Serjania unidentata Acev.-Rodr.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 1993. Systematics of Serjania (Sapindaceae) Part I: A Revision of Serjania Sect. Platycoccus. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 67: 1-91.
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Family
Sapindaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Brazil. Santa Catarina: Municipio de Mafra, on side of highway 116 at Km 9 (3 km from Mafra), on rocly soil, 900 m, 11 Sep 1986 (fl, fi), Acevedo-Rdgz,, Hatschbach & Souza 1570 (holotype, M B M ; isotypes, CTES, F, MO, NY, RB, US).
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Description
Species Description - Woody vine to 10 m long. Stems to 1 cm in diam., terete, slightly 8-sulcate; cross section of stem with central, terete stele surrounded by (6-)7 terete, smaller steles. Stipules subulate, 2 mm long. Leaves temate; petioles not winged, shorter than leaflets, adaxially pilose; leaflets 4-15 x 1.5-5 cm, chartaceous, dull green, glabrous, acuminate or acute at apex, the terminal leaflet slightly larger, elUptic, with attenuate base, the lateral lanceolate, with obUque, obtuse base, and shortly petiolulate, the margins revolute, pale, remotely dentate, and ciliate, the teetii somewhat glandular and rounded, the veins semicraspedodromus, the primary and secondary veins prominent on lower surface. Inflorescence axillary, longer than subtending leaf; axis subterete or angular, usually coiUng, glabrous; rachis terete, sparsely covered with minute, ca. 0.2 mm long, whitish, curly hairs; bracts and bracteoles subulate, 1 mm long, with glandular hairs along margins; cincinni altemate, 0.1-4 mm long, with same indument as rachis, 3-6-flowered; pedicels 3 mm long, articulate at base. Flowers with sepals 4, ciliate, adaxially tomentose, the external two 3.5 mm long, ovate, obtuse, the connate internal one (consisting of third and fifth) 6 mm long, the fourth 4 mm long; petals pale yelow, spatulate, 6 mm long, adaxially papillose; appendages ofcentral petals 4 mm long, crown-shaped and fleshy atapex, the appendages of lateral petals 3 mm long; torus well developed; filaments with woolly, white hairs, the anthers ellipsoid. Fruits 3.5-3.8 cm long, yellow-green to straw-colored, chartaceous, wings wider close to base (1.3-1.4 cm wide); locules lentiform, 7 x 4 mm, dorsal side with a decurrent wing; partioning wall to 7 times longer than wide; endocarp white pilose. Seeds asymmetrically lentiform, 5-7 mm long, reddish brown, attached near to base of locule; embryo with straight cotyledons.
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Discussion
Field observations. The stems of S. unidentata produce a watery sap (not milky) when cut, inflorescences are pendant with twining axes, and the fruits turn from green to straw-colored. Serjania unidentata seems to be closely related to S. tenuis, because of their similar leaves and flowers. However it differs from this species by its stems with a central stele surrounded by 6-7 peripheral steles (vs. a central one with 3 peripheral ones), and embryo with straight cotyledons (vs. biplicate). The epithet unidentata refers to the striking tooth on the lower outer margins of the lateral leaflets, in the type material.
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Distribution
Serjania unidentata is endemic to the southern states of Parana and Santa Catarina, Brazil (Fig. 41). It has been collected along disturbed patches of vegetation. It flowers from July to September and fruits from September to October.
Brazil South America|