Aona, Lidyanne Y. S., Faden, Robert B., Bittrich, Volker and Amaral, Maria do Carmo E.
Abstract
The four new species described here occur in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Dichorisandra marantoides can be distinguished from other species of the genus by its chartaceous longitudinally ribbed leaves, flowers with five stamens and anthers opening introrsely by slits (being functionally poricidal). Dichorisandra bahiensis is similar to D. tejucensis due to the habit and leaf and flower morphology. However, the two species can be distinguished by the inflorescence, which in D. bahiensis is always positioned at the apex of the stems, perforating the sheath of the lowermost leaf of the lateral branch. Dichorisandra saxatilis resembles D. glaziovii by the morphology and color of anthers, but differs by presence of six stamens, the leaves regularly dispersed along the stem, their laminas glabrous on both sides, with the adaxial surface always green, never with white stripes. Dichorisandra leucosepala also can be distinguished from other species of the genus by white (rarely purplish at the apex), carnose sepals, six stamens with anthers opening by a single pore with purplish pollen sacs. Illustrations of the species, comparisons with similar species, discussions of diagnostic characters and conservation status of the new species are presented.
