Jupunba rhombea (Benth.) M.V.B.Soares, M.P.Morim & Iganci

Iganci, J.R.V. & Morim, M.P. 2009. Three new species of Abarema (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae) from south-eastern Brazil. Kew Bulletin 64: 271. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-009-9110-x

Type

Brazil. Espírito Santo, Aracruz, estrada para Santa Rosa, H. C. Lima, R. D. Ribeiro, C. E. Meireles & F. L. R. Filardi 6600 (holotypus RB).

Morphology General Habit

Trees 4 – 5 m tall

Morphology Branches

Branches with pubescent indumentum

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules deciduous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with 4 – 9 pairs of pinnae; rachis 25 – 35 cm, pubescent, canaliculate; petiole 3 – 6 cm, cylindrical, pubescent; extrafloral nectaries borne between the pairs of pinnae and leaflets, circular, patelliform; pinnae (4 – 6) 12 – 16 jugate; leaflets sessile, discolored, membranaceous, 1.8 – 2.5 × 0.7 – 1 cm, asymmetric, hardly rhombic, apex acute, bases asymmetric; adaxial and abaxial surfaces glabrous, except on the central nerve; margin ciliolate; venation brochidodromous, primary nerve subcentral. Racemes heteromorphic, short, axillary, the rachis cylindrical, 0.5 – 1 cm, pubescent; peduncle 5 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Floral bract inconspicuous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 5-merous, basal ones pedicellate, pedicels 2 – 4 mm, calyx 3 × 2 mm, campanulate, pubescent mainly on the teeth; corolla 7 × 4 mm, campanulate, sericeous mainly on the lobes; apical ones subsessile, calyx 3 × 2 mm, campanulate, pubescent mainly on the teeth; corolla 7 × 3 mm, campanulate, sericeous mainly on the lobes; stamens 3.2 cm, staminal tube enclosed in the corolla, free parts of the stamens exserted more than 2.5 cm beyond the corolla Central flower subsessile, calyx 3 × 3 mm, campanulate, pubescent; corolla 13 × 5 mm, campanulate, sericeous; staminal tube exserted, 5 mm beyond the corolla; anthers with rimose aperture

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary punctiform

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods glabrous, 1.5 mm, truncate at the apex, ovules 12, style 3.6 cm, stigma with curved valves, 12 – 20 cm long, chartaceous, epicarp reticulate, glabrous, brown, endocarp light brown, with brown-orange oblique impressions

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 8 – 10; 0.8 – 1.2 × 0.6 – 0.8 cm, bicolored, lentiform; pleurogram closed; embryo with a developed plumule

Distribution

Brazil: Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro.

Ecology

Semi-deciduous forest and ombrophilous dense forest.

Conservation

Endangered (EN). After exhaustive work in herbaria collections and field expeditions, we discovered that Abarema limae occurs in less than five fragmented populations. This species has a few known mature individuals which inhabit the Atlantic Domain, an endangered tropical ecosystem in Brazil, and may be considered to face a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Note

Abarema limae resembles A. jupunba, but differs in the absence of leaflet indumentum on the abaxial leaflet surface, the leaflet size which is smaller in A. limae (1.8 – 2.5 × 0.7 – 1 cm) than in A. jupunba (1.5 – 2.5 × 0.8 – 1 cm); the glabrous ovary in A. limae; and the pod shape and size. Abaremalimae is also similar to A. barnebyana, but differs mainly in leaflet size and shape, bigger in A. limae than in A. barnebyana (1.1 – 1.4 × 0.6 – 0.8 cm), with an acute apex. The species epithet honours the Leguminosae taxonomist Haroldo Cavalcante Lima, collector of the type specimen.