Pavonia decora Fryxell

  • Authority

    Fryxell, Paul A. 1999. Cavanilles (Malvaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 76: 1-284. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Malvaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pavonia decora Fryxell

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Bahia: Mun. Iraquara, Fazenda Torrinha, 12 km S of Iraquara, 640 m, caatinga, 14 Jun 1981, Mori, Boom & Funck 14431 (holotype, NY).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frútices caulibus setosis, setis 3-5 mm longis; laminis foliorum ovato-cordatis; pedicellis ubique setosis atque latere abaxiali pilis brevibus recurvatis; bracteis involucellorum 8-9 spathulatis rubris; fructibus laevibus 11-12 mm diametro.

    Species Description - Shrubs 1 m tall, the stems setose, the setae 3-5 mm long, pustular-based, yellowish, spreading or somewhat retrorse, with underlying finer pubescence including scattered glandular hairs and dense longitudinal rows of whitish curled hairs. Leaf blades ovate, 4-7 x 4-5.5 cm, basally cordate, crenate, acute, palmately 7-nerved (the principal veins raised above and beneath), concolorous, the upper surface hispid on the veins and with widely scattered simple or stellate hairs (<0.5 mm long) on the blades, the lower surface with scattered 3-4-armed stellate spicules (1 mm long); petioles 2.5-5 cm long, with pubescence like stem, the whitish curled hairs on the adaxial side; stipules subulate, 3 mm long, reflexed (?), deciduous. Flowers solitary in the upper leaf axils, the pedicels 4-6 cm long, slender, with pubescence like stem, the whitish curled hairs on the abaxial side [!]; involucellar bracts 8-9, distinct, erect, oblanceolate or spatulate, 25 x 2.5-4 mm (gradually narrowed to 1 mm at base), acute, red and showy, minutely pubescent and basally setose, the setae 3-4 mm long, somewhat reddish; calyx 12-13 mm long, minutely stellate- and glandular-pubescent, enclosing the fruit, 5-lobed, the lobes 5 mm long, triangular; flowers otherwise unknown. Fruits 11-12 mm diam.; mericarps 6-6.5 mm tall, minutely appressed-pubescent (seemingly glabrous except under high magnification), basally winged, relatively smooth.

  • Discussion

    This species is included in Pavonia sect. Malvaviscoides, but it also shows some affinity for species of P. sect. Lopimia, so it is keyed out there also.

    The specific epithet is from the Latin decorus, in the sense of ornate, elegant, or beautiful, in reference to the showy involucel. It is distinctive for its 8-10 large, spatulate, reddish involucellar bracts and its exserted androecium.

  • Distribution

    Known only from the type collection from 12°23'S, 41°32'W.

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|