Zomicarpa steigeriana Maxim. ex Schott

Gonçalves, E.G. Kew Bull (2012) 67: 443. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-012-9336-x

Type

Type: Bahia, Ilhéus, Maly in Ferdinand Maximilian 713 (W, destroyed). Lectotype here designated: Schott’s plate in Peyritsch (1879), AroideaeMaximilianae, plate 1.

Morphology General Habit

Geophytes in rainforest

Morphology Stem

Stem cormous, 1 – 3.5 × 1 – 1.8 cm, cylindrical to depressed-globular, 2 – 5 × 1.5 – 2.5 cm

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 2 per plant; petioles 24 – 26 × 0.2 – 0.3 cm; leaf blade tripartite to pedate, up to 7 leaflets, lateral leaflets usually as long as the main one, sometimes 2 × longer, leaflets plain green or with yellowish pattern along the midrib; central leaflet 6 – 15 × 2.5 – 6 cm, lanceolate to ovate, 4 – 8 primary lateral veins per side, sunken adaxially, slightly prominent abaxially, collective vein irregular, base acute to obtuse, apex acuminate; lateral leaflets usually falcate, 7.3 – 12.1 × 2.3 – 3 cm, 3 – 8 secondary lateral veins per side, sunken adaxially, slightly prominent abaxially, outer leaflet usually auriculate, auriculae 5.1 × 1.1 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences erect at anthesis, peduncle 24 × 0.3 cm, shorter or equalling the petioles, rarely longer; spathe not constricted at the middle or very weakly so, 4 – 7.3 × 0.3 – 1 cm, falcate but never hooked, convolute up to ⅓ of the basal half; spadix 2 – 3 × 0.2 – 0.3 cm, shorter than the spathe, slightly curved; female portion 2 – 3 × 2 mm long, adnate to the spathe, 2 – 3 pistils; fertile male portion 5 – 6 × 1 – 3 mm, cylindrical, yellowish; apical appendix 1.4 – 2.5 × 0.1 – 0.2 cm, with acutely pointed staminodes basally, staminodes up to 1 mm long, 0.4 mm diam., smaller toward the appendix apex, usually lacking apically, sometimes completely lacking in the whole appendix

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers whitish, yellow near the stigma, 1.5 – 2 × 1.5 – 1.8 mm, barrel-shaped, stigma pinkish, discoid, c. 1 mm diam. Male flowers with filaments as long as the anthers or a little shorter, sometimes sessile, anthers 0.5 – 1 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, yellowish thecae, drying blackish with silvery punctations on the connective, filaments up to 0.6 mm long, 0.2 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits Infructescences

Infructescence with persistent spathe, 1 – 3 berries

Morphology General Traps

Utricles ovoid to obovoid, greyish white to reddish, 3 – 4 × 2 – 3 mm, polyspermous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds obovoid, 0.5 – 1.5 × 0.3 – 0.8 mm, testa smooth, pinkish.

Distribution

This species seems to be endemic to southeastern Bahia and has been only collected in a strip of no more than 40 km away from the shore, from Maráu (approx. 14°03'S) to Una (approx. 15°16'S).

Ecology

Zomicarpa steigeriana has been found only in the rainforests of southern Bahia, always as a deep shade understory herb in well-drained places.

Conservation

Based on known collections, this species is found only within an area of approximately 6000 km2. At least five expeditions were carried out to find living material (including localities from where it was already known) and only one population was located. However, since it was not possible to investigate all IUCN (2001) criteria, it should be considered Data Deficient (DD) but I believe it should be investigated as a strong candidate for the Threatened status.

Note

Zomicarpa steigeriana can be recognised by its leaves drying blackish, spathe not constricted and only slightly falcate, sterile appendix with acutely pointed staminodes basally (and often a few obtuse staminodes apically) and anthers with a conspicuous filament. This species has been overlooked for a long time and it seems to be (at least originally) the most common species in moist forests of southern Bahia. Most material of it has been found identified with the name Z. riedeliana in almost all herbaria I could observe. The epithet commemorates the Swiss Baron Ferdinand von Steiger, owner of the lands where the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian was allowed to collect plants and animals. It is known that Archduke Maximilian found this species for the first time in his expeditions and chose the name used by Schott in the formal botanical description.