Orthophytum hatschbachii Leme 1995

Orthophytum hatschbachii Leme (1995: 120), figs. 4A–G, 7D.

Type:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Rio de Contas, Mato Grosso 1300 m, 7 April 1992, G. Hatschbach & Barbosa 56827 (holotype MBM!).

Plants rupicolous, stoloniferous, stems short, 3–4.2 × 3 cm. Leaves patent. Leaf sheaths greenish–white, broadly triangular or broadly ovate, 0.5–3 × 0.8–4 cm, glabrous, margins serrate, prickles 0.1–0.8 mm long. Leaf blades stiff coriaceous, slightly concave, red, base greenish white, linear-triangular, 6.5–33 × 0.7–1.8 cm, attenuate, abaxial surfaces sparsely lepidote, adaxial ones glabrous or lepidote, margins strongly serrate, prickles straight or antrorse, (1.7–) 2–3.5 mm long, apices mucronate. Inflorescences sessile, simple, manyflowered. Vestigial floral bract absent. Floral bracts coriaceous, green, symmetrical or asymmetrical, carinate, triangular, 2–2.5 × 0.9–2.3 cm, glabrous, margins serrate, apices acuminate. Sepals green, asymmetrical, carinate, narrowly ovate, 1.2 × 0.3 cm, glabrous, margins entire, apices mucronulate. Petals white, linearspatulate, 1.7 × 0.4 cm, glabrous, obtuse. Petal appendages sacciform, lacerate, 4 mm from base. Callosities conspicous. Stamens with antepetalous filaments ca 2.5 mm long and adnate to the petals,, the antesepalous ones free 10 mm long. Anthers yellow, 3 mm long, apices apiculate. Ovaries trigonous, styles 10 mm long. Epigenous tubes present, 2.5 mm long. Ovules numerous. Fruits and seeds not seen.

Distribution and habitat: — Orthophytum hatschbachii is known from Abaíra and Rio de Contas counties in the state of Bahia. It grows on rocky outcrops either exposed to the sun or in the shade near streams.

IUCN conservation status: —EN B1ab (iii). The expansion of agricultural areas substantially reduced the available habitat of Orthophytum hatschbachii, and it is currently known from an estimated area of less than 5000 km 2.

Comments: — Orthophytum hatschbachii is similar to O. burle-marxii and O. heleniceae, differing from O. burle-marxii by simple inflorescences (vs. compound), petal appendages to 4 mm from the petals base (vs. 7 mm), leaf blades green at base (vs. red) and bracts and sepals green (vs. red).

Orthophytum heleniceae may be confused with O. hatschbachii because of the colour of the leaves and bracts, but they differ in the margins of leaf blades, which are serrate in O. hatschbachii and serrulate on O. heleniceae. In addition, the length of prickles, the branching of inflorescences and the presence or absence of glandular trichomes are additional characteristics that separate these species. In O. hatschbachii the prickles are larger (2–3.5 vs. 0.5 mm long), the inflorescences are simple (vs. compound) and floral bracts, petals and sepals do not bear glandular trichomes.

Additional specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Bahia: Abaíra, Catolés de Cima, 25 December 1992 (fl), Harley et al. 50366 (SP); Cabaceira, Riacho Fundo, 25 October 1993 (fl), Ganev 2314 (HUEFS); Rio de Contas, Estrada Real, 3 March 2002 (fl), Souza & Konno 503 (SP); Brumadinho, 21 December 2006, (fl), Louzada & Moreira 59 (SP); Fazenda Brumadinho, 5 November 1988 (fl), Wanderley & Kral 1532 (SP); Mato Grosso, 25 December 2004 (fl), Forzza & Silva 3825 (RB); Pico das Almas, 14 December 1984 (fl), Arraes et al. CFCR 6917 (RB); 30 October 1988 (fl), Harley et al. 25779 (SP, CEPEC); 20 November 1988 (fl), Harley et al. 26225 (SP, CEPEC); 22 January 1974 (fl), Harley 15413 (CEPEC).