Luehea ochrophylla Mart., 1841

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 : 9-10

5. Luehea ochrophylla Mart. , Flora 24 (2, Beibl.): 50. 1841. Figs. 2 i-j; 4

Trees, 4–18 m hight. Petiole 0.4–1.1 cm long. Leaves 6.4–13.7 × 3.1–8.7 cm, membranaceous, elliptic to obovate, base rounded to cuneate, adaxial surface green, with stellate trichomes, abaxial surface white, with densely trichomes arachnoid and stellate. Inflorescence with 4–10 flowers, 4.5–7 cm long, terminal. Flowers 2.4–3 cm wide; pedicel 0.8–1.2 cm long. Epicalyx with 8–9 bracteoles, 1.1– 1.5 × 0.3–0.45 cm, linear. Sepals 1.2–1.6 × 0.4–0.5 cm, lanceolate, 1/2-basal revolute. Petals 1–1.5 × 0.7–0.9 cm, yellow, obovate, margin entire. Androecium grouped in 5 phalanges, free; staminodes 0.45–0.55 cm long; stamens 0.8–0.9 cm long. Ovary 0.3–0.5 × 0.3–0.5 cm, globular, angular in transversal section; style 0.6–0.7 cm long, 1/2-basal pubescent or glabrous; stigma 0.025 –0.037 cm wide, 0.1–0.12 cm long. Capsule 1.8–2.5 × 0.9–1.7 cm, obovate, base acute to cuneate, apex truncate, tomentose, valve with dorsal surface deeply sulcate, without central relief, angular cross section, margins plane, not crest-like. Seeds 0.95–1.05 × 0.35–0.5 cm.

Selected examined material: Cabo Frio , Ilha de Cabo Frio, 22.XI.2001, fl. and fr., C. Farney et al. 4414 ( RB) . Campos dos Goytacazes , Mata do Mergulhão, 27.III.1996, fr., M.T. Nascimento et al. 12 ( HUENF) . Rio de Janeiro , Morro Santa Marta, 15.VIII.1990, fr., M. Hudson ( RB00438648 ) . São Francisco de Itabapoana , Estaçao Ecológica de Guaxindiba, Mata do Carvao, 3.VI.2014, fr., T.M. Scarponi ( RB00906956 ) . Saquarema , Reserva Ecológica Estadual de Jacarepiá [Parque Estadual da Costa do Sol], 20.VIII.1990, C. Farney et al. 3251 ( RB) .

Luehea ochrophylla is endemic t o t h e phytogeographic domain Atlantic Forest, occurring in the state of Rio Grande do Norte through the state of Rio de Janeiro ( Gerace & Bovini 2020). The state of Rio de Janeiro represents the southern distribution limit of this species, but it is more concentrated in the northern region, occurring from 10 to 80 m in altitude in restinga forests, lowlands and riparian or gallery forests, showing a preference for coastal locations with high brightness ( Fig. 4 ). This species occurs in the following conservation units: Reserva Ecológica Estadual de Jacarepiá (actually Parque Estadual da Costa do Sol ), municipality of Saquarema, and Estação Ecológica de Guaxindiba , municipality of São Francisco de Itabapoana. Flowering and fruiting were recorded throughout the year.

Luehea ochrophylla is the only species showing a completely yellow corolla. It is also one of the few species with equal size of epicalyx, calyx and corolla, similar to L. candicans var. gracilis . The fruit is distinctive, having typical obovate shape with dorsal surface valve deeply sulcate and tomentose indumentum ( Fig. 2j ), allowing its identification, even in the absence of flowers. This species shows a unique preference for restinga environments along the east coast of Brazil, making it very vulnerable to the intense anthropic pressure in these areas ( Carvalho et al. 2018).

Figures

Figure 2 – a-b.Luehea candicans – a. leaf; b. capsule.c-d.L. conwentzii – c. leaf; d. capsule. e-f.L. divaricata – e. leaf; f. capsule. g-h. L. macrophylla – g. leaf; h. capsule. i-j. L. ochrophylla – i. leaf; j. capsule. k-l. L. paniculata – k. leaf; l. capsule. m-p. L. speciosa – m. leaf; n-p. capsules. (a-b. S. Lima 406; c-d. C. Farney et al. 3578; e-f. J.F.A. Baumgratz et al. 1724; g-h. S. Gerace 128; i-j. T.M. Scarponi; k-l. D.N.S. Machado & L.A. Ribas 285; m-o. G.A. de Queiroz 408; n. B.N. Riguetti 18; p. D. Costantino). Photos by Samuele Gerace.

Figure 4 – Geographical distributionsof Luehea macrophylla, L. ochrophylla and L. paniculate in the state of Rio de Janeiro.