Notes on the systematics of Cuscuta sect. Subulatae (subg. Grammica) with the description of Cuscuta mantiqueirana, a new species from Brazil

Abstract

Cuscuta mantiqueirana Costea, S.S. Silva & Sim.-Bianch. a new species from montane cloud forests of the Serra da Mantiqueira, Brazil, is described and illustrated. The morphological and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the new species belongs to sect. Subulatae of subg. Grammica. The new species is related to C. odorata var. botryoides, C. rotundiflora and C. globiflora from which it differs in narrower calyx lobes and the presence of four stomatiferous lobes or projections at the distal part of the ovary. A detailed morphological comparison with C. odorata var. botryoides, morphologically the most similar taxon, is provided along with the geographical distribution, ecology and host range of the species. The morphological and phylogenetic relationships of the new species, as well as the diversity of stomatiferous projections, are discussed in the broader context of sect. Subulatae and subg. Grammica. Cuscuta boliviana var. paranensis is considered a synonym of C. odorata var. botryoides.

Taxonomic revision of Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae) in Chile

“…SPs on the flowers are diverse morphologically and have systematic significance in several sections of the subgenera Grammica and Cuscuta (Clayson et al 2014). SPs evolved in species that grow areas with a marked dry season, for example, in Mexico and southern U.S.A. (Costea et al 2011a(Costea et al , 2011b(Costea et al , 2013 and Brazil (Costea et al 2021). The water loss through the SPs stimulates the hosts to absorb more water by increasing the negative pressure/tension in the xylem of the host, via the haustorial connection (Clayson et al 2014).…”

“…Among these, var. botryoides does not grow in Chile and has recently been shown to be related to another group of species in section Subulatae(Costea et al 2021). Despite the several varieties described, very few herbarium specimens are available from Chile.…”