Podostemum weddellianum (Tulasne) C. T. Philbrick & A. Novelo, comb. nov. Mniopsis weddelliana Tulasne, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., ser. 3, 11: 105. 1849. Crenias weddelliana (Tulasne) C. D. K. Cook & Rutishauser, Taxon 50: 1165. 2001.­ TYPE: BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Piabanha River, Weddell s.n. (holotype: P!; pos­ sible isotype: L).

Mniopsis weddelliana var. gracilis Warming, Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., ser. 6, 9(2): 138. 1899. Crenias weddelliana var. gracilis (Warming) C. D. K. Cook & Rutishauser, Taxon 50: 1165. 2001.-TYPE: BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Cachoeira de Rio Grande pres de Nova Friburgo, 26 Nov 1888, Glaziou 17777 (holotype: C-sheet 1251,3, isotypes: C-spirit, jar no. 3177! L! P!).

  Plant Description: Roots 0.2-1.8 (0.7) mm wide. Stems monomorphic, arising 0.6-5 (3) mm apart along root, 0.2-19 (3) mm long. Leaves sessile or petiolate, upright, arising in a 130° distichous arrangement (making stem appear dorsiventral), entire (occasionally at base of stem) or pinnately or palmately lobed, 1-24 (5.4) mm long; apices of entire leaves rounded, blunt, acute or apiculate, 1.5-10.2 (2.6) mm long, 0.2-1.6 (0.7) mm wide; lobed leaves with 2-14 (3) lobes, lobes 0.2-6.2 (1.9) mm long, 0.1-2 (0.6) mm wide, flattened, apices rounded, blunt, acute or apiculate, with a faint central vein or central vein absent; petioles 0.4-9.6 (3) mm long; flattened in cross section; leaf bases asymmetrical, obliquely at­ tached to stem; stipules composed of a single, asymmetrically placed, marginal or sub­ marginal lobe on one side of the leaf base, 0.1-2 (0.9) mm long, persistent or caducous, often hardened and darkened on older stems. Flowers 1-24 (2) per stem; spathella 1.8-4 (3.1) mm long, 0.9-2 (l.6) mm wide, smooth to minutely papillate, apex rounded or with a nipple; tepals 3, linear or awl-shaped, straight or curved, apex acute; lateral tepals 0.5-2.l (0.6) mm long; andropodial tepal 0.2-2.l (1.2) mm long; andropodium 0.6-2.2 (1.2) mm long prior to anthesis, during anthesis to 1.2-2.5 (1.9) mm long; stamens 2, filaments 0.1-0.6 (0.3) mm long prior to anthesis, during anthesis to 0.2-0.9 (0.4) mm; anthers 0.3-0.7 (0.5) mm long, 0.2-0.7 (0.5) mm wide; pollen dyads 32-48 (43) µm long, 20-28 (25) µm wide; ovary 0.5-2.1 (1.3) mm long, 0.6-1.8 (1.3) mm wide; stigmas entire (rare) or with 1-5 (3) lobes, 0.2-1.3 (0.8) mm long prior to anthesis, during anthesis to 0.7-2.2 (1) mm, lobes 0.1-1.2  (0.5) mm long; pedicels 0.2-1.9  (0.7) mm long prior  to anthesis, during anthesis to 0.4-3 (1.1) mm. Capsules 0.9-1.9 (1.6) mm long, 0.7-1.8 (1.3) mm wide, smooth (lacking ribs); pedicel in fruit 0.7-4.6 (1.7) mm long; seeds 2-200 (123) per capsule, 0.2-0.3 (0.23) mm long, 0.1-0.2 (0.16) mm wide.

 

Distribution. Brazil (Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo).

 

