Luehea candicans Mart. var. candicans, Mart. var. candicans, 2025

Gerace, Samuele, Peruzzi, Lorenzo, Baumgratz, José Fernando A. & Bovini, Massimo G., 2025, Flora of Rio de Janeiro: the genus Luehea (Malvaceae: Grewioideae), Rodriguesia (e 00512024) 76, pp. 1-13 : 4-6

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.1590/2175-7860202576007
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15527532
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D7408F7C-1C31-235B-FF4D-3795D286FD61
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Luehea candicans Mart. var. candicans
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

1. Luehea candicans Mart. var. candicans View in CoL , Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 1(4): 102. 1826.

= Luehea villosa Mart. , Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 1(4): 102.1826. = Luehea uniflora A.St.-Hil., Fl. Bras. Merid. 1: 290. tab. 57. 1828.

= Luehea microphylla Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon. Descr. 2: 129. tab. 187. 1833. Figs. 1 View Figure 1 ; 2 View Figure 2 a-b

Shrubs to trees, 2–12 m hight. Petiole 0.3–0.8 cm long. Leaves 6–14.5 × 3–8.4 cm, ovate to elliptic, membranous to coriaceous, base rounded to subcordate, adaxial surface green, glabrous or sparse stellate trichomes, abaxial surface white, with densely arachnoid trichomes or sparse stellate trichomes. Single flower, terminal; pedicel 0.4–1.1 cm long. Epicalyx with 8–11 bracteoles, 1.5–3.7 × 0.25–0.6 cm, linear to lanceolate. Sepals 2–3 × 0.4– 0.8 cm, lanceolate, plane. Petals 3–5 × 0.3–0.4 cm, white, linear, margin entire. Androecium grouped in 5 phalanges, free; staminodes 2.4–3 cm long; stamens 1–2 cm long. Ovary 0.35–0.5 × 0.35–0.5 cm, globular to elliptic, angular in transversal section; style 1.4–1.8 cm long, completely pubescent; stigma 0.25–0.55 cm wide, 0.1–0.2 cm long. Capsule 3–4.5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, rhomboid, base acute to cuneate, apex cuneate to obtuse, dehiscence for 2/3-apical, villose, valve with dorsal surface convex or plane, angular cross section, margins deeply acute, crest-like. Seeds 1.1–1.3 × 0.3–0.5 cm.

Selected examined material: Petrópolis, Fazenda Itaipava , 22.XII.2005, fl., G. Siqueira & O. Gracff 97 ( RB) . Rio Claro, Lidice, Fazenda Torres , 4.XII.2001, fl. and fr., F.B. Pereira 20/132 ( RB) . Rio de Janeiro, Morro do Leme , XI.1966, fl., D. Sucre 1337 ( RB) . São José do Vale do Rio Preto, Sitio Beira Mar , 5.XI.2000, fl., F.M.B. Pereira 33/49 ( RB) . Santa Maria Madalena, Serra do Bicalho , XI.1938, fl., S. Lima 406 ( RB) .

Luehea candicans has a wide distribution, ranging from southern Peru, Bolivia, and northeastern Brazil to Paraguay and northern Argentina ( Souza & Esteves 2002). In Brazil, it is widespread, particularly in the phytogeographic domains Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, Luehea candicans occurs at elevations from 10 to 1,000 m, in sandbank vegetation, along roadsides and in riparian or gallery forests, showing a preference for areas with high brightness and clayey/sandy soil ( Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ). This species occurs in the following conservation units: the Parque Municipal Paisagem Carioca (Rio de Janeiro), and the Parque Estadual do Desengano (Santa Maria Madalena). Flowering was recorded from October to February, and fruiting from November to April.

Luehea candicans is the only species in the Brazilian southeast showing inflorescences reduced to a single flower. This feature is found in four other species with different ranges: L. candida (Moc. & Sessé ex DC.) Mart. (native to Central America), L. burretii M.C.S. Cunha (endemic to the Brazilian states Ceará and PiauÍ), L. fiebrigii Burret (native to Bolivia and northwest Argentina), and L. herzogiana R.E.Fr. (endemic to Bolivia). Luehea candicans and L. burretii are the only species showing staminodes much longer than stamens and linear petals reaching 5–6 cm in length, making it easy to identify them in the field. Moreover, the fruit stands out for its valve margins deeply acute, creating crest-like structures along the capsule ( Fig. 2b View Figure 2 ). It is the only Brazilian species showing this feature.