A new heterandrous species of Solanum section Gonatotrichum Bitter (Solanaceae) from Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

A new species of Solanum from Brazil is described. Solanum evolvuloides Giacomin & Stehmann sp. nov. belongs to section Gonatotrichum, a small group assigned to the Brevantherum Clade of the genus Solanum. It resembles S. turneroides Chodat, sharing with it heterandry, and S. parcistrigosum Bitter, with which it shares a similar habit and pubescence. Despite these similarities, the species can be recognized by its ovate-elliptic to cordiform leaf shape and more membranaceous leaf texture than the other species in the section, and stem, inflorescence axes, and calyx vestiture mainly composed of glandular hairs. Solanum evolvuloides is known to occur only in southeastern of Bahia state, Brazil, and in a preliminary assessment of the IUCN criteria can be considered a threatened species.