Pavonia froesii Fryxell

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Malvaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pavonia froesii Fryxell

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Bahia: Between Salobinho and Itatinga, 4 Dec 1942, Froes 20055 (holotype, US; isotype, NY).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frútices dense hirsuti, pilis 1.5 mm longis; laminis foliorum ellipticis 4-9 cm longis distaliter obscure crenatis, infra in costos dense hirsutis; stipulis 10-12 mm longis hirsutis lanceolatis vel aliquantum spatulatis; pedicel lis 2.5 cm longis hirsutis; bracteis involucellorum 4-5 hirsutis 10x7 mm; calyce quam involucello parum breviore; petalis quam calyce duplo longioribus; androecio quam corolla subaequali; fructibus ignotis.

    Species Description - Shrubs with stems densely hirsute, the hairs 1.5 mm long. Leaf blades elliptic, 4-9 x 2.5-4 cm, basally rounded, obscurely crenate (at least distally), acute or acuminate, penninerved (or basally 3-nerved), the midrib raised above and beneath, somewhat discolorous, the upper surface very sparsely pubescent to glabrate, the lower surface hirsute (densely so on main veins), the hairs 1 mm long; petioles 5-9 mm long, evenly hirsute with pubescence like stem; stipules 10-12 mm long, linear-lanceolate to somewhat spatulate, hirsute, deciduous. Flowers (one seen) solitary in the leaf axils, the pedicels 2.5 cm long, densely hirsute, the hairs 1.5-2 mm long; involucel of 4 or 5 ovate bracts, each 10 x ca. 7 mm, hirsute; calyx slightly shorter than involucel, hirsute; petals ca. 18 mm long (ca. twice the length of the calyx), erect, apparently yellowish with darker veins; androecium subequal to corolla or slightly emergent. Fruits unknown.

  • Discussion

    Pavonia froesii is a small-leaved, hirsute species that is distinguished from P. semiserrata by pubescence characters. Its involucel includes only 4-5 bracts. The specific epithet is chosen to honor the collector of the type, Ricardo de Lemos Fróes (1891-?).

  • Distribution

    Known only from the type collection from Bahia. The type locality is near Itatinga (?) 15°13'S, 39°25'W (?).

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|