Vellozia abietina Mart.

Vellozia abietina Martius

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—Maguire et al. 49115.

SURFACE VIEW.—Hairs: absent. Epidermis: adaxial and abaxial cells rectangular, thin walled. Stomata: tetracytic, 18 × 12 μm; observed on both surfaces.

TRANSVERSE SECTION OF LAMINA.—Dorsiventral; thickly V-shaped with significant median adaxial groove. Adaxial and abaxial surfaces evenly undulating. Epidermis: cells more or less square, rounded, or rectangular; cells thin walled with thicker inner tangential walls; few individual thick-walled fibers observed subjacent to adaxial epidermis. Cuticle: uniformly thickened, slightly thinner on cells forming median adaxial groove. Stomata: walls of guard cells generally thickened; slight development of inner ledges; substomatal chamber present. Mesophyll: palisade cells almost nonexistent except for one to three layers of cells on either side of adaxial median groove; spongy tissue making up nearly all of mesophyll. Vascular bundles: 12; commissural bundles not observed. Large veins each with a single wide vessel. Two phloem units lying laterally in short flanges of abaxial girder. Each vascular bundle always accompanied by partial adaxial girder or cap and abaxial girder. Vascular bundle completely surrounded by a distinct bundle sheath with extensions of two to four cells toward adaxial epidermis only. Crystals and tannin: not observed.

NOTE: Although this specimen has all the Vellozia distinguishing characters, there is a close resemblance of it to Barbacenia because the partial adaxial girder is almost becoming a full girder except for the adaxial bundle sheath extensions. The mesophyll is nearly all spongy.

Vellozia abietina Martius

Vellozia abietina Martius, Nov. Gen. & Sp., 1:14, pl. 6, 1823.— Seubert in Martius, Fl. Bras., 3(1):74, 1847.—L. B. Smith, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb., 35:259, 1962.—Ayensu, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 85:471, fig. 1, 1972; Smithsonian Contr. Bot., 15:10, fig. 5a–b, pl. 24a–b, 1974.

Xerophyta abietina (Martius) Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 4: Cur. Post. 137, 1827—Baker, Journ. Bot., 13:236, 1875.

TYPE.—Bare rocky summits, Itambé do Mato Dentro and Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 900–1200 m alt, Martius s n (M, holotype; F, photo 18967).

DISTRIBUTION.—Brazil: Minas Gerais: Datas, Diamantina, Gouveia, Itambé, Serro.

2. Vellozia tragacantha (Martius ex Schultes f.) Martius ex Seubert

Vellozia tragacantha (Martius ex Schultes f.) Martius ex Seubert in Martius, Fl. Bras., 3(1):75, 1847.—L. B. Smith, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb., 35:259, 1962.—Ayensu, Smithsonian Contr. Bot., 15:42, fig. 6a–b, 1974.

Xerophyta tragacantha Martius ex Schultes f. in Roemer & Schultes Syst., 7:290, 1826.—Baker, Journ. Bot., 13:236, 1875.

TYPE.—Villa de Rio das Contas [Itacaré], Bahia, Brazil. [Oct 1818], Martius s n (M, holotype; F, photo 18998).

DISTRIBUTION.—Brazil: Bahia: Itacaré. Minas Gerais: Barão de Cocais, Curvelo, Gouveia.