Salvia gomezpompae (Lamiaceae), a new species from Veracruz, Mexico

Background: During a prospecting revision of Salvia collections at IEB, MEXU and XAL herbaria for Flora of Veracruz, undetermined specimens, or misidentified either as S. nana or S. prunelloides, not referable to any known species were identified. Hypotheses: The morphological characters of these specimens match with those of Salvia subg. Calosphace sect. Farinaceae and support them as an undescribed species. Taxon: Lamiaceae, Salvia sp. nov. Study site: Central portion of the state of Veracruz. Methods: Botanical explorations were conducted in the two general areas in which the putative new species has been recorded, new specimens were collected and prepared according to standard procedures. A thorough morphological examination was applied, and the hypothesis was tested contrasting the evidence against specialized taxonomic literature and specimens of the most similar species. Results: Salvia sp. nov. is vegetatively almost identical to S. nana but lacks the diagnostic floral characters defining the group to which this species belongs, sect. Uliginosae. Floral characters rather match those of sect. Farinaceae, to which is assigned; between the species of this section, it is most similar to S. oblongifolia but clearly differs by vegetative characters (petiole length, absence of axillary leaves, leaf shape, size, pubescence and texture, as well as by having thickened veins). Conclusions: Morphological and comparative examination contrasting with the species of Salvia justifies the recognition of a new Salvia species, which is here named as Salvia gomezpompae and properly described.