Phytotaxa 383 (2): 225–232 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)

http://www.mapress.com/j/pt/
Article PHYTOTAXA
Copyright © 2018 Magnolia Press ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)

https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.383.2.9

Erythroxylum pyan (Erythroxylaceae), a new species from the Brazilian semiarid

region
JAMES LUCAS DA COSTA-LIMA & EARL CELESTINO DE OLIVEIRA CHAGAS
Herbário HUEFS, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Novo Horizonte, 44036-900, Feira de Santana,
Bahia, Brazil; e-mail: jimcostalima@yahoo.com.br; earlchagas@gmail.com

Abstract

Based on fieldwork and an extensive analysis of herbarium and type collections, a new species which grows in sedimentary
soil in the Brazilian semiarid region, Erythroxylum pyan (Erythroxylaceae), is described here. The new species occurs in
areas of hyperxerophilic caatinga in the states of Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Bahia.
Erythroxylym pyan resemble E. nummularium, but can be distinguished by having slender branches, foliar stipules non-
striated longitudinally, 2-setulose at apex, leaf blades membranous to slightly chartaceous, emarginate to retuse at apex,
inflorescences with 1 flower per node, long, slender and erect pedicels, and calyx lobes cuspidate at apex. Additionally, a
distribution map and data about its phenology, conservation status, and uses are provide.

Key words: Caatinga, Malpighiales, morphology, seasonally dry tropical forest, taxonomy

Introduction

Erythroxylaceae Kunth (1821: 175) comprises four genera worldwide and is represented only by Erythroxylum Browne
(1756: 278) in the Neotropics, where there are almost 200 species (Plowman & Hensold 2004). According to BFG
(2015), the 127 species of Erythroxylum in Brazil, of which 83 are endemic, are concentrated in moist forests in the
eastern and northern parts of the country. However, when considering the number of plants in arid and semiarid regions
of the world only, the family is more diverse in the Caatinga domain in the Northeast Region of Brazil, where there are
26 species, including seven restricted to environments with xeromorphic features and sandy sedimentary soils (BFG
2015).
The Caatinga domain occupies approximately 844,453 km2 and occurs in the states of Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande
do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, and some parts of Maranhão and the northern Minas Gerais
(IBGE 2004). This domain is exclusive to Brazil, includes different vegetation physiognomies (Sampaio 1995), such
as those that occupy sedimentary environments, and is notable for its sparse trees and densely branched shrubs with
xerophytic features, as the new endemic Erythroxylum species described here.

New species

Erythroxylum pyan Costa-Lima, sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2)

Erythroxylym pyan is similar to E. nummularium Peyritsch (1878: 133), but differs by the slender branches (vs. thick
in E. nummularium), foliar stipules brownish chestnut (vs. greyish), 0.6–1.6 mm long (vs. 1.5–3.5 mm), non-striated
(vs. slightly longitudinally striated, especially on the inner surface), 2-setulose at apex (vs. 3-setulose), leaf blades
membranous to slightly chartaceous (vs. chartaceous), obovate, elliptical or obcordate (vs. elliptical, broadly elliptical,
oblong or rarely obovate), emarginate to retuse (vs. acute to slightly retuse) at apex, inflorescences with 1 flower per
node (vs. congested with up to 8 flowers per node), pedicels 2–7.8 mm long (vs. 1–2 mm), slender and erect (vs. thick
and curved), and calyx lobes ovate to lanceolate (vs. triangular), acuminate to cuspidate (vs. acute to apiculate) at
apex.
Accepted by Carlos Lehnebach: 4 Dec. 2018; published: 14 Dec. 2018 225
FIGURE 1. Erythroxylum pyan Costa-Lima. A. Branch, with lenticels. B. Young stipule showing frimbriolate colleters, abaxial view. C.
Leaf blade, showing the veins on adaxial view. D. Longistylous flower, with petals removed. E. Dried fruit. Drawing by Felipe Martins.

