18.1. Cuphea pulchra Moric. var. pulchra . Figs. 14H–N, 24.

Subshrubs to shrubs 40–200 cm tall; stem with pubescent indumentum, mixed with glandular trichomes, sometimes one-armed appressed trichomes present or glandular trichomes absent. Floral tubes (15–) 17–24 mm long; spur obtuse, saccate to galeate, deflexed; petals 0; pistil 16–23 mm long; ovary sparsely pilose to glabrous; style pilose; ovules 4–8. Seeds broad-obovate to suborbicular, apex truncate to slightly retuse, base acute.

Phenology: —Collected with flowers and fruits all year round.

Distribution and habitat: — Brazil, in the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, and Sergipe (Fig. 24); cerrado sensu stricto, “campos rupestres” in sandy soil, rocky riverbanks, gallery forest edges, and in open “caatinga”; 200–1600 m elev.

Conservation status: — Cuphea pulchra var. pulchra was categorized as Least Concern (LC) due to its wide geographic distribution.

Representative specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Bahia: Abaíra, subida Pico do Barbado, Catolés de Cima, 13º17’31”S, 41º53’31”W, 12 August 2016, Facco et al. 495 (CEN!, UB!); Castro Alves, topo da Serra da Jibóia, prox. a torre da Telebahia, 7 km SE de Pedra Branca, 12º51’11”S, 39º28’19”W, 27 May 1987, Queiroz et al. 1586 (CEN!, HUEFS!); Jacobina, BR-130, saída Jacobina para Capim Grosso (morro de frente para Vale do Brito), 11º11’26”S, 40º29’53”W, 08 August 2016, Facco et al. 487 (CEN!, UB!); Jeremoabo, APA Serra Branca, Faz. Nova Esperança, 15 January 2006, Sessegolo et al. 57 (ALCB!); Morro do Chapéu, subida para o Morro das Antenas, margem direita da estrada, 11º35’06”S, 41º12’22”W, 07 August 2016, Facco et al. 484 (CEN!, UB!); Piat ã, estrada para Catolés, lado esquerdo da estrada, 08 January 1999, Cavalcanti et al. 2450 (CEN!, HUEFS!); Rio de Contas, trilha de acesso ao Pico do Itobira, 13º22’56”S, 41º53’28”W, 14 August 2016, Facco et al. 499 (CEN!, UB!); Santa Teresinha, 14.5 Km na rod. Elísio Medrado/Santa Teresinha, torre da Embratel, ca. de 7 Km no Distrito de Pedra Branca, Serra do Jiboia, 12º51’13”S, 39º28’33”W, 24 February 2000, Jardim et al. 2805 (ALCB!, CEN!, CEPEC!, HRB!, HUEFS!, NY image!); Sento Sé, 22 km North-West of Lagoinha (which is 5.5 km S. W. of Delfino) on side road to Minas do Mimoso, 10º20’00”S, 41º20’00”W, 06 March 1974, Harley et al. 16856 (UEC!, RB!, NY image!, P image!, US image!); “Tamandua”, Blanchet 3826 (BR image!, F image!, P image!); “Brasilia pr. Bahia”, Martius s.n. (L [2478605] image!). Minas Gerais: Jequitinhonha, Serra Sapucaia, November 1958, Magalhães 17719 (IAN!); Jequitinhonha, Serra de Areia, ca. 47 km ao sul de Pedra Azul, na estrada para Jequitinhonha, 16º22’00”S, 41º03’00”W, 20 October 1988, Harley et al. 25248 (HUEFS!, K image!, NY image!); Pedra Azul, ca. 37 km a partir da entrada na estrada para Jequitinhonha, localizada ca. 10 km após Pedra Azul em direç ã o à Almenara, 16º20’01”S, 41º05’31”W, 21 September 2004, Miranda & Conceição 682 (CEN!, HUEFS!). Pernambuco: Ouricuri, 5 km ao oeste de Ouricuri, margem da BR-316, 24 March 1987, Lima 371 (ALCB!, HUEFS!). Sergipe: Areia Branca, Serra de Itabaiana, próx. Poços das Moças, ao longo do Riacho dos Negros, 24 August 2004, Almeida 5 (ASE!, CEN!, HUEFS!); Parque Nacional da Serra de Itabaiana, 03 November 2008, Dantas & Nascimento-Júnior 80 (ASE!); Parque Nacional da Serra de Itabaiana, margem do Poço das Moças, 01 December 2010, Santos et al. 436 (ASE!); Campo do Brito, próximo ao riacho, no sopé da Serra da Miaba, 01 Sep 1981, G. Viana 27 (ASE!). Specific locality unknown: “In catingas”, 1817, Wied s.n. (BR [0000006587444] image!).

The absence of a corolla (Fig. 14J) is the main morphological feature that distinguishes the typical variety from C. pulchra var. corollata, which has 6 red-orange petals. Chromosome counts revealed different haploid numbers among the varieties: n = 8, 16 in C. pulchra var. pulchra (Graham & Cavalcanti 2001, Pozzobon et al. 2020), and n = 24 in C. pulchra var. corollata (Pozzobon et al. 2020) .

Cuphea pulchra var. pulchra occurs in the mountainous regions of four states in eastern and northeastern Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco and Sergipe), generally growing in open areas of “cerrado” and “caatinga”. Leopold (2004) highlighted the ornamental potential of C. pulchra var. pulchra as an annual garden plant for its easy propagation by cuttings, intense production of attractive flowers, and resistance to insect pests.