New morphological and micromorphological evidence supports a new Amazonian species of Scleria (Cyperaceae)

Novas evidências morfológicas e micromorfológicas apoiam uma nova espécie amazônica de Scleria (Cyperaceae)

During a taxonomic review of Scleria sect. Hymenolytrum, herbarium specimens were analysed and identified as distinct from the currently accepted taxa within the section. Therefore, this study aimed to describe this new species - Scleria occulta L.Schneider & A.Gil, sp. nov., with emphasis on its morphoanatomical leaf traits. The original descriptions and nomenclatural types of the names involved were analysed together with morphological, anatomical, and micromorphological leaf data obtained from herbarium specimens, histological sections, clearing, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. The new species is known from only four specimens collected in Brazil and Venezuela, occurring in shaded environments within Ombrophilous forests. This study highlights the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches and access to virtual botanical collections for updating existing records and facilitating the description of new taxa. We identified new characters not previously highlighted as diagnostic for this group, including features of the staminate spikelets. Here, we provide illustrations and an identification key distinguishing the new species from morphologically similar taxa.

Keywords:
Amazon forest; herbarium collections; monocots; Poales; razor grasses; taxonomy