Type:—BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Norte: Mun. Macau, Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Estadual Ponta
do Tubarão, área de caatinga às margens da rodovia RN-221, 5º07’58.6”S, 36º27’02.3”W, 20 m, 27 February 2017 (fl),
J.L. Costa-Lima 2730 (holotype UFRN!, isotypes EAC!, F!, HUEFS!, MAC!, RB!, W!).
Shrubs, 0.8–3 m tall. Branchlets reddish brown when young, slender, densely lenticellate, lenticels white to
yellowish ferruginous. Cataphylls persistent, distributed along the branches or frequently dense and forming short
branchlets (brachyblasts), blackish when mature, similar in shape and size to foliar stipules. Foliar stipules 0.6–
1.6 mm long, triangular to broadly triangular, membranous, non-striated, 2-setose at apex, setae 0.2–2.0 mm long,
young stipules conspicuous, short-filamentous or more frequently densely fimbriolate on keels and setae, ciliate at
margin, ferruginous, olden stipules with colleters inconspicuous. Petioles 0.34–1.2 × 0.5–0.8 mm, subterete, adaxially
canaliculate. Leaf blades 1.0–5.2 × 0.9–2.5 cm, membranous to slightly chartaceous, obovate, elliptical, or obcordate,
base attenuate to rarely obtuse or acute, apex emarginate to retuse; adaxially dark green, slightly bright, abaxially light
green; midrib impressed on the adaxial surface and prominent on the abaxial surface, secondary veins 8–10, alternately
arranged, impressed on both surfaces, diverging ca. 45º from the midrib, tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescences
pedunculate, peduncles 0.1–0.4 mm long. Flowers 1 per inflorescence; pedicels 2.0–7.8 mm long; bracteoles 3 per
flower, 0.2–0.8 mm long, spirally arranged, ovate, cymbiform, membranous, non-striated, apex 1-setose, seta 0.1–0.5
mm long, young bracteoles with colleters conspicuous, densely fimbriolate on keels and seta, ferruginous; calyx with
valvate aestivation, lobes 0.8–2.2 × 0.5–0.8 mm, ovate to lanceolate, slightly nerved, apex acuminate to cuspidate,
colleters papillose, sparse on outer surface and dense on inner surface; petals 2.0–2.6 × 1.0–1.3 mm, ovate, concave,
apex rounded, the appendage ligulate, 4-lobed, anterior auricles 2, 0.2–0.4 mm long, crenate, posterior auricles 2,

226 • Phytotaxa 383 (2) © 2018 Magnolia Press COSTA-LIMA & CHAGAS
0.3–0.5 mm long, crenate, appendage between the auricles 0.2–0.4 mm long; staminal cup 0.75–1.0 mm long, 10-
crenulate at margin; anthers 0.3–0.6 × 0.3–0.4 mm, oblong; ovaries 0.9–1.5 × 0.75–1.0 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid, apex
rounded to constricted. Brevistylous flowers: filaments 2.2–3.0 mm long; styles 1.0–1.6 mm long, free, stigmas ca.
0.1 mm long, petalode. Longistylous flowers: antesepalous filaments 0.4–0.7 mm long, antepetalous filaments 0.8–1.6
mm long; styles 0.9–1.6 mm long, free, stigmas ca. 0.1 mm long, petalode. Drupes reddish when ripe, pyrenes 0.6–1.2
× 0.33–0.5 cm, symmetrically ellipsoid, slightly curved, longitudinally sulcate in cross section, with 1 fertile locule.

FIGURE 2. Erythroxylum pyan Costa-Lima. A. Habit. B. Flowering branch. C. Brevistylous flower. D. Old flowers (without petals). E.
Fruiting branch. Photo credit: L.J. Leitão (A, C, D), J.L. Costa-Lima (B), C. Guedes (E).

Etymology:—The specific epithet comes from “pyan” (py’a), which in the Tupi language means liver, but can
also be understood as “heart”, since the Tupi Indians considered the liver as the seat of emotions and feelings. The
epithet refers to the love and gratitude the first author has for his mother, Lenira Gomes da Costa, who is the most
important person to him and has always been enthusiastic about his botanical studies. In addition, the leaf blades of the
new species described herein are often obcordate (heart shaped).
Distribution and habitat:—Erythroxylum pyan occurs in areas of hyperxerophilic caatinga in northeastern
Brazil, and has been recorded in the states of Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Bahia

