Two species of Leandra that occur in the Atlantic Forest, in the state of Espírito Santo, eastern Brazil, are described and illustrated here. Leandra cristata has been found in the understory of montane rain forest, and can be recognized by the distinct nodal ridges on the young branches, by the leaves with decurrent bases and transversal nerves consistently perpendicular to the main nerve, by the triangular external teeth, and by the dorsal bump on the stamen connective. Leandra fontanae has been found in shrubby vegetation on inselbergs, and can be recognized by the small and cordate leaves with five main nerves plus a faint submarginal pair, by the apical and lateral inflorescences made up by single dichasia or a triad, by the flowers mostly 4-merous and by the 2-celled ovary.

, ,
Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants

Released under the CC-BY 4.0 ("Attribution") License

Naturalis journals & series

Reginato, M., & Goldenberg, R. (2012). Two new species of Leandra s.str. (Melastomataceae) from the Atlantic Forest in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants, 57(3), 210–214.