Two New Taxa of Aeschynomene (Leguminosae : Papilionoideae) from Brazil

Abstract

Summary. Aeschynomene soniae, a new species from Bahia, Brazil and A. genistoides var. latifoliola from Goias, Brazil are described and illustrated. The new Bahian species described below seems as closely related to the Mexican Aeschynomene hintonii Sandw. as to its closest Brazilian relative, A. martii Benth. The second taxon also originally seemed to be a new species, but after further study I concluded that it was separable from A. genistoides (Taub.) Rudd only by leaflet size and number. Aeschynomene soniae G. P. Lewis sp. nov. A. hintonii Sandw. speciei Mexicanae affinis sed floribus maioribus carinae petalis minus rostratis fructus articulis distincte longioribus quam latioribus differt, A. martii speciei Brasiliensi etiam affinis sed foliolis pergrandioribus atque in quoque folio perpaucis differt. Typus: Brazil, Bahia, Lewis & Andrade 2006 (holotypus CEPEC; isotypi plures). Spindly flexuous shrub to 5 m tall, main stem up to 2 cm in diameter; bark rough, brown, peeling; young stems sparsely to moderately pubescent with short, white patent hairs and a few swollen-based hairs intermixed. Stipules lanceolatetriangular, c. 1 - 5-3 mm long, persistent, striate, sparsely pubescent, the margin with occasional swollen-based hairs. Leaves imparipinnate with 3-7 alternate to subopposite bluish green leaflets; petiole up to 2 cm long, sparsely pubescent near base; petiolules 1 mm long; leaflets very variable in shape and size, narrowly ovate to broadly elliptic or orbicular, up to 3 - 4 x 3 cm, the apex rounded to obtuse, mucronulate, the base rounded, sometimes evidently asymmetric, both surfaces glabrous, the upper surface nitid, venation prominent, secondary veins brochidodromous, tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal raceme sometimes compounded into lax panicles; pedicels 5-7 mm long, clothed with a mixture of patent white hairs and yellow swollen-based hairs; primary bracts lanceolate, acuminate, up to 4 -5 mm long, persistent, striate, pubescent, swollen-based hairs on margin; secondary bracts lanceolate-deltoid, c. 2 mm long, otherwise as for primaries; bracteoles narrowly elliptic, acute, c. 2 -5 mm