Three new species of Mucuna (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Phaseoleae) from South America
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ISSN: 0075-5974 (print) ISSN: 1874-933X (electronic)
Three new species of Mucuna (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Phaseoleae) from South America T. M. Moura1, G. P. Lewis2, V. F. Mansano3 & A. M. G. A. Tozzi4
Summary. Three new species of Mucuna from South America are described and illustrated. All present a morphological characteristic that is restricted to some neotropical species of this genus: a condensed primary inflorescence axis, with all the flowers closely inserted at the inflorescence apex. M. argentea occurs in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, M. klitgaardiae in Ecuador and Peru, whilst M. cajamarca is endemic to Peru. These three new species highlight the diversity and high endemism of Mucuna in South America. Key Words. Colombia, Ecuador, Fabaceae, Neotropical flora, Peru, taxonomy.
Introduction Mucuna comprises approximately 100 species distributed pantropically and presents a noteworthy morphological diversity. The highest number of species is in the Old World. Currently we recognise 24 species of Mucuna in the Americas, with the highest diversity in South America. Three new species have been published recently (e.g. Tozzi et al. 2005; Ruiz 2009; Moura et al. 2012), but others await description (T. M. Moura, unpublished data). Only one species of Mucuna occurs in both the Neotropics and the Paleotropics, namely M. sloanei Fawc. & Rendle (Fawcett & Rendle 1917: 36) (in Africa, America and Pacific Islands). Some morphological characteristics are shared by Old and New World species, for instance a ‘zig-zag’ inflorescence rachis is present in M. flagellipes Vogel ex Benth. (Hooker & Bentham 1849: 307) from Africa and in M. mitis (Ruiz & Pav.) DC. (De Candolle 1825: 405) and M. urens (L.) Medik. (Medikus 1787: 399) from Central and South America. On the other hand, some morphological traits are restricted geographically; for example, a condensed primary axis of the inflorescence occurs only in neotropical species. Within the American species of Mucuna most present a pseudo-racemose inflorescence sometimes with a highly reduced axis and the flowers tightly clustered at the apex so that the inflorescence appears
pseudo-umbelliform. Two species with this morphological characteristic have already been published, namely M. cuatrecasasii Hern. Cam. & C. Barbosa ex L. K. Ruiz (2009: 387 – 417), which is endemic to Colombia, and M. elliptica (Ruiz & Pav.) DC. (De Candolle 1825: 405), which is widely distributed in South America (Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru). Our studies show that this trait is more widespread than previously known and three new species with pseudo-umbelliform inflorescences are described and illustrated below. A distribution map is also given.
Mucuna argentea T. M. Moura, G. P. Lewis & A. M. G. Azevedo sp. nov. Type: Colombia, Caquetá Peña Roja, Kats & Dulmen AVD265 (holotype K!; isotypes COAH!, MO!). http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77123382-1 Lianas; stems sericeous. Leaves alternate, 3-foliolate; stipules c. 5 × 1 mm, triangular, sericeous; pulvinus cylindrical, 10 × 3 mm, with a dense indum
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