Leandra eriocalyx Cogniaux (1891: 642)

Reginato, Marcelo & Goldenberg, Renato, 2018, Taxonomic notes on Leandra (Melastomataceae, Miconieae) - II, Phytotaxa 371 (2), pp. 84-92 : 86

3. Leandra eriocalyx Cogniaux (1891: 642) . Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro, “Alto Macahe”, A.F.M. Glaziou 16854

(lectotype R! designated by Baumgratz & Souza 2009, isolectotypes BR-5188130!, BR-5188147!, BR-5188468!, K-

535653!, P-117458!, P-117459!).

= Leandra laxa Cogniaux (1891: 642) . Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: A.F.M. Glaziou 16853 (lectotype BR-5192595! designated here, isolectotypes BR-5192922!, K-535652!, P-117324!, R-10119!). Syn. nov.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, A.C. Brade 19753 (RB); Castelo, A.C. Brade 19177 (NY, RB, US); Itaguaçu, A.C. Brade 18362 (RB); Santa Teresa, L. Kollmann 1417 (NY). Rio de Janeiro: Nova Friburgo, M. Reginato 1134 (NY, UPCB); Petrópolis, A.C. Brade 16156 (RB); Santa Maria Madalena, M. Reginato 1215 (NY).

Leandra eriocalyx and L. laxa were recognized by Baumgratz & Souza (2011), where L. eriocalyx would be distinguished by the longer calyx external teeth (1.3–1.8 mm long vs. 0.5–1 mm long in L. laxa ) and the leaf adaxial surface moderately strigulose (vs. sparsely setulose in L. laxa ). The differences regarding the indumentum in the types of both species are rather continuous and fail to objectively diagnose the two taxa, while new measurements of the calyx external teeth overlap the proposed gap between the two taxa (Kollmann 1417 = 1.8–2 mm long; Reginato 1134 = 0.8–1.2 mm long; Reginato 1215 = 2–2.3 mm long).

The type specimens of both species are from the same locality (Macaé de Cima, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro), and the geographical distribution of L. eriocalyx is widened here with new reports from other municipalities in the Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo states.