Croton lenheirensis Medeiros et al. (2012: 345)

Medeiros, Débora, Valle, Luci De Senna, Esser, Hans-Joachim & Alves, Ruy José Válka, 2016, Floristic and taxonomic treatment of Croton subsect. Medea (Euphorbiaceae) from Brazilian campos rupestres, Phytotaxa 263 (3), pp. 167-201 : 180-183

5. Croton lenheirensis Medeiros et al. (2012: 345) . Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: São João del Rei, Serra do Lenheiro, 1 km from the town, 21°09’17,84”S, 44°18’23,16”W, 1174 m elevation, 20 January 2003 (fl, fr), D. Medeiros & A.M. Werneck 234 (holotype R 000210200!). ( Fig. 9 , A–L)

Subshrubs, 0.4−1 m tall. Leaves densely congested on branch apices, not imbricate, subsessile with the petiole 1.5−2 mm long; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate, 1.6−2.3 × 0.5−0.8 cm, base acute, symmetric, margin entire, glandulose, apex acute, trichomes stellate brownish on both surfaces, apressed so on the adaxial surface, palminerved; stipules triangular, margin entire with sessile glands, 1.8−2 mm long, trichomes stellate on both surfaces, caducous. Inflorescences 1.6−4.5 cm long, with a naked sterile zone between the basal pistillate flowers and the apical staminate ones; bracts triangular-lanceolate, margin entire, 3−3.5 mm long on the staminate flower, 4−4.5 mm long on the pistillate ones, trichomes stellate on the adaxial surface. Staminate flowers 8−20 per inflorescence; pedicel 1 mm long; sepals 5, ovate-lanceolate, 2 × 1 mm, margin entire, trichomes stellate on both surfaces; petals 5, ovate-lanceolate, 1.5−2 × 0.7−1 mm, margin entire, ciliate; stamens 11, filaments 1 mm long, glabrous, brown, anthers ovoid, 0.7 mm, glabrous. Pistillate flowers 1−2 at the base of the inflorescence, pedicel 1 mm long; sepals 5, ovate-lanceolate, 5 × 1.5 mm, margin entire with sessile glands, trichomes stellate on both surfaces; petals absent; ovary globose, 2 × 2 mm, trichomes stellate sparse; styles multifid, (2−)3−4 times branched at the base, 1.5−2 mm long, glabrous. Capsules globose, 5 mm diam., trichomes stellate brownish; seeds ellipsoid, 3−4 × 2 mm.

Distribution:— This species is endemic to Serra do Lenheiro (1218 m elevation), in São João del Rei, Minas Gerais State ( Fig.10 ).

Additional specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: São João del Rei, Serra do Lenheiro , 1896 (fl, fr), A. Silveira s.n. (R 158237) ; 08 July 1936 (fl), M. Barreto 4716 (R); 1194 m, 21º08’S, 44º18’W, June 2001 (fl, fr), D. Medeiros 54 (HB, R, RB); D. Medeiros 55 (HB, R, RB), D. Medeiros 56 (HB, R, RB); D. Medeiros 57 (HB, R, RB); D. Medeiros 58 (HB, R, RB); D. Medeiros 64 (HB, R, RB); D. Medeiros 66 (HB, R, RB); 20 January 2003 (fl, fr) D. Medeiros 232 & A.M. Werneck (HB, R, RB), D. Medeiros 233 & A.M. Werneck (HB, R, RB), D. Medeiros 235 & A.M. Werneck (HB, R, RB), D. Medeiros 237 & A.M. Werneck (HB, R, RB), D. Medeiros 243 & A.M. Werneck (HB, R, RB).

Taxonomic notes:— Croton lenheirensis is easily distinguished from the rest of the species of subsection Medea by its triangular stipule with an entire and glandular margin and brownish indumentum.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Croton lenheirensis. A. Branch; B. Stipule; C. Inflorescence; D. Staminate flower: E. Stamen, F. Sepal (dorsal side), G. Petal (dorsal side); H. Pistillate flower: I. Sepal (dorsal side), J. Gynoecium; K. Fruit; L. Seed (dorsal and ventral sides) (after D. Medeiros 234 & A.M. Werneck (R); from Medeiros et al. 2009).

FIGURE 10. Distribution map of Croton lenheirensis.