a new species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae) Phytotaxa 383 (2) © 2018 Magnolia Press • 227
(Fig. 3). It might also occur in Minas Gerais, the first author has collected the species near the border in Bahia, as
well as in Alagoas and Sergipe, which are also potential areas of occurrence for this species. To date this new species
has been found in vegetation on sandy sedimentary soils and appears to be restricted to these areas only. Besides E.
pyan, nine other species of Erythroxylum from northeastern Brazil, which are mostly endemic to caatinga vegetation
seem to prefer sandy soils: Erythroxylum angelicae Loiola (2013: 61), E. betulaceum Martius (1840: 339), E. bezerrae
Plowman (1986: 196), E. laetevirens Schulz (1907: 42), E. loefgrenii Diogo (1923: 30), E. longisetulosum Loiola &
Sales (2008: 655), E. maracasense Plowman (1987: 8), E. rosuliferum Schulz (1907: 77), and E. tianguanum Plowman
(1986: 198).

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Erythroxylum pyan Costa-Lima (circles) in the Brazilian semiarid region (highlighted in orange).

228 • Phytotaxa 383 (2) © 2018 Magnolia Press COSTA-LIMA & CHAGAS
 Phenology:—Just like the other species of Erythroxylum in the Brazilian semiarid region, the main phenological
phases of E. pyan are related to the ephemeral rainfall regime. This species begins to emit flowers soon after the first
rains, when it produces new leaves, which is mainly from November to February, and is found with fruits and mature
leaves mainly from December to April. Occasionally, the fruiting period extends to July when there are sparse rains in
most of the region.
Conservation status:—Due to its widespread distribution throughout most of northeastern Brazil, E. pyan is not
threatened and falls under the “Least Concern” (LC) category according to IUCN (2017) criteria. Although it is widely
distributed, the species occurs in areas that have suffered from severe deforestation due to extensive cattle farming,
removal of trees for firewood, extraction of sand and kaolin for civil construction, and the creation of wind farms.
Unfortunately, even though there are many E. pyan specimens in herbaria, the species has been collected in unprotected
areas mostly. However, some important protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the Brazilian semiarid region
where the species occurs are the following: Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara and Serra das Confusões (Piauí),
Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba and Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Serra das Almas (Ceará), Reserva de
Desenvolvimento Sustentável Estadual Ponta do Tubarão (Rio Grande do Norte), and Parque Nacional do Catimbau
(Pernambuco).
Vernacular names and uses:—The following vernacular names (all in Portuguese) were obtained from the labels
of the paratypes: “birro” (Araújo 46, 221, 350), “brinquim” (Alcoforado & Teixeira s.n., TEPB 3887), “carrasco”
(Freire & Lopes s.n., TEPB 3861), “catuaba” (Emperaire 2708), “faxina” (Freire & Lopes s.n., TEPB 3861; Lopes &
Freire s.n., TEPB 5067), “pimenta de veado” (Emperaire 2378), “pimentinha-brava” (Lima-Verde et al. 854), “pirunga”
(Lopes & Freire s.n., TEPB 5067), “rompe-gibão” (Gardner 1493 and Lemos 56), and “tapa-quintal” (Freire s.n.,
TEPB 5066).
In general, Brazilian Erythroxylum species are poorly used by local communities, which is why there are few or no
vernacular names for most of the species. However, in the Brazilian semiarid region the most common species, such as
