Leandra variabilis Raddi (1829: 42)

Silva-Gonçalves, Kelly Cristina Da, Baumgratz, José Fernando A. & Nunes-Freitas, André Felippe, 2014, Melastomataceae in a continental Atlantic Forest island from southeastern Brazil, Phytotaxa 183 (2), pp. 61-92 : 72

3.4. Leandra variabilis Raddi (1829: 42) . [ Figs. 5d–h ]

Shrubs or treelets 2–4 m, sharply pilose; indumentum of the branches, petioles, veins in abaxial surface of the leaves, inflorescences and hypanthium rufous, moderately to densely with dendritic trichomes, sessile or short-pedicelate, and rough-setulose trichomes, persistent. Petioles 2.8–3.3 cm long; blade 16.5–30.5 × 8.3–12.4 cm, papiraceous or chartaceous, elliptic, base obtuse, apex acuminate, margin crenulate-ciliolate; adaxial surface estrigulose-setulose, abaxial surface also with setulose trichomes; domatia absent; acrodromous veins 5, 6– 10 mm suprabasal. Thyrsoids of glomerules, 9.5–14.6 cm long; bracts 3.2–3.3 × 0.8–1.1 mm, bracteoles 1.8–2 × 0.5–0.6 mm, both triangular-acuminate, not involucral. Flowers 5-merous; pedicelate; hypanthium 2.2–2.5 × 2–2.4 mm, campanulate; inner torus setulose; calyx with external lobes 0.8–1.5 × 0.8–1 mm, internal lobes obsolete; petals 2.9–3.2 × 0.5–0.6 mm, white, reflex, narrowly triangular; stamens with filaments 1.6–1.7 mm long; anthers ca. 1.9 mm long, white, straight, connective not prolonged, unappendaged; ovary 1.2–1.8 × 1.5–1.9 mm, 1/2-inferior, 3-celled, sparse-setulose; style 5.9–6 mm long. Bacidium 3.2–6 × 4–5 mm, purple, subglobose, sparse-setulose and -dendritic; seeds 0.3–0.4 × 0.2–0.3 mm, obtriangular, testa granulose.

Specimens examined:— 7.IV.2007, fr., K.C. Silva 13 (RB, RBR) ; 29.VII.2008, fr., K.C. Silva 48 (RB, RBR) ; 3.IV.2010, ster., K.C. Silva 87 (RBR) .

Additional specimen examined:— BRASIL. Rio de Janeiro: Miguel Pereira , 13.XI.2001, fl., S.J. Silva Neto et al. 1506 (RB) .

Distribution:—Endemic to the Atlantic Forest Biome of Brazil, occurring in the states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul ( Souza & Baumgratz 2012a).

Comments:—In Marambaia, it is found from sea level up to 641 m in Dense Submontane Ombrophilous Forest. The indumentum of the branches and petioles are rufous, densely covered by dendritic and rough-setulose trichomes. Leandra variabilis is morphologically closer to L. carassana ( Candolle 1828: 162) Cogniaux (1886: 120) , a sympatric species which is distinguished by bracts and calyx tube and lobes that are longer ( Camargo et al. 2009, Souza & Baumgratz 2009). Additional illustrations in Raddi (1829) and Souza & Baumgratz (2009).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Leandra acutiflora: a. leaf:abaxial surface; b.calyx; c. petal (Lima & Silva s.n. RB 44251).Leandra variabilis: d.leaf:abaxial surface; e–f. leaf: adaxial and abaxial surfaces, respectively; g. hypanthium and calyx; h. petal (Neto 1506). Leandra melastomoides: i. leaves; j. floral involucre and flower; k. petal; l. bract: adaxial surface (Baumgratz 1073). Leandra reversa: m. floriferous branch; n. petal; o. calyx lobe; p. young fruit; q. seed (m–o. Pessoa & Abbas 1054; n. Bacellar et al. 17; p. Luchiari 715; q. Brade 1433).