Jefferson Guedes de Carvalho-Sobrinho

Ceiba rubriflora (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae), a new species from Bahia, Brazil

SummaryCeiba rubriflora Carv.-Sobr. & L. P. Queiroz, a new species of Malvaceae subfamily Bombacoideae from the State of Bahia, Brazil, is described and illustrated. It is considered to be endemic to calcareous outcrops in the valley of the Rio São Francisco, in the western region of the state. Notes on distribution, ecology and phenology are given. Relationships with related species are discussed and an addition to the key to species of Ceiba Mill. published by Gibbs & Semir (2003) are provided.

Morphological cladistic analysis of Pseudobombax Dugand (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) and allied genera

(Morphological cladistic analysis of Pseudobombax Dugand (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) and allied genera). Pseudobombax Dugand belongs to the family Malvaceae subfamily Bombacoideae and aggregates 29 species restricted to the Neotropics. A morphological cladistic analysis of Pseudobombax and allied genera was carried out to test the monophyly of the genus and to provide hypotheses on its phylogeny. Parsimony analyses were based on 40 morphological characters and 28 species, 14 belonging to Pseudobombax and 14 to other species of Bombacoideae, Matisieae (Malvoideae) and Ochromeae. Nine most parsimonious trees (144 steps, ci 0.40, ri 0.67) were produced when 10 multistate characters were taken as ordered while only two most parsimonious trees (139 steps, ci 0.41, ri 0.67) were obtained when all characters were considered as unordered. Pseudobombax monophyly had moderate bootstrap support, appearing as sister to a clade composed of the genera Bombacopsis Pittier and Pachira Aubl., or to the genus Bombax L. according to the analysis. The petiole widened at the apex and the leaflets not jointed to the petiole are probably synapomorphies of Pseudobombax. Three main clades were found in the genus: one characterised by petiolulated leaflets and 5-angular fruits, the other by pubescent leaves and calyx, and the other by reduction of the number of leaflets. The latter includes species endemic to the Brazilian semi-arid region also characterised by the absence of phalanges in the androecium. Interspecific affinities in Pseudobombax as well as the morphological evolution in Bombacoideae are discussed.

Three New Species of Pseudobombax (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from Brazil

Three new species of Pseudobombax Dugand (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) are described and illustrated based on material from Brazil. Pseudobombax minimum Carv.-Sobr. & L. P. Queiroz is not clearly related to any species of Pseudobombax from central-eastern Brazil. However, P. minimum may be promptly recognized by its extremely reduced flowers (to 6 cm long) and fruits (to 5.5 cm long), the smallest recorded for Pseudobombax to date, in combination with the glabrous androecium and the presence of phalanges. The other two new species, P. calcicola Carv.-Sobr. & L. P. Queiroz and P. parvifolium Carv.-Sobr. & L. P. Queiroz, seem to be related to P. grandiflorum (Cav.) A. Robyns based on the number of leaflets and the absence of phalanges in the androecium, but differ due to the absence of intersecondary veins, the larger ovary, and the fruits angled, but not winged.Three new species of Pseudobombax Dugand (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) are described and illustrated based on material from Brazil. Pseudobombax minimum Carv.-Sobr. & L. P. Queiroz is not clearly related to any species of Pseudobombax from central-eastern Brazil. However, P. minimum may be promptly recognized by its extremely reduced flowers (to 6 cm long) and fruits (to 5.5 cm long), the smallest recorded for Pseudobombax to date, in combination with the glabrous androecium and the presence of phalanges. The other two new species, P. calcicola Carv.-Sobr. & L. P. Queiroz and P. parvifolium Carv.-Sobr. & L. P. Queiroz, seem to be related to P. grandiflorum (Cav.) A. Robyns based on the number of leaflets and the absence of phalanges in the androecium, but differ due to the absence of intersecondary veins, the larger ovary, and the fruits angled, but not winged.

