Encholirium subsecundum (Baker) Mez
Literature references:
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Comments:
- According to Mez the genus was spelled Encholirion in DC Monogr Phaner. IX 540. 1896 —See Mez 1935 p. 347
- Encholirium subsecundum was described by Baker (1889) in the genus Dyckia. Mez (1894) reestablished the genus status for Encholirium and described E. glazioui, making reference to Dyckia subsecunda. In 1896, the same author, transferred D. subsecunda to Encholirium and differentiated this species from E. glazioui by the margin of the floral bracts and the size of the flowers. Forzza & Wanderley (1998), considered the characteristics used by Mez (1896) insufficient to differentiate these taxa and put E. glazioui into synonymy of E. subsecundum.
This species stands out because the floral bracts, in general, enclose the flowers, the inflorescence is subcongested, the individuals' greater size, and the triangular-lanceolate sepals (Fig. 37 - D; 40 - A, D & F). E. subsecundum, together with E. vogelii, are taxa that are more robust in habit and reach a greater height among the species of Encholirium that occur in the rupestral fields of the Cadeia do Espinhaco of Minas Gerais.
Collections of E. subsecundum, that just present young leaves, inflorescences a little more reduced and lax, can be confused with E. magalhaesii. For more details, see comment on this latest.
Encholirium subsecundum has a restricted occurrence in the mining part of the Cadeia do Espinhaco. However, different from the other taxa of the genus, and restricted to one or two mountains, this species is well distributed, its southern limit occurs in the municipal district of Pedro Leopoldo, extending up to Itacambira and Juramento in the north (Fig. 27). This distribution is relatively wide and we can compare them with other species of Encholirium of the rupestral fields (MG), where they form dense populations but, in general, they are concentrated in small areas. E. subsecundum in common with isolated plants it is distributed at many points along the mountains, preferring rocky outcrops (Fig. 37 - C). —See Forzza 2001
