Couepia carautae Prance, Fl. Neotrop. Monogr.

2.2. Couepia carautae Prance, Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. View in CoL 9S: 70, f. 16, 99. 1989. Fig. 3

Tree, up to 22 m tall, stem ca. 15 m tall, cylindric, bark rough, young branches glabrous, lenticellate. Leaves elliptic, 8.6–10.4 × 2.5–3.5 cm, coriaceous, discolorous, base cuneate, apex acuminate, acumen ca. 4–6 mm long, adaxially glabrous, abaxially arachnoid to glabrescent, midrib prominulous adaxially, glabrous, with glands along its length, prominent abaxially, glabrous, primary veins 14–16 pairs; petiole 6–9 mm, glabrous, canaliculate, eglandular; stipules caducous (not seen). Inflorescence terminal to subterminal, paniculate, tomentulose; bracts caducous (not seen); bracteoles 2, lanceolate, ca. 3 mm long, tomentose. Flowers 1.4–1.5 cm long, white, tomentose, pedicel ca. 2.5 mm; receptacle tubular, 7–8 mm, glabrous, except at throat; sepals with acute apex, ca. 6 mm long, tomentulose; petals with acute apex, margin ciliate, glabrous; stamens ca. 30, in a complete circle, filaments 1.5–2 cm long, glabrous, free; ovary ca. 2 mm, tomentulose, style ca. 1.2 cm long, tomentulose. Drupe not seen.

Material examined: Linhares, Reserva Natural Vale, Estrada 143 A 6, km 1430, 24.I.1978, fl., J. Spada 31/78

( CVRD, INPA, K, RB, NY).

Couepia carautae is slightly similar to C. monteclarensis because of the elliptic leaves of similar length with acuminate apex, but can be distinguished by the combination of elliptic coriaceous leaves, with cuneate base, less conspicuous primary veins, glands on the length of the lamina’s adaxial surface, tomentose inflorescence and tubular receptacle. Collected with flowers in January.

This species is here confirmed as endemic to EspÍrito Santo state, and it is only known by its type collection, from Linhares, in a Mata de Tabuleiro area. Couepia carautae was assessed as “Critically Endangered” ( CR) for the state and the country ( Fraga et al. 2019; Brasil 2022).

The common name for this species is milho-torrado ( J. Spada 31/78).