Malvaceae from Serra do Lenheiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract We present a taxonomic treatment of the Malvaceae from Serra do Lenheiro, a montane range in the municipality of São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in order to contribute to the knowledge of this family and the state’s flora. Eleven genera and twenty-nine species were recorded. Sida, Pavonia and Peltaea are the richest genera. Among the recorded species, nine are considered as ruderal and ten are endemic of Brazil. Three species have São João del-Rei as the type-locality. Analytic keys, morphological descriptions, photographic plates and comments about the treated species are presented. Illustrations are presented for two species: one has no iconography in Brazilian studies for Malvaceae (Sida plumosa) and one has only poor iconographic representations (Sida viarum).


Introduction
Malvaceae comprises 243 genera and about 4,225 species with cosmopolitan distribution (Stevens 2021).In Brazil, Malvaceae is among the ten largest families of Angiosperms and it is represented by 80 genera and 840 species, with more than half considered endemic from the country (Flora do Brasil 2020, continuously updated).The family is currently divided into nine subfamilies, and two of them, Dombeyoideae and Tilioideae, do not occur in South America (Bayer & Kubitzki 2003).
Malvaceae has very large morphological variation (Bayer & Kubitzki 2003).The presence of stipulated alternate leaves, internal base of calyx with a nectary formed by glandular hairs, and stamens sometimes attached to a staminal tube are among the characters shared by most species (Bayer & Kubitzki 2003).
The economic value of the family derives from the use of some genera in ornamentation, such as Abutilon Mill., Alcea L., Ceiba Mill., Pachira Aubl., Hibiscus L., Malvaviscus Fabr.and Thespesia Sol.The textile industry also benefits Rodriguésia 74: e01682021.2023 from some species of the genus Gossypium L. that provide cotton and Corchorus L. and Urena L. that provide jute.In the food sector, the genera Theobroma L., by its supply of cocoa and cupuaçu, and Abelmoschus Medik., for okra, stand out (Bovini 2010).
Therefore, in order to contribute to the knowledge about Malvaceae from Minas Gerais, a taxonomic study of its species occurring in Serra do Lenheiro was carried out.A key for identification, morphological descriptions, photographs and illustrations are presented.

Study area
Serra do Lenheiro is a montane range formed by a group of close elevations located in the northwestern portion of the City of São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais (Fig. 1).This range comprises an area of 1,760 ha with altitudinal variation between 900 and 1,246 m.A tiny portion of the range constitutes the Serra do Lenheiro Ecological Park (Fig. 1), a biological preservation area of the city.The region's climate is classified as Cwa sensu Köppen (Alvares et al. 2013) with rainy summers and dry winters (Alves & Kolbek 2009).Serra do Lenheiro is located in the Rio Grande basin at the Campos das Vertentes mesoregion (Minas Gerais 2010).It presents two types of soils: cambisoils and latosoils.The phytophysionomies present at Serra do Lenheiro are semidecidual seasonal forest, campos limpos (open grassland), campos sujos (shrubby fields) and campos rupestres (rocky fields) (Vasconcelos 2011).Campos rupestres grow up in association with quartzite rocks, and they are predominant in the landscape.

Taxonomic treatment
This study was based on the analysis of specimens we collected at Serra do Lenheiro and collections from previous researchers kept in herbaria BHCB, HUFSJ, R and RB (acronyms according to Thiers, continuously updated).The field work was carried out between 2015 and 2019 covering many parts of the mountain range and the Ecological Park.The collected material was photographed, herborized according to conventional techniques (Mori et al. 1989), and incorporated into the collection of HUFSJ with duplicates in R and RB.The analysis of this material was done through the mensuration and description of the shapes of the stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds using a stereomicroscope.The characterization of these structures follows that of Radford et al. (1974).More specific concepts of some genera were obtained from Lay (1950), Krapovickas & Cristóbal (1965), Fryxell (1988Fryxell ( , 1999)), Carvalho-Sobrinho (2006), Krapovickas (2006), Saunders (2007) and Gonçalez & Esteves (2017).Additional material was used in the description of some taxa when structures like flowers or fruits were absent.The cited iconographic representations follow illustrations already published in papers about Brazilian flora of Malvaceae, in addition to revisional works of the studied genera.
The species are organized in alphabetical order together with morphological description, examined specimens, geographic distribution and comments.The measurements presented in the descriptions of each species are given in the order length × width, and when a single set of measurements is mentioned, it refers to the length of the structure.The characterization of the species as ruderal for the Cerrado was performed according to the list from the Flora vascular do bioma Cerrado, by Mendonça et al. (1998).

