BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro • Guapimirim, Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, trilha para o Pico Cabeça de Peixe; 22°27’58”S, 43°00’26”W; 1260 m; 9 Feb. 2021; Völtz R.R. & Brotto M.L. 2346; holotype: UPCB; isotype: RB.

Figure 1. 

Photos of Huberia campostriniae in the field (by Rafael R. Völtz). A. Branch with an inflorescence. B. Leaf (abaxial view). C. Frontal view of a flower.

Huberia campostriniae differs from Huberia cordifolia (Cogn.) Bochorny & R.Goldenb. due to the hypanthium densely covered by sessile glands (vs stalked glands); sepals 2–2.8 × ca 0.5 mm (vs 4.5–7 × 1–1.5 mm); petals 7.5–9.5 × 6–6.5 mm (vs 13–17 × 8–10 mm); ovary apex with 8 lobes, these covered with long stalked glands (vs 4 lobes, glabrous); style ca 5 mm long (vs 11–15 mm).

Figure 2. 

Images of Huberia campostriniae (A–K from the holotype Völtz R.R. & Brotto M.L. 2346, UPCB; L from the paratype Völtz R.R. & Brotto M.L. 2437, UPCB). A. Branch with inflorescences. B. Detail of the stem indumentum. C. Leaf (adaxial surface). D. Leaf (abaxial surface). E. Detail of the leaf indumentum (adaxial surface). F. Detail of the leaf indumentum (abaxial surface). G. Hypanthium and calyx. H. Petal (adaxial surface). I, J. Stamens. K. Style. L. Fruit.

Shrubs 0.4–0.7 m tall; branches, petioles, inflorescences, bracts, and bracteoles moderately covered with sessile glands 0.1–0.2 mm long. Branches terete, striate. Leaves opposite; petiole 0.7–2.5 cm long; blade 2.5–6.5 × 1.2–4 cm, membranaceous, ovate or broadly elliptic, apex cuspidate, base rounded, margin serrulate and eciliolate, adaxial and abaxial surfaces moderately covered with sessile glands 0.1–0.2 mm long, acrodromous veins 3, with an additional faint submarginal pair, basal, main veins impressed adaxially and raised abaxially, transverse veins and reticulation visible on both surfaces. Inflorescences thyrsoids or compound dichasia 2–4 cm long, terminal, with 10 flowers; bracts two, persistent, leafy, ca 25 × 18 mm, ovate or broadly elliptic, petiole ca 8.5 mm long; bracteoles two, persistent, ca 1 mm long, subulate. Flowers 6-merous, pedicels 8–12 mm long. Hypanthium 3–5 × 3–3.5 mm, campanulate, greenish, densely covered with sessile glands ca 0.1 mm long; torus glabrous. Calyx tube 0.8–1 mm long, densely covered with sessile glands ca 0.1 mm long; sepals 2–2.8 × ca 0.5 mm, triangular-subulate, apex apiculate, margin eciliolate or ciliolate-glandular ca 0.5 mm long (the cilia sometimes caducous); external teeth absent. Petals 7.5–10 × 5–6.5 mm, left margin (in adaxial view) white, right margin (in adaxial view) white to pinkish, obovate and asymmetric, apex rounded, not apiculate, margin entire, both surfaces glabrous. Stamens 12, subisomorphic, glabrous; filaments 4–5.5 mm long (antesepalous) or 6.5–7 mm long (antepetalous), greenish; connective not prolonged below the thecae, dorsal appendages 2–2.5 mm long, yellow, linear-subulate; anthers 3–3.5 mm long in both cycles, yellow, oblong-linear, the thecae prolonged up to 0.2 mm below the insertion of the filament, with a single, apical (but ventrally inclined) pore. Ovary ca 3 mm long, 2/3 basally adhered to the hypanthium, 4-locular, apex with 8 lobes, these covered with stalked glands 1.5 mm long; style ca 5 mm long, slightly curved or sigmoidal, glabrous. Capsules ca 8.5 × 5 mm, the carpels exceeding the hypanthium length by ca 1 mm; seeds ca 1 × 0.5 mm, elongate or oblong, raphe almost equalling the seed length, testa granulate.

