Corresponding author: Ghillean T. Prance (
Academic editor: Doug Soltis
A new species of
The Neotropical representatives of the
Ab R. paulensis foliis minoribus acuminis 3-8 mm longis, petiolis 8-20 mm, rachidibus inflorescentiis tenuibus differt.
Brazil. Espírito Santo, BR-262 road near junction to Laranja da Terra, Iúna Municpality, 7 Nov 1993 (fl),
Tree 6 m tall, young branches appressed-tomentose, not conspicuously lenticellate. Leaves simple, lamina chartaceous, drying reddish-brown, ovate, 4.5–8.5 × 2–4.4 cm, length:breadth ratio 1–2.2–2.7, semicraspedodromous: ferrugineous-tomentose beneath, glabrous above except along midrib, the margins distinctly revolute, entire or slightly serrate, cuneate at base, equal or slightly unequal; apex acuminate, the acumen 3–8 mm long; primary veins 5–6 pairs, prominulous beneath, slightly prominulous above; midrib reaching apex of lamina, prominent beneath, plane above, tomentose, glabrescent; petioles 8–20 mm, tomentose when young, terete, lamina slightly confluent onto petiole for up to 5 mm. Inflorescence terminal or axillary; peduncle 3–10 mm × 1 mm thick; rachis 4.5–8.5 × 1 mm, ferrugineous-tomentose; bracts few, 1 × 1 mm, tomentose; pedicels 1.5–2 mm, ferrugineous-tomentose, free to base; flowers borne solitary or in pairs, 4–5 mm long, exterior ferrugineous-tomentose.; tepals 4, reflexed and twisted when open; filaments adnate to upper half of tepals; anthers 1–1.2 mm long; nectary lobes 4, well separated, conspicuous; ovary erect, densely tomentose; style clavate. 3–4 mm long. Fruit not seen.
This species clearly belongs to the genus