Results and Discussion
Four subfamilies, 11 genera and 29 species of Malvaceae were recorded from the Serra do Lenheiro (Figs. 2; 3).The richest genera are Sida (12 spp.), Pavonia (4 spp.) and Peltaea (3 spp.).The growth form most representative of the species from the Serra do Lenheiro is herb, reflecting the local predominance of field vegetation (campos limpos and campos rupestres).Subshrubs, shrubs and trees are less frequent growth forms recorded.

Melochia villosa
This species can be recognized in the genus Melochia by stems and adaxial surface of the leaves covered by simple, biradiated and stellate hairs (Gonçalez & Esteves 2017).The other variety that occurs in Brazil, Melochia villosa var.tomentosa (K.Schum.)Goldberg, has stems and leaf blades covered by stellate hairs only (Gonçalez & Esteves 2017).Melochia villosa is included in section Melochia, the biggest of the genus (Rondón 2009).Waltheria indica has tropical and subtropical distribution across the world (Saunders 2007).In Brazil, it occurs in all states (Coutinho et al. 2020).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was found in campos limpos and campos rupestres.
This species can be recognized by its stems and leaves with velutine indument, and homostylic flowers densely grouped in glomerules (Fernandes-Júnior & Konno 2017).It is one of the most widely distributed species of the genus in the world and has broad morphological variation of certain characters (Saunders 2007).Waltheria indica is also used for popular medicinal purposes (Zongo et al. 2013).

Pseudobombax longiflorum occurs in
This species can be distinguished from others of the genus Pseudobombax by its large petioles 12.5-25.5cm in length, glabrescent leaflets, calyx externally glabrate, petals internally glabrate in the basal third and oblong fruit (Carvalho-Sobrinho 2006).Although only one specimen was collected in the study area, the characteristics of the flowers were enough to recognize the species.The name of this species alludes to the length of its petals, which tends to be longer than that of other species of the genus (Carvalho-Sobrinho 2006).
The species can be characterized by its suberified branches, sessile to subsessile leaflets, and velutine indument on the abaxial face of the leaflets and calyx (Carvalho-Sobrinho 2006).Several pollination agents have already been recorded in flowers of P. tomentosum; among them bats, bees and marsupials stand out (Gribel 1988).Luehea grandiflora occurs in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Peru (Cunha 1985).In Brazil, the species occurs in all regions within the phytogeographic domains of the Amazon Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Pantanal (Gerace & Bovini 2020).In Serra do Lenheiro, this species was recorded at the edge of seasonal forests.
The presence of the lanceolate petals and staminodes slightly fimbriate (Cunha 1985) differentiates this species from others in the genus Luehea.Brandão & Laca-Buendia (1993) affirmed that the large dimensions of the fruit (3 × 2.5 cm) and the covering by golden hairs help in the identification of the species.Luehea grandiflora is probably the most polymorphic species into the genus and it is also the most distributed in Brazil.It is suggested that more studies should focus on this taxon since its large distribution and morphological variations cause conflicts with Luehea speciosa Willd., as cited previously by Schumann (1891b) and Burret (1926).It is also suggested that the current concept of L. grandiflora comprises a taxonomic complex.Triumfetta bartramia is a species with wide distribution across the American continent (Lay 1950).In Brazil, it occurs in all regions of the country (Bovini 2020b).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was found in anthropized field areas and edges of seasonal forests.

Triumfetta bartramia
This species is distinguished from the others by presenting an average of 10 to 15 stamens and nutlet with a cinereal-tomentose body with 75 to 100 glabrescent aculei (Lay 1950).Triumfetta bartramia is very similar to Triumfetta sampaioi Mont., but the latter has 5 stamens and an occurrence recorded so far only in Northeastern Brazil.

Specimens examined
Triumfetta semitriloba occurs on the American and African continents, most frequently in their tropical portions (Lay 1950).In Brazil, it occurs in all regions of the country (Bovini 2020b).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was recorded in anthropized field areas.