Erythroxylum caatingae Plowman (1987: 5), E. nordestinum Costa-Lima et al. (2014a: 62), E. pungens Schulz (1907:
49), E. revolutum Martius (1840: 351), and E. pyan (described here), are used for firewood, especially during the
driest periods of the year. The branches of the new species are also used to build fences, the young branches are used
as brooms, and the leaves are used to produce a drink called catuaba. In addition, the voucher Alcoforado & Teixeira
s.n. (TEPB 3887) cites the use of E. pyan as a forage plant, although Freire s.n. (TEPB 5066) and Lopes & Freire s.n.
(TEPB 5067) note that the fruits of the plant are toxic to cattle.
Paratypes:—BRAZIL. Sine loco accuratio, November 1879 (fl), Glaziou 10385 (K!, P barcode P05482989!).
Bahia: Sine loco accuratio, área de dunas fósseis, 22 November 1978 (fl), Miranda 307 (F – 2 sheets!, IPA!); Mun.
Barra, Brejo Olhos D’Água, trilha ao lado da Serra, 10°40’49’’S, 43°21’59’’W, 6 November 2009 (fl), A.P. Prata et al.
2160 (ASE!); [Mun. Caetité], Brejinho das Ametistas, 14°16’00’’S, 42°31’34’’W, 840 m, 10 January 2006 (fr), A.K.A.
Santos et al. 590 (HUEFS!); [Mun. Gentio do Ouro], estrada p/ Sto Inacio, Folha SC-23-ZD, Ponto A4, 11º02’S,
42º43’W, 29 November 1977 (fr), Miranda 28 (HRB!, RB!); Mun. Licínio de Almeida, 2 Km antes da entrada da
cidade, 14°32’04’’S, 42°31’51’’W, 10 January 2006 (fr), T.S. Nunes et al. 1634 (HUEFS!, UFRN!); ibidem, Lagoa da
Vereda, 14°34’11’’S, 42°27’59’’W, 738 m, 11 December 2009 (fr), F.S. Gomes et al. 387 (ALCB!, HUEFS!); ibidem,
ca. de 2 Km após o Povoado Riacho Fundo, estrada de terra para Licínio de Almeida, 14°34’17’’S, 42°31’27’’W, 780
m, 11 December 2009 (fl), E. Melo et al. 7487 (ALCB!, HUEFS!); ibidem, área a ca. de 1,5 Km a N da entrada da
Fazenda Serrana, após o cruzamento da BA-026 com a linha férrea, próximo a divisa com o Mun. de Urandi/BA, ca.
de 15 Km a SW da sede municipal pela rodovia BA-026, 14°44’7’’S, 42°34’13’’W, 1045 m, 29 December 2014 (fr),
J.L. Costa-Lima 2006 (EAC!, HUEFS!, MAC!, UFRN!, W!); ibidem, caminho para o Garimpo da Serra do Salto, ca.
de 18 Km a N da sede municipal pela rodovia BA-156, 14°32’2’’S, 42°32’3’’W, 770–815 m, 30 December 2014 (fr),
J.L. Costa-Lima 2015 (EAC!, HUEFS!, MAC!, UFRN!); ibidem, Garimpo das Ametistas, 14°31’54’’S, 42°32’8’’W,
825 m, 30 October 2016 (fl), J.L. Costa-Lima et al. 2633 (EAC!, HUEFS!, MAC!, UFRN!, W!); ibidem, Fazenda
Serrana, 14°43’39’’S, 42°34’10’’W, 1150 m, 31 October 2016 (fl), J.L. Costa-Lima et al. 2645 (EAC!, F!, HUEFS!,
MAC!, UFRN!, W!); Mun. Morpará, 11°35’50’’S, 43°17’04’’W, 16 December 2007 (fl), A.A. Conceição et al. 2660
(HUEFS!); Mun. Oliveira dos Brejinhos, Serra da Água Quente a 7 Km da cidade, 12°19’46’’S, 42°54’24’’W, 683 m,
15 November 2012 (bud), E.L.M. Assis et al. 1091 (CEPEC!, HUEFS!, RB!, UFP!); Mun. Pilão Arcado, caminho para
Brejo do Zacarias (Brejinho), 10°04’30’’S, 42°50’13’’W, 9 December 2005 (fr), A.A. Conceição et al. 1559 (HUEFS!);
ibidem, 19 June 2007 (st), R.M. Santos et al. 1335 (HUEFS!). Ceará: in dry hilly places near Crato, October 1838 (fl),
Gardner 1493 (F!, GH barcode GH00043889! pro parte, fragment on the left side of sheet, K! = IPA negative nº 358!,
NY barcodes NY00393350!, NY00997398!, P barcodes P05482990!, P05482991!); Mun. Aiuaba, Serra da Lindesa
[sic], 12 February 1982 (fr), Angélica [Figueiredo] s.n. (EAC 11108!); ibidem, Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba, placa do
IBAMA, 5 February 1997 (fr), L.W. Lima-Verde & E.O. Barros 411 (EAC!, HUEFS!); ibidem, Flamengo, 10 December

