Luehea peruzziana Gerace, Bovini & Baumgratz, 2025

Luehea peruzziana Gerace, Bovini & Baumgratz , sp.nov. ( Figs. 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 )

Type: BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Linhares, Reserva Natural da Vale do Rio Doce , estrada Alameda , km 1.5, 20–30 m a.s.l., 19°09’32” S 40°04’32” W, 04 December 2003 (fl., fr.), J GoogleMaps . M GoogleMaps . A. Braga , C . M . Mynssen & L . C . Giordano 7320 (Holotype: RB [barcode 00436818], two sheets; Isotypes: CEPEC, COL, CVRD, F, G, K [barcode 001209858], MBM, MG, MO, NY [barcode 00885975], SP) .

Diagnosis: Luehea peruzziana is morphologically similar to L. ochrophylla Mart. ( Martius 1841: 50) , having in common the number and length of involucral bracts, the shape of the ovary, including cross-section, and the sinuosity of the surface of capsules. This new species can be distinguished from L. ochrophylla for the two sizes of trichomes in the adaxial surface of involucral bracts ( Fig. 1D View Figure 1 ), the presence of an anthopodium supporting the flowers ( Fig. 1I View Figure 1 ), white corolla, and elliptic capsules ( Fig. 1K View Figure 1 ).

Description: Tree, 5–27 m tall. Branches cylindrical, glabrous, when young tomentose. Stipules caducous, 9–13 × 2–4 mm, narrowly ovate, tomentose. Petiole 0.6–0.9 cm long, tomentose. Leaves blade 8.6–13.8 × 4.3–6.5 cm, obovate to elliptic, apex acuminate to cuspidate, base symmetric, rounded to obtuse, margin 1/2-superior slightly serrate; adaxial surface green, with trichomes stellate mainly on the veins, abaxial surface white, with trichomes arachnoid and stellate. Inflorescence 6.5–11 cm long, terminal, panicle; involucral bracts 7–9, 9–14 × 3–5 mm, elliptic, apex acute, base cuneate to rounded, abaxial surface tomentose, adaxial surface tomentose with two types of trichomes, stellate on the margins, smaller, 0.2–0.3 mm long, simples in the middle, bigger, 0.8–1 mm long, appressed; anthopodium 2–3 mm long. Flower sessile, 3.5–4 cm diam.; calyx 5 sepals, 15–18 × 3–5 mm, narrowly ovate, revolute, apex acute, base rounded, adaxial surface with trichomes simple only on the base, abaxial surface tomentose with trichomes stellate; corolla white, 17–21 × 6–9.5 mm, narrowly obovate to obovate, apex rounded to the acute, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface with trichomes simples, mainly on central vein up to 1/3 of the length, claw tomentose; androecium with 5 phalanges free, tomentose, filaments many, 1/3-inferior with trichomes simples; stamens 10–12 mm long, anther dorsifixed, bilocular, oblong; staminodes 7–9 mm long, 1/3-inferior fused; gynoecium 9.5–11 mm long; ovary 3.5–4 × 3.5–4 mm, globoid transversally sulcate, tomentose, 5-locular; stylus 5–7 × 0.5–0.7 mm, 1/3-inferior pubescent; stigma 0.5–1 mm long, 2–2.5 mm diameter, capitate, glabrous. Capsule woody loculicidal, 2.2–2.5 × 1.3–1.4 cm, elliptic, apex acute, base cuneate, 5-locular, dehiscence 1/2-superior, ferruginous-tomentose, dorsal surface valve deeply sulcate in the middle, valve margins planes. Seed many, samaroid, 1–1.2 × ca. 0.5 cm, brown, winged 2/3-superior.

Taxonomic notes: Most specimens of L. peruzziana were previously identified as L. ochrophylla due to the morphological similarity of vegetative and floral structures, and the shortage of thorough taxonomic studies on the genus Luehea . Table 1 reports the comparison between these two species, based on the most important morphological characteristics that distinguish them, mainly the sizes and types of trichomes in the adaxial surface of involucral bracts, the presence of anthopodium, the color of the corolla, and the shape of the capsules ( Figs. 1 View Figure 1 A-L; 2A-C). In L. peruzziana , there is an anthopodium, which constitutes the internode between the flower and the most distal node of the axis where it terminates. This structure is rare in Luehea , being known until now only for one species, L. steinbachii , endemic to Bolivia. The anthopodium represents the last axis that supports the flower, just as the most distal node is represented by the involucral bracts ( Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ). Thus, the flowers are sessile, and the involucre is part of the inflorescence, in which each of the laminar structures represents a bract or metaxyphyll (sterile hypsophyll). Another morphologically close species of L. peruzziana in the Espírito Santo state is L. conwentzii , distinct by the size of involucral bracts, the sizes and types of trichomes in the adaxial surface of involucral bracts, the presence of anthopodium, the size and form of petals, and the size and trichomes of the capsules ( Tab. 1). Furthermore, L. ochrophylla has a wider range of distribution including coastal regions from the state of Rio Grande do Norte to Rio de Janeiro, L. conwentzii is distributed from the state of Espírito Santo to Paraná, while L. peruzziana is endemic to the state of Espírito Santo ( Fig. 4 View Figure 4 ).