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. Brazil. ESPIRITO SANTO: Rio Doce, Schwacke 4633 (C).-MlNAS GERAIS: [river name not known], Usina, Tombos, Barreto 1940 (F); Cruzeiro, logo abaixo da cachoeira do Boqueirao, Santa Rita do Jacutinga, Bove et al. 1026 (R, in spirit); [river name not known], Pocos prope Caldas, Glaziou 3 (C); Rio Verde, Caldas, Mosen 1692 (M, S-4 sheets); [river name not known], Ribeirao dos Bugres, Mosen 1693 (S-2 sheets); Rio Cipo, Cachoeira Grande, 1.1 km S of main road, Cardeal Mota, Philbrick & Novelo 5714 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Picao, 5 km W of town on road from Morro do Pilar to Cardeal Mota, Morro do Pilar, Philbrick & Novelo 5717 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Picao, Lajeado e Picao, 3.4 km W of town of Morro do Pilar, Philbrick & Novelo 5719 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Sao Antonio, 13 km E of Morro do Pilar, Philbrick & Novelo 5721 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); [river name not known], road between Morro do Pilar and Camesia, Philbrick & Novelo 5722 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio do Piexe, 4-5 km W of town of Carmesia, Philbrick & Novelo 5723 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Doce, 10 km SW of Govenador Valadares, Philbrick & Novelo 5724 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Juacu. Cachoeira Veu de Noiva, along BR-259, 40 km W of intersection with BR-116, St. Antonio do Porto, Philbrick & Novelo 5728, 5731 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Suacui, 10 km S of town of Coroaci, 7 km N of intersection with BR-259, Coroaci, Philbrick & Novelo 5733 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Suagui-Pequeno, N side of town of Coroaci, Coroaci, Philbrick & Novelo 5737, 5738 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Corrego do Onca 5 km outside town of Coroaci, Philbrick & Novelo 5739 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Suacui Grande, S. Pedro do Suacui, Philbrick & Novelo 5743 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); [river name not known], border be­ tween Jose Raydan & S. Pedro do Suacui, Philbrick & Novelo 5746, 5747 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Fanado, W side of town, Minas Novas (30 km SE of Turmalina), Philbrick & Novelo 5749 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Tamarandira, 17 km W of Turmalina on MG-308, Turmalina, Philbrick & Novelo 5752 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Pardo Grande, 3 km N of Santo Hipolito, Philbrick & Novelo 5759 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Bicudo, 30 km N of Corinto on BR-496, Philbrick & Novelo 5760 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Paranaiba, Gamela (Mpio. Coromandel), Philbrick & Novelo 5773 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Cipo, W of Parque Nacional de Serra do Cipo, Philbrick et al. 5637, 5638, 5641, 5645 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Santana, 15 km W of city of Manhuacu, along BR-262, Abre Campo, Philbrick et al. 5654 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Matipo, along BR-262, 35 km W of Manhuacu, Philbrick et al. 5655, 5656 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Manhuacu, along BR-262 10 km W of Manhuacu. Philbrick et al. 5658 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Caratinga, along BR-116, lnhapim, Philbrick et al. 5664 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Doce, waterfall called "Cachoeira Negra," along BR-381, 10-15 km NE of lpatinga, Philbrick et al. 5669 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Corrente Grande, along road from Acucena, Virginopolis, Philbrick et al. 5671 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Par, along BR-262, road to Martinhos Campos, 10 km SW of Pompeu, Philbrick et al. 5685 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); [river name not known], W of Alpinopolis, Philbrick et al. 5688 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Capavari (Rio Pardo), Rt. BR-146, 22 km N of Pocos de Caldas, 13 km S of Botelhos, Philbrick et al. 5691-5694 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Verde, Pocinhos do Rio Verde, 5-7 km SW of Caldas, Philbrick et al. 5698 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); [river name not known], Congonhal, 10-15 km NW of Pouso Alegre, Philbrick et al. 5700 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio do Cervo, 5-10 km W of Pouso Alegre, W of Congonhal, Philbrick et al. 5701 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Sapucai Grande, 10 km N of Pouso Alegre, Sta. Rita do Sapucai, Philbrick et al. 5702 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); [river name not known], 30 km N of Pouso Alegre on BR-381, Sao Sebastiao da Boa Vista, Philbrick et al. 5704 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio Ribeirao dos Dias along BR-381, Philbrick et al. 5707 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); Rio do Cervo, SW of Lavras, 5-7 km off main road (BR- 381), N of Carmo da Cachoeira, Philbrick et al. 5706 (BHCB, ICN, MEXU, WCSU); [river name not known] Pogos prope Caldas, Regnell s.n. (C, L); [river name not known], Tombos de Carangola, Schwacke s.n. (L), Schwacke s.n. (L).-RIO DE JANEIRO: Fazenda Aleluia (estrada Itatiaia-Parque Nacional de Itatiaia), Bove et al. 836 (R, in spirit); Rio Paraiba do Sul, Santa Maria Madalena, Bove et al. 841 (R, in spirit); Estrada Itaipava Teresopolis, 12.5 km do Trevo, Bove et al. 925 (R, in spirit); Itaipava, Santo Antonio do Cuiaba, Bove et al. 926 (R, in spirit); Rio Aguas Claras, Gavioes, Silva Jardim, Bove et al. 1102 (R, in spirit); Rio da Guarda, Angra dos Reis, Serra d' Agua, Bove et al. 1093 (R, in spirit); Rio Grande, estrada Canta Galomancel de Morais (RJ-172), a 7 km do Trevo, Bove et al. 1347 (R, in spirit); Rio Macabu, Cachoeira da Amorosa, Conceicao de Macabu, Bove et al. 1352 (R, in spirit); Cachoeira de Tres Pontes, Harshberger 977 (US); Rio da Cidade, town of Rio da Cidade, Philbrick & Novelo 5000 (WCSU, MEXU); Versant meridional de la Serra de Orgus, Petropolis a San Antonio, Glaziou s.n. (L); Rio Itamaraty, Petropolis, Glaziou 12198 (C, P); Rio Piabanha, near Petropolis, Glaziou s.n. (C, F, L-2 sheets); Rio Piabanha, Petropolis, Glaziou 12194 (BR, C, G); Rio Piabanha, Weddell s.n. (L); Rio Paquequer, Armond s.n. (C); Rio Soberbo, pres du pont de la Barriers des Orgus, Glaziou s.n. (L-3 sheets); Rio Soberbo, Serra dos Orgaos, Glaziou 12192 (BR, C, F, US); Rio Bengala, Nova Friburgo, Glaziou 12197 (C); Rio Grande, Nova Friburgo, Glaziou s.n. (C-spirit jar no. 3177, L); Reserva Ecologica Rio das Pe­ dras, Mangaratiba, Moreira 92 (R).-RlO GRANDE DO SUL: Rio Burges, unknown collector s.n. (P).-SANTA CATARINA: Rio Humboldt, Ehrhart s.n. (L).-SAO PAULO: Salto de Piracicaba, Piracicaba, Accorsi s.n. (L-3 sheets, U-3 sheets); cachoeiras, Amparo, Tres Pontes, Hoehne s.n. (L, U); Serra de Canasol, Mosen 1691 (C­ spirit jar no. 3180, S-2 sheets).-State Unknown: Rio Estrellas, Riedel s.n. (L-2 sheets).

 

Podostemum weddellianum is characterized by pinnately or palmately lobed leaves, with or without a narrowed leaf base, lobed stigmas, and ribless (smooth) capsules.

 

Some workers (Warming 1899, p. 138; Royen 1954, p. 227) recognized P. weddelliana var. gracilis; however, our data indicate that plants attributed to this variety represent the narrow end of a continuum of leaf size.