a new species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae) Phytotaxa 383 (2) © 2018 Magnolia Press • 229
1997 (fl), L.W. Lima-Verde et al. 854 (EAC!, HUEFS!); Mun. Brejo Santo, VPR Vassouras, 07°32’21.33’’S,
38°53’38.53’’W, 449 m, 3 February 2015 (fl), L.B. Pimentel & A.P. Fontana 281 (HUEFS!); Mun. Cascavel, 18
January 1975 (fl), A. Fernandes s.n. (EAC 2537!, F 1910075!); Mun. Cratéus, Serra das Almas, 7 April 2001 (fr),
M.M.A. Bruno & M.S. Sobrinho 140 (EAC!); ibidem, RPPN Serra das Almas, 05°08’45.1’’S, 40°55’39.7’’W, 650–700
m, 25 February 2002 (fr), F.S. Araújo & L.C. Girão 1297 (EAC!, HUEFS – 2 sheets!); ibidem, 26 February 2002 (fr),
F.S. Araújo & L.C. Girão 1326 (EAC!, HUEFS – 2 sheets!); ibidem, 26 February 2002 (fl), F.S. Araújo & L.C. Girão
1327 (EAC!, HUEFS – 2 sheets!); ibidem, 26 March 2002 (fr), F.S. Araújo & L.C. Girão 1396 (EAC!, HUEFS – 2
sheets!); ibidem, 10 February 2004 (fl), F.S. Araújo & L.C. Girão 1618 (HUEFS!); ibidem, 10 February 2004 (fl), F.S.
Araújo & L.C. Girão 1619 (HUEFS!); ibidem, s.d. (fl), F.S. Araújo & L.C. Girão 1621 (HUEFS!); ibidem, 26 May
2005 (st), J.R. Lima 87 (EAC!, UFRN!); ibidem, 5 February 2014 (fl), D. Teixeira 01 (EAC!); [Mun. Ipueiras,
Maçarico], 29 March 2013 (fr), A.S.F. Castro 2708 (EAC!); Mun. Mauriti, Santo Antônio, 07°15’32’’S, 38°41’12’’W,
654 m, 27 April 2009 (fr), M. Oliveira et al. 3999 (HVASF!); Mun. Novo Oriente, Planalto da Ibiapaba, Baixa Fria, 3
February 1990 (fr), F.S. Araújo 11 (EAC!); ibidem, 3 February 1990 (fr), F.S. Araújo s.n. (EAC 16093!); ibidem, 8
November 1990 (fl), F.S. Araújo 46 (RB!); ibidem, 8 November 1990 (fl), F.S. Araújo 213 (EAC!); ibidem, 8 November
1990 (fl), F.S. Araújo 221 (EAC!); ibidem, 10 March 1991 (fl), F.S. Araújo 350 (EAC!); Mun. Pacujá, 17 May 2007
(fr), J.R. Lemos 03 (HUEFS!, HUVA!); ibidem, 20 December 2007 (bud), I.M. Andrade 3110 (HUEFS!, HUVA!,
UFRN!); Mun. Poranga, 04°51’36’’S, 41°13’14’’W, 30 January 2014 (fr), W. Batista 202 (EAC!); Mun. Reriutaba,
estrada para Guaraciaba do Norte, 7 March 1981 (fl), A. Fernandes & E. Nunes s.n. (EAC 9891!, F 1910518!); Mun.
Tianguá, estrada em direção a Tamboril/CE, 03°45’32’’S, 41°01’30’’W, 807 m, 25 April 2013 (fl), C. Correia et al. 892
(HUEFS!); Mun. Viçosa do Ceará, Cocalzinho, 19 February 1977 (fr), A. Fernandes & Matos s.n. (EAC 3098!, F
1910076!); ibidem, 03°36’00’’S, 41°13’12’’W, 20 January 2014 (fl), A.E.S. Ferreira 154 (EAC!). Paraíba: Mun.
Picuí, Serra de Picuí, estrada entre Nova Floresta e Picuí, ca. de 10 Km de Picuí, 06°30’38’’S, 36°20’49’’W, 8–11
March 2002 (fr), M.F. Agra et al. 5665 (HUEFS – 2 sheets!, JPB!). Pernambuco: [Mun. Afrânio], Petrolina, Afrânio,
Serra de Dois Irmãos, 700 m, 5 January 1961 (fl), Andrade-Lima 3604 (F!, IPA!); Mun. Buíque, Parque Nacional do
Catimbau, Serra de Jerusalém, 08°35’23’’S, 37°14’08’’W, 930 m, 3 July 2013 (fr), J.L. Costa-Lima et al. 960 (HUEFS!,
RB!, UFP!, UFRN!). Piauí: Sine loco accuratio, near Canavieira, March 1839 (fr), Gardner 2063 (K! = IPA negative