A New Deciduous Species of Pachira (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae) from a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract Pachira (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae) is distributed predominantly in northern South America and is the largest genus in the subfamily, including about 50 species. Ongoing studies of the systematics of neotropical Bombacoideae and field work in northeastern Brazil led to the discovery of a new species, herein described and illustrated. Pachira moreirae is known from a single population that is endemic to caatinga vegetation (a type of seasonally dry tropical forest) in the state of Bahia. The new species is leafless during its flowering period, a condition commonly seen in some genera of Bombacoideae but rare in Pachira, a genus that mostly comprises evergreen species. We provide a description of the morphology of this new species and notes on its distribution, phenology, and conservation status. A phylogenetic analysis using ITS data shows that P. moreirae is a member of a Brazilian extra-Amazonian clade of Pachira that also includes P. glabra and P. retusa.

Does Pseudobombax have prickles? Assessing the enigmatic species Pseudobombax endecaphyllum (Malvaceae : Bombacoideae)

In order to better understand the taxonomy of the enigmatic Pseudobombax endecaphyllum (Vell.) A.Robyns (Malv aceae: Bombacoideae), the only species in this genus thought to have aculeate branches, we reexamined the protologues of B. endecaphyllum and Pachira decaphylla A.St.-Hil. & Naudin, the latter a name long considered to be a synonym of the for- mer, and discovered a great deal of taxonomic confusion. We conclude that B. endecaphyllum does not belong in Pseudobombax, Pachira decaphylla was based on a mixture of elements from two plant families, and the relationship between B. endecaphyl- lum and Pachira decaphylla is specious. It becomes evident that B. endecaphyllum is the earliest name available for Pachira stenopetala Casar. and the new combination Pachira endecaphylla (Vell.) Carv.-Sobr. is effected. An epitype is designated for B. endecaphyllum and a lectotype is designated for Pachira decaphylla, which becomes a synonym of Pseudobombax grandiflorum var. majus A. Robyns. Most importantly, we now consider that all species of Pseudobombax are unarmed.

Spirotheca elegans (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae), a New Species from Bahia, Brazil

Abstract Spirotheca elegans , a new species of Malvaceae subfamily Bombacoideae from the state of Bahia, Brazil, is described and illustrated. It is considered to be endemic to an area of Caatinga vegetation bordering the Chapada Diamantina mountain range, in the central region of the state. Notes on its distribution, ecology, phenology, and comments on its conservation status are given. Furthermore, a discussion of the relationship of the new taxon to other species of Spirotheca and an updated key are provided.

Morphology of trichomes in petals of Pseudobombax Dugand (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) species and its taxonomic significance

Trichome morphology of the petals of Pseudobombax Dugand species was investigated. The eight species selected of Pseudobombax were analyzed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The study detected the existence of variation, both qualitative and quantitative, in morphology of trichomes in petals of species analyzed. In Pseudobombax petals, two kinds of trichomes were found: (a) trichomes 2-4-armed, sessile, long, flexible and with thin walls, situated on the adaxial surface; (b) tufted trichomes, sessile, short, rigid, with thick, lignified walls, on the abaxial surface of the petals. The qualitative and quantitative data were of taxonomic value for the resolution of problems of specific identification in the genus.

A new combination and taxonomic notes in Pseudobombax Dugand (Malvaceae)

Abstract Taxonomic notes in the Neotropical genus Pseudobombax (Malvaceae) are presented. One new combination and two new heterotypic synonyms for taxa originally described from Brazil and Ecuador are proposed based on both morphological and previously published molecular evidence. The taxonomic changes will be adopted in a treatment of Pseudobombax for the upcoming Brazilian Flora 2020 and in a forthcoming revision of the genus throughout its range.

Eriotheca estevesiae (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae): A new species from the cerrado vegetation of Brazil

A new species, Eriotheca estevesiae, from the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil, is described and illustrated. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcriber spacer (ITS) sequence data support the new species as sister to E. pubescens, a widespread species in central Brazil. Both species have stellate trichomes on the leaflets, a character not found in other species of Eriotheca. Eriotheca estevesiae differs from E. pubescens by having oblong to narrowly-elliptic (vs. mostly obovate) leaflets that are chartaceous (vs. coriaceous) and covered with ferruginous (vs. golden) trichomes; pedicels and calyces that lack stellate trichomes; and smaller flowers and capsules. Analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of the leaf epidermis revealed that E. estevesiae also differs from E. pubescens by the presence of peltate scales with an irregularly deep-lobed (vs. regular) outline and by stomatal density and mean stomatal length. Notes on distribution, phenology, and conservation status of the new species as well as a discussion of its morphological relationship to other species of Eriotheca from Cerrado are provided.