A new species of Stylosanthes (Leguminosae – Papilionoideae) from the Chapada das Mesas National Park in Maranhão, Brazil

• Published in: Brittonia Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 191 - 201
• Main Authors: Gissi, Danilo Soares, Torke, Benjamin M., Tomazello-Filho, Mario, Fortuna-Perez, Ana Paula
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-06-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Conservation status; Geographical distribution; Leguminosae; Life Sciences; Mesas; National parks; New species; Original Research; Papilionoideae; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Ecology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Rostrum; Stylosanthes; Venation; X ray imagery; Brazil; Dalbergieae; forage; X-ray; taxonomy; venation; Fabaceae
• ISSN: 0007-196X; 1938-436X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12228-022-09724-w

A new species of
Stylosanthes
(Leguminosae – Papilionoideae) from the Chapada das Mesas National Park in Maranhão, Brazil, is described. The new species,
S. acicularis
, was misidentified as
S. angustifolia
in the SLUI herbarium. It differs from
S. angustifolia
especially by inflorescence shape and rostrum length. The new species closely resembles
S. hippocampoides
by its small capitate inflorescences, absence of a rudimentary axis beneath the flower, only one inner bracteole, loments with only one fertile article and a very short rostrum, and the absence of a marginal vein and possession of up to five secondary veins in the leaflets. However, the two species differ by stem indumentum, bristle length, leaflet shape and venation, and shape of the outer bracteole margin. A morphological description, illustrations—including X-ray imaging of the leaflet venation—and notes on the geographical distribution, habitat, and conservation status of the new species are presented.