Lychnophora pseudovillosissima (Asteraceae: Vernonieae: Lychnophorinae), a new species restricted to Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Lychnophora pseudovillosissima, a new species from the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is here described and illustrated. The new species is unique because of the combination of petiolate linear leaves with revolute margins, reticulodromous venation, and 3–5 florets per capitulum. The new species is compared to a morphologically similar species, L. villosissima, resembling in habit, leaves, venation, and number of florets per capitulum, but differing by the shape and size of the leaf and petiole. Both species may occur sympatrically, but are uniform in their morphology with diagnostic features that differentiate them. Accompanying the description and the illustration, we provide a photographic plate, a first assessment of the species’ conservation status, as well as comments on the geographic distribution, ecology, and identification of the new species.