Three new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) from Inselbergs of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Abstract

Three new species of Pleroma are described: Pleroma costatocalyx, P. kollmanniana and P. subsessilis. All three species are morphologically similar to Tibouchina heteromalla and related species, especially due to the shrubby habit, elongated inflorescences, flowers with purple petals, but white at their bases, antesepalous stamens with the connective covered with glandular trichomes, and by the short (ca. 4–5 mm long), curved style. All three species differ from T. heteromalla by the styles with trichomes (vs. glabrous in T. heteromalla). Pleroma costatocalyx also differs from T. heteromalla by the longitudinally costate hypanthium, P. kollmanniana by the strongly winged branches, bigger leaves, and shorter petioles, and P. subsessilis by the concolorous leaves and antepetalous stamens with glabrous connective and appendages. All new species grow in vegetation associated with inselbergs and are endemic to Espírito Santo state, despite the fact that one of them (P. costatocalyx) was collected very close to the border with Minas Gerais, where it probably occurs. We present descriptions, taxonomic comments, illustrations, and conservation status assignments for the new species.

Increasing the known floristic diversity of Brazilian inselbergs: two new species of Mandevilla (Apocynaceae) from Espírito Santo

“…Major collecting efforts have been made recently, but many regions are still unexplored. Recent studies of inselbergs and forest from the area have led to the description of several narrowly endemic species (Kollmann 2008;Leme et al 2008;Leme & Kollmann 2009;Versieux & Wanderley 2010;Silva et al 2014;Goldenberg & Kollmann 2015;Meyer et al 2016;Campos-Rocha et al 2018;Meyer et al 2018;Chautems et al 2019).…”

Two new species of Miconia s.lat. (Melastomataceae) from Espírito Santo, Brazil

“…The taxa described in this paper are only found in the state of Espírito Santo (Brazil), a well‐known endemism center of melastomes in eastern Brazil (Goldenberg and Reginato 2006, Bacci et al 2016a, Meyer et al 2016). The two species belong to two distinct clades within Miconia s.lat.…”

Melastomataceae na Área de Proteção Ambiental Mestre Álvaro, Serra, Espírito Santo, Brasil

“…Apesar dos poucos estudos relacionados à família, o estado apresentou um grande número de espécies novas, descritas recentemente (Fraga & Guimarães 2014;Bacci & Goldenberg 2015;Bacci et al 2016a;Iglesias et al 2016;Goldenberg & Kollmann 2016;Meyer et al 2016). Além disso, estudos taxonômicos e filogenéticos indicam possíveis diversificações ocorrentes no estado em alguns clados de Melastomataceae, como em Leandra Raddi no clado "capixabae" (Reginato & Michelangeli 2016), em Merianthera Kuhlm.…”