PTEROLEPIS ARENACEA (MELASTOMATACEAE, MELASTOMATEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM THE BRAZILIAN CERRADO

Abstract

Pterolepis arenacea is described and illustrated as a new species to the Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins and its  surroundings, in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Tocantins. This species is restricted to microhabitats of sandstone outcrops surrounded by savanna vegetation. Pterolepis arenacea is the first known species of the genus exhibiting a dorsal appendage on the stamens. Morphologically, Pterolepis arenacea is most similar to species of the P. polygonoides complex, composed of P. polygonoides, P. saturejiformis and P. trimera. Furthermore, Pterolepis arenacea shares vegetative similarities with the  haplostemonous species P. haplostemona and P. xaxa. Detailed line drawings, field photographs, and scanning electron microscopy images are provided. The conservation status of Pterolepis arenacea is preliminarily assessed as Data Deficient (DD) under the IUCN criteria.