Vellozia fruticosa L. B. Sm.

Vellozia fruticosa L. B. Smith

Vellozia fruticosa L. B. Smith, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb., 35:286, pl. 11: figs. 38, 39, 1962.

TYPE.—On sandstone outcrop, ca. 3–5 km east of Sêrro, along road to Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 9 August 1960, Maguire, Magalhães & Maguire 49130 (US, holotype; NY, isotype).

DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from the type-collection.

44. Vellozia patens L. B. Smith & Ayensu, new species

A V. caruncularis Martius ex Seubert, cui affinis, ovarii glandulis sessilibus vel subsessilibus differt.

Caudex few-branched, to 15 cm long, ca. 8 mm in diameter (including leaf-sheaths), forming dense clumps (!Irwin). Leaves few-ranked, glutinous; sheaths subdensely imbricate with ca. 4 mm exposed; blades soon reflexed, long-persistent, linear, attenuate to a narrowly obtuse apex, to 55 mm long, 4.5 mm wide, flat, laxly serrulate on margins and midnerve, otherwise even and glabrous.

Scapes solitary, erect or slightly curved, 15–30 mm long (above the leaf-sheaths), 1 mm in diameter, laxly glandular. Ovary ellipsoid, strongly trigonous, 15 mm high, bearing sessile or subsessile glands on the angles, the epigynous tube very short. Tepals withered, imperfectly known. Stamens ca. 18, ca. 6 mm long, phalanges unappendaged.

LEAF ANATOMY (Irwin, Maxwell & Wasshausen 20017).—Surface View: Hairs: few large tufts present on adaxial surface. Epidermis: cells square to rectangular on adaxial surface; rectangular on abaxial surface; thin-walled on both surfaces. Stomata: tetracytic, some paracytic, 21 × 12 μm; present in rows along abaxial furrows.

Transverse Section of Lamina: Dorsiventral; widely V-shaped with small median adaxial groove and margins turned slightly downward. Adaxial surface ridged; abaxial furrowed ½ thickness of blade. Epidermis: cells rounded to dome-shaped on both surfaces; few conical on abaxial surface, thin-walled. Subjacent to adaxial epidermis is 2 or 3 layers of thin-walled cells interspersed with rows of sclerenchyma fibers. This is followed by a layer of large, thin-walled parenchyma cells. No sclerenchyma above midvein. Cuticle: slightly thickened and smooth on adaxial surface; thin and smooth on abaxial surface. Stomata: present in abaxial furrows only; stomata above surface and associated

with projections along walls of furrows. Substomatal chamber present. Mesophyll: 3 layers of palisade tissue followed by closely packed spongy cells. Two or three layers of large, translucent palisade cells radially arranged above vascular bundles, furrows, and midvein. Vascular bundles: 24; commissural bundles not observed. One or two large vessels present in each bundle. Two phloem units lying laterally in flanges of U-shaped abaxial girder. Small adaxial cap present on each bundle. Sclerenchyma fibers present at abaxial corners of furrows and few interspersed with, and subjacent to, abaxial epidermis. Vascular bundles surrounded by bundle sheath. Crystals: none observed. Tannins: few present.

TYPE.—On rock outcrops in sandy campo, Serra do Cipó, ca. km 120 (ca. 145 km north of Belo Horizonte), Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1200 m alt, 14 February 1968, Irwin, Maxwell & Wasshausen 20017 (US, holotype; NY, isotype).

DISTRIBUTION.—Brazil: Minas Gerais: km 111–112, road from Chapeu do Sol to Conceição do Mato Dentro, 4 July 1969, Menezes & Sazima 52 (SPF, US); km 138, 8 September 1972, Menezes 261 (SPF, US).

45. Vellozia modesta L. B. Smith & Ayensu, new species

A V. carunculare Martius ex Seubert, cui affinis, foliis latioribus, ovario terete, glandulis subsessilibus differt.

Caudex, few-branched, 1.5 m high (including leaf-sheaths), 15 (−25) mm thick at apex. Leaves ca. 7 in the terminal erect fascicle; sheaths densely nerved, remaining entire; blades reflexing and persistent, linear obtuse or subacute, 12 (−18) cm long and 12 mm wide, dry, even and glabrous except for keels and margins, bicarinate and serrulate above toward apex, the margins at least in part densely serrulate with inconspicuous slender biserriate teeth.

Scapes solitary, erect, 3 (−7) cm long (above the leaf-sheaths), ca. 1 mm in diameter, sulcate, subdensely vestite with subsessile glands. Ovary slenderly obovoid, terete, 7 (−9) mm long, laxly to densely covered with dark subsessile glands. Tepals free, elliptic, apiculate, 2 cm long, more or less glandular on base and midnerve. Stamens ca. 30 (−40), the phalanges lacerate-appendaged.

LEAF ANATOMY.—Ayensu, Smithsonian Contr. Bot., 15:33, pl. 43d, 1974.

TYPE.—On rock outcrop, 20 km north of Diamantina, Mun. Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, alt. 1300 m, 20 January 1972, Smith, Ayensu & Hatschbach (separate no. 29001) 15997 (holotype US, isotype MBM).

DISTRIBUTION.—Brazil: Minas Gerais: moist sandy soil, ca. km 115, Serra do Cipó, 9 March 1969, Joly & Menezes 20 (SPF).

Note: The paratype specimen differs from the type in certain measurements which have been added to the description in parentheses. Also its leaves are more prominently serrulate than those of the type.