Hibiscus kitaibelifolius
This species is characterized by the presence of a hirsute stem, leaf blades 3-5-lobed, leaf base with 1-3 nectaries and capsule glabrate (Rigueiral et al. 2019).Krapovickas & Fryxell (2004) reported that the presence of three nectaries at the base of the leaf blade distinguishes H. kitaibelifolius from other species of section Furcaria DC., to which it belongs.However, in the driest months of the year, these nectaries can become inconspicuous.The type-material of H. kitaibelifolius was collected in 1822 by Saint-Hilaire in São João del-Rei, where Serra do Lenheiro is located.This type-material is deposited in the collection of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle herbarium (P) in Paris.Fryxell, Brittonia 30(4): 456-457. 1978. = Sida macrodon DC., Prodr. 1: 464. 1824. Iconography: Fryxell (1978, Fig. 3 Krapovickasia macrodon is found in field formations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay (Fryxell 1978).In Brazil, the species occurs in Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul (Gring 2020).In Serra do Lenheiro, this species was found in Cerrado formations called campos limpos and campos rupestres.

Krapovickasia macrodon
The species is distinguished from others of the genus Krapovickasia by its solitary flowers and the presence of 8-9 stigmas and mericarps (Fryxell 1978;Grings 2020)   Malvastrum coromandelianum has pantropical distribution (Fryxell 1988).In Brazil, it occurs in all regions of the country (Coutinho 2020).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was recorded in anthropized areas.
This species differs from the others of the genus by its mericarps 3-spined and habitat weedy (Hill 1982).Malvastrum coromandelianum is frequently used in popular medicine of some countries, such as India, for example, as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-dysenteric (Khonsung et al. 2006).Pavonia communis is widely distributed across South America (Fryxell 1999).In Brazil, it occurs in the Central and Southern regions of the country, especially in Atlantic Forest and Cerrado phytophysionomies, in addition to secondary forest clearings and pasture areas (Esteves 2001).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was recorded in anthropized field areas.
This species can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the linear to lanceolate involucellar bracts, as well as stems and leaves covered by glandular hairs (Fryxell 1999) that emit a strong odour (Esteves 2001).In 1981, Sazima registered hummingbirds as frequent pollinators of the species.Sazima (1981) had previously described this species as protogynous and indicated that crossed pollination has had major success in the formation of fruits and seeds.Peltaea obsita is distributed across Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay (Zuloaga et al. 2008;Jørgensen et al. 2014;BFG 2015).In Brazil, it occurs in Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná (Fernandes-Júnior 2020).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was found in the seasonally flooded field areas between 900 and 1,000 m in altitude.

Peltaea speciosa
This species is characterized inside the genus Peltaea as the one having stems and leaves densely covered by yellow stellate hairs, spatulate involucellar bracts and stamens distributed equally along the staminal tube (Fernandes-Júnior 2020).Peltaea speciosa is the most distributed species of the genus with registers from 100 to 1400 m in altitude (Krapovickas & Cristóbal 1965).Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 2: 203. 1822. Iconography: Monteiro-Filho (1936, Tab. 1,  Sida acrantha is a poorly recorded species and it has a questionable geographic distribution.Today, it is considered an endemic species from Minas Gerais and São Paulo (Bovini 2020a).Krapovickas (2014) cited Bahia and Rio de Janeiro as Brazilian states where the species also occurs.In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was found in campos limpos and campos rupestres.

Sida acrantha
Sida acrantha belongs to section Sidae and is distinguished by stems and leaves covered by tomentose ferruginous indument, flowers frequently congested at the apex and 5-7 mericarps muticous (Krapovickas 2014).In São Paulo state, this species is considered as "in danger" (São Paulo 2016).Monteiro (1949) considered this species as a variety of Sida subcuneata A. St.-Hil.because it presesents differences on the indument only.However, Monteiro did not realize at the time that the name S. acrantha is older and would have priority to be used.Krapovickas (2014), when reviewing section Sidae, re-adopted the name S. acrantha as correct and synonymized S. subcuneata.1: G-L; Fig. 14: E).
This species is included in Sida section Stenindae Griseb.and is characterized by leaf blades linear to narrowly lanceolate and margin entire, besides flowers grouped in corymbs and corolla with a dark red centre (Bovini 2010).Sida martiana is an endemic species from Brazil (Bovini 2020a).In Brazil, it is found in Pernambuco, Sergipe, Bahia, Tocantins, Goiás and Minas Gerais (Bovini 2020a).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was registered in campos limpos and campos rupestres.