nº 364!); Sine loco accuratio, entre Oeiras e Gaturiano, 19 December 1978 (fl), A. Fernandes et al. s.n. (EAC 5182!);
Sine loco accuratio, Baixa, Fazenda Baixa Mariano Isidoro, 13 March 1988 (fr), F.M.T. Freire s.n. (TEPB 5066!);
Mun. Bocaina, Morro do Curral Velho, 9 February 2002 (fr), J.M. Costa et al. 417 (EAC!); Mun. Buriti dos Montes,
Bebedouro, 5°3’47.8’’S, 41°3’57.6’’W, 241 m, 23 January 2014 (fr), E.M.F. Chaves 952 (EAC!); Mun. Canto do
Buriti, entre Canto do Buriti e Itaueiras, 19 November 1979 (fl), E. Nunes & P. Martins s.n. (EAC 7486!, F 1910514!);
Mun. Caracol, Toca do Enoc, 09°09’21’’S, 43°23’21’’W, 680 m, 23 January 2010 (fr), E. Melo et al. 8858 (EAC!,
HUEFS!); ibidem, estrada a esquerda, ca. 1 Km da guarita do Parque, trilha das andorinhas, 09°12’47’’S, 43°27’58’’W,
712 m, 7 January 2015 (fr), E. Melo et al. 12978 (HUEFS!); Mun. Curimatá, estrada Curimatá – Parnaguá, a cerca de
10 Km de Curimatá, entrando em estrada vicinal a direita, 10°03’10’’S, 44°22’44’’W, 365 m, 27 January 2014 (fr),
B.M.T. Walter et al. 6656 (CEN!, HUTO, RB!, UB!, UFP!); Mun. Guaribas, Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões,
Canto Verde, nos arredores do acampamento, 08°54’01.9’’S, 43°27’23.6’’W, 548 m, 7 December 2011 (fr), J.A.
Siqueira-Filho et al. 2585 (EAC!, HVASF!); Mun. Jaicós, Caldeirão, 26 February 1985 (fl), F.F.G. Alcoforado & G.A.
Teixeira s.n. (TEPB 3887!); Mun. Oeiras, alto do Morro do Cruzeiro, 07°01’03’’S, 42°08’36’’W, 221 m, 23 January
2012 (fr), R.M. Harley et al. 56388 (HUEFS!); Mun. Pimenteiras, s.d. (fr), F.A.R. Soares 206 (UFRN!); Mun. São
Raimundo Nonato, 20 September 1979 (st), L. Emperaire s.n. (TEPB 833!, TEPB 903!); ibidem, Lagoa do Neco,
February 1984 (fr), L. Emperaire 2378 (F!); ibidem, Boqueirão do Caldeirão do Rodrigues, 7 January 1985 (fr), L.
Emperaire 2708 (F!, P – 2 sheets!, TEPB!); ibidem, Várzea Grande, 6 February 1985 (fl), L. Emperaire 2401 (P!,
TEPB!); ibidem, PARNA Serra da Capivara, Zabelê, 08°44’01’’S, 42°44’01’’W, 630 m, 25 November 1998 (fl), J.R.
Lemos 56 (HST!, IPA!, UFP!); Mun. Valença [= Valença do Piauí], Corrente, 9 January 1985 (fr), F.M.T. Freire & A.
S. Lopes s.n. (TEPB 3861!); ibidem, Boa Vista, 13 March 1986 (st), A.S. Lopes & F.M.T. Freire s.n. (TEPB 5067!);
ibidem, BR 316, sentido Inhuma, 06°28’10’’S, 41°44’41’’W, 448 m, 7 February 2007 (fr), D. Cardoso 1758 (HUEFS!).
Rio Grande do Norte: Mun. Açu, margem da BR-304, 05°34’45’’S, 37°01’44’’W, 84–95 m, 20 April 2015 (fr), L.J.T.
Cardoso et al. 1048 (RB!); Mun. Carnaubais, 05°13’12’’S, 36°54’00’’W, 10 April 2014 (fr), R. Dantas 34 (UFRN!);
Mun. Macau, Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Estadual Ponta do Tubarão, 05°08’10’’S, 36°28’14’’W, 22
February 2009 (fl), J.L. Costa-Lima 108 (HUEFS!, UFRN!); ibidem, 05°08’24’’S, 36°30’04’’W, 24 February 2009
(fr), J.L. Costa-Lima 119 (HUEFS!, UFRN!); Mun. Mossoró, estrada para as Salinas de Areia Branca, 26 January 1974
(fl), P. Carauta 1700 (F!, RB!); ibidem, Distrito de Alagoinha, Fazenda Experimental Rafael Fernandes, 26 March
2008 (fr), R.C. Oliveira et al. 2096 (ASE!, HUEFS!, MOSS!).

