6. Celtis hilariana Planchon (1873: 189) (Figures 2F–F 3, 5K–L, 6K–L, 7).

Lectotype (designated by Zamengo et al. 2023b):— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Without a specific location, 1816–1821, fl. & fr., A.F.C.P. de Saint-Hilaire B1 1877 (lectotype: P [00089358] image!; isolectotype: P [00089359] image!).

Shrubs or trees, 3–12 m tall; secondary and tertiary branches fawn-brown, straight, terete, subglabrous to pilose, the trichomes ivory-white; thorns 1–2 mm long, solitary, straight, buff-yellow, subglabrous, the trichomes ivory-white, concentrated at the base and scarce over the rest of the surface. Leaf: petiole 5–8 mm long, subglabrous to pilose, the trichomes ivory-white; leaf blades elliptic, widely-elliptic, widely-ovate or ovate, 2.3–4 × 1.5–2 cm, concolorous (emerald-green or olive-green), chartaceous, the apex acute or attenuate, the base symmetrical, obtuse, the margins serrate, congested teeth emerging from the middle to the distal third (mature leaves), adaxial surface smooth, lustrous, subglabrous to pilose mostly on the veins and scarce on the blade surface, the trichomes ivory-white, abaxial surface smooth, subglabrous to pilose mostly on the veins and scarce on the blade surface, the trichomes ivory-white, veins protruding, chestnut-brown, pockets domatia, conspicuous, pilose throughout, the trichomes ivory-white. Cymes glomerulate, peduncles 2–4 mm long, subglabrous to pilose, the trichomes ivory-white, bracts absent. Staminate flowers: pedicels 1–2 mm long, subglabrous, the trichomes ivory-white, sepals abaxially pilose, the trichomes ivory-white, the margins ciliate. Pistillate flowers: pedicels 1–3 mm long, subglabrous to pilose, the trichomes ivory-white; ovary 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm, subglabrous to pilose throughout, the trichomes ivory-white, concentrated both at the base and on the surface of the ovary, smooth, the style conspicuous (0.6–1 mm long), stigmatic branches 1–1.5 mm long, bifid, the lobes 0.1–0.2 mm long. Drupe: globose or ovate, 6–6.5 × 3.5–4.5 mm, epicarp fulvous-orange, smooth, subglabrous, the trichomes ivory-white; mesocarp not viscous, membranous, not ornamentede; pyrene ovate, 3.5–4 × 3–3.7 mm, ivory-white, verrucose surface with proeminent, rounded, randomly distributed warts, apiculum absent.

Etymology: —The epithet “ hilariana ” honors Auguste Saint-Hilaire, the collector of the type.

Vernacular names: —Espora de galo, espora de pinto, esporão, esporão de galo and juá (Brazil).

Distribution, habitat and ecology: —Endemic to Brazil, with only few records for the states of Bahia (in the Caatinga biome) and Minas Gerais (in the Cerrado biome, Figure 7). The species inhabits riverbanks and roadsides.

Phenology: —Flowering in November, fruiting from November to January.

Taxonomic notes — Baehni (1936) and Berg & Dahlberg (2001) synonymized C. hilariana under C. iguanaea. These species should be recognized independently, because C. hilariana has arboreal habit (see the specimens Flores et al. 419 [ESA] and Pereira et al. 1660 [UB]); mature leaves 4 cm long (Figure 2F); glomerulate cymes; and pyrene without apiculum (Figure 6L), whereas C. iguanaea is a scrambling shrub; mature leaves greater than 10 cm long (Figure 3A); paniculiform cymes; and pyrene apiculate (Figure 6N).

We recommend that new expeditions be carried out in order to locate new specimens of C. hilariana, because the current quantity is insufficient to provide ecological and conservation data.

Additional material examined: — BRAZIL. Bahia: Muquém de São Francisco, Margem esquerda do rio São Francisco, 13 March 1991, fr., B.A.S. Pereira et al. 1660 (BG, GUA, IBGE, UB). Minas Gerais: Jaíba, Beira da estrada para pegar a balsa, 15°12’26” S, 43°51’8” W, 31 January 2010, fr., T.B. Flores et al. 419 (ESA, RB). Januária, Vazante do rio São Francisco, 4 km de Januária, 29 November 1953, fl. & fr., M. Magalhães 6086 (BHZB, RB).