forests.

Conservation Status: Endangered (EN). For over a century, Z. ulei remained known only from the type collection from the state of Bahia. However, recent field surveys have provided more information about the distribution of Z. ulei . In 2022, a new population of the species was discovered in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, extending the known range of the species. Despite the new discovery, the AOO of Z. ulei remains limited (EOO= 1,561,277.527 km ²; AOO= 236.000 km ²).

Notes: Zornia ulei is commonly known as “trevo–do–brejo”. It differs from other morphologically similar species by its leaves with 4 obovate leaflets, villous bracteoles, and its inflorescences 7 cm long.

Representative specimen examined: BRAZIL. Bahia: Lago de Sobradinho, Ilhas dos Americanos, Casa Nova , 16 August 2014, A.P. Fontana 8312 (HUEFS) . Pernambuco: Bairro Loteamento Recife, rua 34, Petrolina , 26 December 2022, R.T. Queiroz 1700 (HVASF) .