Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 272 No. 3: 31 August 2016
Type: Article
Published: 2016-08-31
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.272.3.3
Page range: 191–200
Abstract views: 28
PDF downloaded: 2

True axillary inflorescences in Rudgea (Palicoureeae, Rubiaceae), a newly reported characteristic of two new Brazilian species, R. quisquiliae and R. axilliflora

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Melhoramento, Centro de Ciências Agrárias e Engenharias, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, s.n., Guararema, 29.500-000, Alegre, ES. Laboratório de Botânica, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, s.n., Guararema, 29.500-000, Alegre, ES.
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, campus Diadema, Rua Prof. Artur Riedel, 275, Jd. Eldorado, 09972-270, Diadema, SP.
Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão 915, 22460-030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Melhoramento, Centro de Ciências Agrárias e Engenharias, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, s.n., Guararema, 29.500-000, Alegre, ES. Laboratório de Botânica, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, s.n., Guararema, 29.500-000, Alegre, ES.
Atlantic Forest Espírito Santo Rubioideae Rudgea stipulacea Southeastern Brazil Eudicots

Abstract

Two new species of Rudgea (Rubiaceae), R. quisquiliae and R. axilliflora, from Southeastern Brazil present true axillary inflorescences, a very distinct characteristic in the genus. Rudgea was previously characterized by the presence of usually terminal inflorescences, with pseudo-axillary inflorescences occurring in a single species, R. stipulacea. Rudgea quisquiliae is morphologically distinct within the genus by the combination of its large leaf-blades (15–33.5 × 7.5–15 cm), and axillary inflorescences. Rudgea axilliflora can be distinguished by its sheathing stipules with dorsal, glandular appendages, medium-sized leaf-blades (7–11 x 2.5–4 cm), lanceolate to elliptic, with 7–9 pairs of secondary veins, absence of domatia, axillary inflorescences and flowers with a distinctly lobed calyx. The new species were discovered in ombrophilous rainforest remnants in the south of Espírito Santo, one of the most diverse states in the Atlantic Forest biome.