[Botany • 2026] Microlicia almedae (Melastomataceae) • A New Species from the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

Microlicia almedae  R.B.Pacifico & Kriebel,

in Pacifico et Kriebel, 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.276.193021

Abstract

A new species, Microlicia almedae, is described and illustrated from the species-rich campo rupestre vegetation of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. The taxonomic novelty is morphologically related to M. giuliettiana and M. pulchra, which are also restricted to Chapada Diamantina. Microlicia almedae differs from the latter two species in leaf shape and size, hypanthium indumentum, calyx lobe shape and size, and petal size. In addition, M. almedae differs from M. giuliettiana by its uniformly magenta petals and from M. pulchra by its capsules with deciduous columellae. Variation in leaf shape among M. almedae, M. pulchra, and M. giuliettiana was quantified using elliptic Fourier analysis, which revealed near-complete separation among the three species.

Key words: Campo rupestre, Lavoisiereae, Pico da Lapa Grande, Serra do Barbado, taxonomy

Microlicia almedae.
 A. Habit; B. Flower; C. Landscape with campo rupestre vegetation at Serra do Barbado, the type locality of M. almedae.

Voucher: L. Daneu et al. 796 (JABU). 

Photos: by L. Daneu (A, B); by E.A. Ramos (C).

Microlicia almedae.
A. Habit; B. Close-up of a branch; C. Leaf adaxial surface; D. Leaf abaxial surface; E. Detail of glandular-punctate adaxial surface; F. Detail of glandular-punctate indumentum on abaxial surface; G. Flower in lateral view; H. Flowering hypanthium and calyx lobes; I. Detail of the indumentum on the hypanthium; J. Petal in adaxial view; K. Antepetalous (left) and antesepalous (right) stamens; L. Gynoecium; M. Apex of style and stigma; N. Ovary in cross-section; O. Capsule enveloped by the hypanthium and calyx lobes; P. Seed in lateral view.

Illustration by Klei Sousa based on L. Daneu et al. 796 (JABU).

  

Microlicia almedae R.B.Pacifico & Kriebel, sp. nov.

Ricardo Pacifico and Ricardo Kriebel. 2026. Microlicia almedae (Melastomataceae), A New Species from the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. PhytoKeys. 276: 183-195. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.276.193021 [12 Jun 2026]