Abstract
Solanummedusaesp. nov. is described from the Cerrado biome in the Serra da Canastra region, southwestern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The new species is morphologically similar to the common S.lycocarpum A.St.-Hil. (known as lobeira or wolf-fruit), but differs from it in habit and pubescence characters. We here describe this new taxon and discuss its morphology, some aspects of its ecology, affinities and distribution. Full specimen citations are provided, as well as illustrations, distribution map and a preliminary conservation assessment of the species. A key to all of the known extra-Amazonian Brazilian species of the Androceras/Crinitum clade is also provided to aid in their identification.
Highlights
Solanum L. (Solanaceae) is the largest genus of Solanaceae, with some 1,400 species, and one of the biggest angiosperm genera (Frodin 2004)
Solanum medusae belongs to the large monophyletic group commonly known as the spiny solanums (Leptostemonum Clade, sensu Bohs 2005) and is morphologically a member of the “S. crinitum group” (sensu Whalen 1984; section Crinitum (Whalen) Child)
This group is part of the molecularly defined Androceras/Crinitum clade, and includes prickly herbs of the Mexican deserts with dry fruits such as S. rostratum Dunal (section Androceras (Nutt.) Whalen, see Whalen 1979), Amazonian vines (i.e. S. coriaceum Dunal and S. sendtnerianum Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.) and large woody shrubs to trees with relatively large, showy, lilac to deep bluish-purple flowers mostly found in South America (S. crinitum group sensu Whalen 1984; Nee 1999)
Summary
Solanum L. (Solanaceae) is the largest genus of Solanaceae, with some 1,400 species, and one of the biggest angiosperm genera (Frodin 2004). The largest monophyletic group of Solanum, known as the Leptostemonum clade or Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum Bitter (Bohs 2005; Weese and Bohs 2007), includes prickly plants with stellate indumentum (the “spiny” solanums) and comprises approximately half the species diversity of the genus. It is composed of a large lineage of approximately 240 species confined to the Old World (see Aubriot et al 2016), with the remainder primarily New World in distribution. Solanum medusae (Solanaceae), a new wolf-fruit from Brazil, and a key
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