Huberia campostriniae was found along the trail to the Cabeça de Peixe summit, in the Serra dos Órgãos mountains, which is part of the Serra do Mar mountain range located in the central portion of the state of Rio de Janeiro (Fig. 3A, D). It is typically found on very steep slopes with rocky outcrops, sparse vegetation, and moist and shady environments. The collection site is located at about 1260 m elevation and is surrounded by Montane Atlantic Rainforest.

Figure 3. 

Geographical distribution of the new species in the eastern Brazilian mountains (A), in the states of Minas Gerais (B), São Paulo (C), and Rio de Janeiro (D). ES: Espírito Santo; MG: Minas Gerais; RJ: Rio de Janeiro; SP: São Paulo.

Collected with flowers in February, and fruits in December and February.

The epithet honours the botanist Dr Rafaela Campostrini Forzza, now at Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade. Dr Forzza coordinated the projects Flora and Funga of Brazil, Reflora, and Catalog of Plants of Conservation Units in Brazil.

Data Deficient: DD. The species is known only from the type locality. Our two samples came from a single small population found inside the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (Fig. 3D), a fully protected area managed by the Brazilian federal government. Despite being in a legally protected area, the only known population of the species is very small and near a trail, which could make the species susceptible to the negative impact of extensive tourism (trampling, pollution, introduction of invasive species), as every year numerous people venture to the summit along the trail (ICMBio 2024). Based on the available data, the species has a AOO of 4 km² (the EOO polygon cannot be calculated due to the single record). The lack of information about population size and uncertainty about its entire distribution led us to a conservative approach, preliminarily assessing this species as Data Deficient.

BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro • Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, trilha para o Pico Cabeça de Peixe; 22°27’58”S, 43°00’26”W; 1260 m; 2 Dec. 2021; Völtz R.R. & Brotto M.L. 2437; UPCB.

Huberia campostriniae is morphologically similar to H. cordifolia since both have membranaceous leaves, thyrsoids 2–4 cm long, 6-merous flowers, the hypanthium covered with sessile glands, glabrous torus, sepals with an apiculate apex, and petals with glabrous surfaces. Huberia cordifolia occurs at Pico do Frade de Macaé, in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, which is about 65 km in a straight line from where H. campostriniae was collected.

Huberia campostriniae is also similar to H. ciliata, H. corymbosa (Cogn.) Bochorny & R.Goldenb., H. edmundoi (Brade) Bochorny & R.Goldenb., H. hirsuta Bochorny & R.Goldenb., H. lumiarensis, and H. mourae (Cogn.) Bochorny & R.Goldenb. For a comparative overview, see Table 1.

BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Santa Rita do Itueto, Área de Proteção Ambiental Municipal da Pedra do Paredão, Pedra de Santa Rita, na encosta do topo da pedra; 19°22’22.72”S, 41°21’28.7”W; 1062 m; 6 May 2021; Gonella P.M., Cordeiro D.P., Silva G.A., Bartholomay P.R. & Medeiros L. 2728; holotype: UPCB; isotype: RB.

Figure 4. 

Photos of Huberia ciliata in the field (by Paulo M. Gonella). A. Frontal view of a flower. B. Detail of the stamens and style. C. Flower bud. D. Detail of the hypanthium and calyx. E. Fruits. F. Leaf (adaxial view). G. Branch with an inflorescence. H. Habit and habitat.

Huberia ciliata differs from Huberia comosa (R.Tav., Baumgratz & R.Goldenb.) Bochorny & Michelang. due to the young branches, petioles, inflorescences, bracts and bracteoles moderately covered with long stalked glands (vs lacking stalked glands, except for very short comose-glandulose tufts on nodes and leaf margins); leaves with basal acrodromous veins (vs suprabasal), adaxial surface moderately covered with appressed stalked glands 1–1.5 mm long (vs glabrous); calyx margins densely ciliolate-glandular, the purple cilia 0.5–1 mm long and the gland heads globose (vs eciliolate or ciliolate-glandular, in this case minute cilia ca 0.1 mm long and lacking well-defined gland heads); ovary 1.7 mm long, 4-locular, apex without lobes but with stalked glands (vs 2–2.5 mm, 3-locular, apex with 4 glabrous lobes).

Figure 5. 