4.16.
This species can be recognized by stems and leaves covered by glandular hairs, leaf blades with purplish macules and petals up to 0.6 cm in length (Fryxell 1987;Krapovickas 2006).According to Fuertes-Aguilar (1995), S. martiana belongs to a species complex within Sida section Nelavagae Borss.Sida martiana is very similar to Sida luschnathiana Steud., but the presence of small glandular hairs on the adaxial face of the leaf blades of the latter distinguishes the two species (Bovini 2020a).In the treatment of the section Nelavagae for Argentina and neighbouring countries, Krapovickas (2006) states that S. martiana was only known up to that time for the Espinhaço Range.However, S. martiana has since been registered for several other locations and states in Brazil in the last few years (Bovini 2020a).Mart. ex Colla, Herb. Pedem. 1: 416-417. 1833. Iconography: Krapovickas (2006, Fig. 2: H); Grings & Boldrini (2022, Fig. 6: A-D; Fig. 14 Sida nemorensis occurs in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay (Krapovickas 2006).In Brazil, the species is found in Mato Grosso, Goiás, Distrito Federal, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná states (Bovini 2020a).In Serra do Lenheiro, this species was recorded at the edge of seasonal forests.
Sida plumosa belongs to Sida section Malacroideae G. Don, where the species share among themselves a prostrate habit and a chromosome number of 2n = 24 (Fuertes-Aguilar et al. 2003).Among other species in this section, S. plumose can be recognized by the presence of a few simple hairs on the adaxial face of leaf blades and mericarps without glochids.For a long time, S. plumosa was recognized as a synonym of S. ciliaris var.fulva (A.St-Hil.)K.Schum.Only in 2007 was S. plumosa returned to the species category with the work of Krapovickas (2007).Here it is illustrated for the first time in Brazilian studies.Sida rhombifolia is a species with wide distribution in tropical and subtropical regions of the New and Old World (Fryxell 1988).In Brazil, it occurs in all states of the country (Bovini 2020a).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was found in campos limpos and campos rupestres, as well as anthropized areas and near edges of seasonal forests.
Sida rhombifolia belongs to Sida section Sidae and can be recognized within the section by its puberulent indumentum covering almost all the plant and solitary flowers (Krapovickas 2014).Sida rhombifolia composes a taxonomic complex within the genus Sida, contemplating a concept of morphological variation of its leaves and number of mericarps (Sivarajan & Pradeep 1994).Most likely, this species is one of the most collected and polymorphic species of the genus.Fuertes-Aguilar (1995) mentioned that the resolution of the S. rhombifolia complex requires a worldwide study and the use of different approaches, not just morphological taxonomy.to linear, caducous; leaf blades 2.5-5.8 × 1.5-3.1 cm, entire, membranaceous to chartaceous, ovate, base cordate, margin irregularly serrate, apex acute, adaxial and abaxial surfaces tomentose, with hyaline stellate hairs; extrafloral nectaries absent.Flowers in axillar and terminal glomerules, rare axillar solitary flowers; flowers subsessiles or with pedicels up to 0.7 cm, cylindrical, hirsute, with hyaline simple and stellate hairs; epicalyx absent; calyx campanulate, lobes 4-4.6 × 2.6-3 mm, triangular, united until the medium portion of the calyx, apex acute, setose externally, with hyaline simple hairs; corolla with petals 0.5-0.6 cm, obovate, yellow; staminal tube ca.2.2 mm, glabrate, staminodes absent; ovary 5-locular, uniovulate locules, style ca.2.3 mm, stigmas 5. Schizocarps 5 mericarps, 3 × 2-2.5 mm, indehiscent, submuticous, spines up to 0.1 cm; puberulent seeds.Sida urens is a well distributed species on the American continent from Mexico to Argentina (Krapovickas 2006).In Brazil, it occurs in all regions of the country (Bovini 2020a).In Serra do Lenheiro, the species was recorded in campos limpos and campos rupestres.
Sida viarum belongs to Sida section Sidae.This species is recognized by leaf blades with serrated margin in the apical portion, calyx up to 0.7 cm in length and mericarps muticous to submuticous (Krapovickas 2014).The species was described based on material collected in the municipality of São João del-Rei by Saint-Hilaire.The type-material is deposited in the herbarium of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris (P).Here, we present a better iconographic representation since the original illustration shown by Monteiro-Filho (1936).
Specimens examined