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 Discussion:—The first author suspected that this was a new species since the first time he collected it in Rio
Grande do Norte in 2009 (Costa-Lima 108, 119). However, at that time there was not enough material to support this
claim and the collections were included in the Flora of Rio Grande do Norte (Costa-Lima et al. 2014b) under the name
Erythroxylum nummularium (as “nummularia”), which is the most morphologically similar species. Over the years,
this fact led the first author to mistakenly identify many of the paratypes of the new species under E. nummularium.
After studying the type material of E. nummularium, detailed analysis of more herbarium material from northeastern
Brazil, and fieldwork, it was possible to confirm that there were two different species. These species are mainly
differentiated by the morphology of the branches, foliar stipules, leaf blades, pedicels and calyx lobes, as presented in
the diagnosis above-cited.
Both species also differ ecologically, since Erythroxylum nummularium and E. pyan are not sympatric. Erythroxylum
nummularium is usually found on rocky outcrops and in or around seasonal forest. It is almost always associated to the
Atlantic Forest domain and is recorded for the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas,
Sergipe, Bahia, and Minas Gerais (BFG 2015). Erythroxylum pyan occurs in areas of hyperxerophilic caatinga
vegetation on sandy soils in the Caatinga domain.
For many years, collections of this species have been placed under other names. Peyritsch (1878), in Flora
brasiliensis, included Gardner 1493 under the name Erythroxylum subrotundum Saint-Hilaire (1829: 69), possibly
due to the non-striated (longitudinally) foliar stipules that are 2-setose at the apex and have fimbriolate, generally
ferruginous colleters. Schulz (1907) identified the same material (Gardner 1493) as E. nummularium. In the 1980’s,
T.C. Plowman also identified some material as E. nummularium that is included here as paratypes, although in 1983 he
wrote “Erythroxylum sp. nov.?” on some exsiccatae from the states of Ceará and Piauí (i.e., Fernandes & Matos s.n.,
EAC 3098; Fernandes et al. s.n., EAC 5182; and Nunes & Martins s.n., EAC 7486).
The specimens of Glaziou 10385 hosted at K and P [on 2 sheets] erroneously indicate that this collection was
made in Rio de Janeiro, in southeastern Brazil. Erythroxylum pyan does not occur in Rio de Janeiro and, as Costa-
Lima et al. (2015) cite for the types of E. barbatum Schulz (1907: 21) and E. rimosum Schulz (1907: 53), A.F.M.
Glaziou may have incorporated these specimens into his collection under his numbers, but they are actually from
Ceará. The similarity of Glaziou’s material and Gardner 1493 is remarkable. Gardner 1493 is from the Crato region,
Ceará, which is the type locality of the syntypes of E. barbatum and E. rimosum. In addition, one of the two Glaziou
samples deposited at P [P barcode P05483398] does not correspond to E. pyan, but to E. cuneifolium (Martius 1840:
343) Schulz (1907: 121), a species that occurs predominantly in southern South America (the South and Southeast
regions and the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil, and Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina) (Costa-Lima
& Amorim 2017), which is another indication that Glaziou may not have collected this material.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the curators of the ALCB, F, HST, MOSS, TEPB, and UFP herbaria for loaning the material; to the
team of HUEFS herbarium, especially Dr. Teonildes Nunes, for the constant aid; to Cássia Bitencourt for the help in
preparing the distribution map; to Carla Guedes and Leonardo Jales Leitão for sending field photos of the new species;
and to Felipe Martins for illustration.

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