Friday, August 4, 2023

[Botany • 2023] Viridantha minuscula (Bromeliaceae: Tillandsioideae) • A New Species from Guanajuato, Mexico


Viridantha minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr., 

in Hernández-Cárdenas, Espejo-Serna, López-Ferrari, Viccon-Esquivel et Sandoval-Mata, 2023. 
 
Abstract
Viridantha minuscula from the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, is described and illustrated as new to science. The proposed taxon is compared to V. lepidosepala and V. tortilis, species with the most similarities. Images and a distribution map of the taxa involved are provided.

Keywords: Endemism, Mexico, Monocots, Poales


  

Viridantha minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr.
A. Ravine that crosses the zone of El Charco del Ingenio, the habitat of the species. B. View of the ravine walls. C. Plants on cliffs. D. Clump of rosettes. E. Plant in bloom. F. Spike. G. Flower with floral bract. G1. Floral bract. G2. Sepals. G3. Petals. G4. Stamens. G5. Pistil.
(Photographs A–D, F–G5 by R. Hernández-Cárdenas; E by A. Espejo-Serna).

Viridantha minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr., sp. nov. 

The new species is similar to Viridantha lepidosepala but differs in the size of the leaf blades (4–5 × 0.3–0.4 vs. 7–12 × 0.5–0.8 cm), in the characteristics of the peduncle (conspicuous vs. inconspicuous, 1–1.5 vs. 3–4 mm diameter), in the length of the peduncle bracts (shorter than the inflorescence vs. longer than the inflorescence), and in the length of the petals (2.5–2.8 vs. 1.5–2.5 cm).

Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the small size of the plants of the new species. 


. Comparison of rosettes, spikes and flowers with floral bract of
A, A1. Viridantha lepidosepala (L.B. Sm.) Espejo,
B, B1. V. minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr.,
and C, C1. V. tortilis (Klotzsch ex Baker) Espejo
(Photographs by R. HernándezCárdenas).
 

Rodrigo Alejandro Hernández-Cárdenas, Adolfo Espejo-Serna, Ana Rosa López-Ferrari, José Viccon-Esquivel and Tecoatlayopeuh Nelly Sandoval-Mata. 2023. Viridantha minuscula (Tillandsioideae; Bromeliaceae), A New Species from Guanajuato, Mexico. Phytotaxa. 607(1); 1-7. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.607.1.1

Resumen Se describe e ilustra Viridantha minuscula, especie nueva del estado de Guanajuato, México. El taxon propuesto se compara con V. lepidosepala y V. tortilis, especies con las cuales presenta algunas similitudes. Se proporcionan imágenes y un mapa de distribución de los taxa involucrados. 
Palabrasclave: Endemismo, México, Monocotiledóneas, Poales