Three new species of Nothoscordum (Amaryllidaceae) from the Campos eco-region of the Grassland Ecosystems of Río de la Plata, Southeast South America

Abstract

Abstract Three new species of Nothoscordum are described: Nothoscordum elongatum Deble & B.P.Moreira, Nothoscordum parvum Deble & B.P.Moreira and Nothoscordum urutauense Deble & H.A.Keller. Nothoscordum elongatum and N. parvum grow in central-eastern Rio Grande do Sul state, while N. urutauense is narrowly endemic in southern Misiones Province, northeast Argentina. The three new taxa are characterized by their strong alliaceous smell, pilose leaves and scapes, and one or two-flowered inflorescence. Nothoscordum elongatum is segregated from Nothoscordum marchesii by its densely pilose leaves and scapes (vs. glabrous leaves and scapes), flowers with longer pedicels and ovaries with fewer ovules per locule. Nothoscordum parvum is similar to N. modestum and N. urutauense; however, can be readily separated from both species by its bulbs with bulbils surronding the main bulb, by its narrowly infundibuliform flowers, fused towards the base for 1.8–2.2 mm and by its scapes erect at fruit maturity. Nothoscordum urutauense differs from N. inundatum by its broader leaves, by its flowers with tepals fused at the base for 0.5–1 mm, and by its free filaments at base. These three species of Nothoscordum are described, illustrated, compared with morphologically similar taxa, and featured with their geographic distribution.