Vellozia squamata Pohl

Vellozia flavicans Martius ex Schultes f

Vellozia flavicans Martius ex Schultes f. in Roemer & Schultes, Syst., 7:293, 1826.—Seubert in Martius, Fl. Bras., 3(1):78, 1847.—L. B. Smith, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb., 35:264, 1962.—Ayensu, Smithsonian Contr. Bot., 15:23, figs. 3k–l, 11a–c, pl. 31e–g, 1974.

Vellozia squamata Pohl, Pl. Bras., 1:124, pl. 99, 1827 [type: sandy and rocky summits, Serra Dourada and Engenho de São Izidro (Isidoro near Goiás?), Goiás, Brazil, March 1819, Pohl 1270 (M, holotype; F, photo 18984)].

TYPE.—Without locality, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Martius s n (M, holotype; F, photo 18974).

DISTRIBUTION.—Brazil: Bahia: Barreiras. Minas Gerais: Diamantina, Itambé(?). Goiás: Anápolis, Chapada da Contagem, Formosa, Veadeiros. Distrito Federal: Brasilia, Gama, Sobradinho. Mato Grosso: Rio Turvo, Rondonópolis.

Vellozia flavicans Martius ex Schultes f

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—Andrade 356-Emmerich 348; Heringer 8126-256; Irwin et al. 8073, 9379, 12574; Irwin et al. 11399; Gardner 4370; L. B. Smith 4670; Irwin et al. 12938; Irwin et al. 15520; Irwin and Soderstrom 5100; Pires et al. 9052.

SURFACE VIEW.—Hairs: absent. Epidermis: adaxial and abaxial cells rectangular; thin walled. Stomata: paracytic, 21 × 18 μm; present mainly on abaxial surface.

TRANSVERSE SECTION OF LAMINA.—Dorsiventral; V-shaped with small median adaxial groove. Adaxial surface undulating; abaxial surface furrowed about one-fourth to one-third thickness of blade, occasionally up to one-half (c.f. Irwin et al. 15520). Epidermis: adaxial and abaxial cells rounded to rectangular; walls uniformly thickened. Subjacent to epidermis occur three to four layers of sclerenchyma strands interspersed with three to four rows of translucent parenchyma. Below sclerenchyma strands and parenchyma cells is a distinct layer of translucent cells. Cuticle: thick on abaxial and adaxial surfaces; extends partially into furrows; ridged on abaxial surface. Stomata: present mainly in abaxial furrows, occasionally few occur on adaxial surface; almost flush with surface; small substomatal chamber present. Mesophyll: palisade cells of four to five layers; large translucent cells arranged radially above vascular bundles. Spongy tissue compactly arranged, some cells somewhat translucent. Vascular bundles: 18 to 42; few commissural bundles observed and occasional fused bundles seen (c.f. Gardner 4370). One to two large vessels in each vein, mostly one. Two phloem units lying laterally in flanges of Y-shaped abaxial girder. Adaxial cap occurs on each vascular bundle. Abaxial strands or layers present. Distinct bundle sheath completely surrounds vascular bundles. Crystals: none observed. Tannins: some present.

NOTE: All the specimens studied show that the large translucent cells occur only on vascular bundles, only and not above the furrows as well. This species is quite distinct, even at different stages of leaf development.