Abstract
The Diamantina Plateau is located in the central region of the Espinhaço Range, in the State of Minas Gerais, which is dominated by campo rupestre formations. We describe a new species of Lippia L., endemic to the Diamantina Plateau, and provide an annotated checklist and identification key for the 17 species of the genus occurring in the area. Lippia raoniana P.H.Cardoso & Salimena sp. nov. is mainly distinguished by its ovate leaves with adaxial and abaxial surfaces densely covered by sessile glandular trichomes, and drupaceous fruits with two pyrenes. It is known only from two populations, and thus can be provisionally considered as Critically Endangered. Details on the species’ ecology, as well as a comparison with morphologically similar species, a distribution map, and field photographs, are provided. In this work, we also present pictures of the 17 species in their habitats, and we hope that these illustrations will help in the identification and conservation of these taxa.
Highlights
The flowering plant genus Lippia L. is a member of the tribe Lantaneae Endl. in the vervain family (Verbenaceae J.St.-Hil.)
We provide an annotated checklist, identification key, and pictures of the species of Lippia in the Diamantina Plateau, with the aim of increasing our knowledge of the local flora, which is essential for conservation purposes
The new species is similar to Lippia spiraeastrum (Mart. & Schauer) T.R.S.Silva, but differs by ovate leaves, slightly discolorous, matte adaxial surface, glandular abaxial surface, shorter peduncle (0.8‒1.3 vs 3.2‒10.5 cm long) and slender, ovate bracts
Summary
The flowering plant genus Lippia L. is a member of the tribe Lantaneae Endl. in the vervain family (Verbenaceae J.St.-Hil.). The flowering plant genus Lippia L. is a member of the tribe Lantaneae Endl. It contains approximately 120 species of perennial herbs, shrubs and subshrubs, often aromatic, native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa (Atkins 2004; Marx et al 2010). Chamisso (1832) characterized Lippia by the presence of schizocarpic fruits bearing two cluses or drupaceous fruits with two pyrenes. Schauer (1847) assigned species with drupes to Lantana and species with schizocarps to Lippia. Silva & Salimena (2002) redelimited Lantana and reestablished the circumscription proposed by Chamisso (1832) to include only species with monopyrenous drupes
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