Distribution and habitat: Luehea peruzziana is native to central and northern regions of the Espírito Santo state, in Southeastern Brazil, which belongs to the Atlantic Forest biome ( Fig. 4 View Figure 4 ). This species occurs in forest environment between 20 and 160 m above sea level, in vegetation of the type Dense Ombrophilous Forest of lowlands or Tabuleiro Forest , characterized by dense and dry vegetation with presence of species of Caesalpinia (Leguminosae) and Lecythis ( Lecythidaceae ) ( IBGE, 2012; Rolim et al., 2016).

Conservation status: The species is known only for the Espírito Santo state, in the municipalities of Linhares, Pinheiros, Serra, and Sooretama, presenting EOO equal to 2.549km ², AOO equal to 20km ² and about three locations. Considering records within the Vale Natural Reserve and agricultural activities along with disorderly real estate expansion as the main vectors of pressure that attest against the maintenance of the species in nature, at least two distinct locations that house endangered subpopulations are defined. In 2020, the species had 14.86% of its AOO converted into agriculture and pasture mosaic areas. With the spatial visualization, it can be observed that the fragments in which the species occurs are small and dispersed among cultivated areas. According to Ribeiro et al. (2009), more than 80% of the fragments in the Atlantic Forest have less than 50 ha. For large trees, the ideal fragment size is 500 hectares, considered the minimum recommended to guarantee the survival of rare and threatened species, maintain ecological processes, and promote connectivity between fragments ( Castro, 2006). Given this scenario, it is inferred a decline in the EOO, AOO, and habitat quality/extension. For these reasons, the species is here assessed as Endangered (EN, B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii)). It is recommended further research on population data (census and reduction estimates), in addition to the elaboration and implementation of conservation actions both in situ and ex-situ, guaranteeing the perpetuation of the species in nature in the near future. (Amorim et al., pers. comm.)

Phenology: Flowering was recorded from November to January, and fruiting from December to February.

Etymology: The specific epithet was dedicated to the botanist Lorenzo Peruzzi, current director of the Botanic Garden of Pisa and professor of Botany at the University of Pisa, Italy, whose contributions are very important in the study of the vascular plants in Mediterranean flora. Furthermore, he had an important influence on the first author as professor and supervisor to undertake the study of botanical taxonomy, as well as having been part of the work on the genus Luehea in southeastern Brazil.

Additional specimens examined (Paratypes): BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Linhares, Reserva Natural da Vale do Rio Doce , estrada da Mantegueira, 11 December 2016 (fl.), K. S . Valdemarin et al. 384 ( CVRD, ESA, RB, SORO, UEC); próximo a estrada X-1 talhão 505, 19 January 1973 (fl.), J . Spada 145 ( CVRD, R, RB); próximo a estrada X-1 talhão 601, 25 January 1973 (fl.), J . Spada 160 ( CVRD, R, RB); estrada da Mantegueira, km 0.8, 26 November 2003 (fl.), D. A . Folli 4678 ( CVRD, R, RB). Pinheiros , 130 m a.s.l., 29 January 2008 (fl., fr.), L . Kollmann & L . Magnago 10485 ( MBML, RB); Fazenda de mamão próximo a Reserva Natural Victorio Orletti , 154 m a.s.l., 18°22’44” S 40°12’50” W, 19 January 2008 (fl., fr.), V. F GoogleMaps . Mansano et al. 07-557 ( CEPEC, MBM, MO, NY, RB, UEC). Serra, Morro Agudo , 135–400 m a.s.l., 20°05’51” S 40°25’44” W, 28 January 2008 (fr.), V GoogleMaps . Demuner et al. 4906 ( MBML, RB). Sooretama, Fazenda da Reserva da Vale , 25 m a.s.l., 19°09’03” S 40°04’58” W, 14 December 2016 (fl., fr.), F. R. M GoogleMaps . Fraga et al. 50 ( CVRD, K, MBML, RB, VIES); Reserva Natural da Vale do Rio Doce , estrada MME – talhão 32, 68 m a.s.l., 19°08’31.99” S 40°05’21.6” W, 03 December 2019 (bot.), G GoogleMaps . Felitto 1280 ( CVRD, RB) .