Images from the holotype of Huberia ciliata (Gonella P.M., Cordeiro D.P., Silva G.A., Bartholomay P.R. & Medeiros L. 2728, UPCB). A. Branch with an inflorescence. B. Detail of the stem surface with indumentum. C. Leaf (adaxial surface). D. Leaf (abaxial surface). E. Detail of the leaf (a baxial surface). F. Detail of the leaf (adaxial surface). G. Leaf base with indumentum. H. Detail of the leaf margin. I. Hypanthium and calyx. J. Petal (adaxial surface). K, L. Stamens. M. Style. N. Fruit.

Shrubs ca 0.5 m tall; branches, petioles, inflorescences, bracts, and bracteoles densely covered with stalked glands 0.2–1 mm long (the heads sometimes caducous). Branches terete, striate. Leaves opposite; petiole 0.4–1.8 cm long; blade 1.5–6 × 0.8–4 cm, papyraceous, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded, margin serrulate and ciliolate (the cilia 0.5–1.3 mm long, glandular but the gland heads sometimes caducous), adaxial surface moderately covered with stalked glands 1–1.5 mm long, abaxial surface moderately covered with stalked glands 0.5–1 mm long, acrodromous veins 3, with an additional faint submarginal pair, basal, main veins impressed adaxially and raised abaxially, transverse veins and reticulation visible on both surfaces. Inflorescences thyrsoids or compound dichasia 4.3–8 cm long, terminal, with 10–30 flowers; bracts and bracteoles persistent, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 1–3 × 0.5-2 mm long. Flowers 5-merous, on pedicels 6–11.5 mm long. Hypanthium 2–5.5 × 1.5–3 mm, campanulate, reddish, glabrous or with very sparsely covered with stalked glands up to 0.5 mm long; torus glabrous. Calyx tube ca 0.5 mm long, reddish, glabrous, apex apiculate, margin ciliolate-glandular, the purple cilia ca 0.5 mm long, glandular, the heads globose, sometimes caducous; sepals 0.5–1 × 0.5–1 mm, triangular, glabrous, margin ciliolate, the cilia similar to the ones on the tube, 0.2–0.8 mm long; external teeth a thick, dorsal hump. Petals 7.5–13 × 5.5–6.5 mm, left margin (in adaxial view) white, right margin (in adaxial view) white to pinkish, obovate and asymmetric, apex acuminate and apiculate, margin entire, both surfaces glabrous. Stamens 10, subisomorphic, glabrous; filaments 6.5–7.5 mm long (antesepalous) or 4.5–5.5 mm long (antepetalous), greenish; connective not prolonged below the thecae, dorsal appendages ca 1.5 mm long, yellow, linear-subulate; anthers 3–3.5 mm long in both cycles, yellow, oblong-linear, the thecae prolonged up to 0.2 mm below the insertion of the filament, with a single, apical (but ventrally inclined) pore. Ovary ca 1.7 mm long, 2/3 basally adhered to the hypanthium, 4-locular, apex without lobes, but covered with stalked glands ca 1 mm long; style ca 5.5 mm long, slightly curved or sigmoidal, glabrous. Capsules 4.5–5.5 × 3.5–4.5 mm, the carpels not exceeding the hypanthium length or sometimes exceeding it by ca 0.5 mm; seeds 1–1.5 × ca 0.5 mm, elongate or oblong, raphe almost equalling the seed length, testa granulate.

Huberia ciliata has only been found on a complex of granitic inselbergs in the municipality of Santa Rita do Itueto, in eastern of the state of Minas Gerais (Fig. 3A, B). The species is found on islands of vegetation over shallow pockets of soil over granitic rock, where it grows among grasses, sedges, and bromeliads, exposed to direct sunlight and intense fluctuations of water availability. The species was recorded at elevations ranging from 840 to 1062 m. The location where it was recorded is an Area of Environmental Protection, a protected area of Sustainable Use where two other Melastomataceae taxa were recently described, Pleroma miconiifolium F.S.Mey & R.Goldenb. and P. petrophylax F.S.Mey & R.Goldenb. (Goldenberg et al. 2022), with the former occupying the same habitats as H. ciliata. These inselbergs are surrounded by a matrix of Semidecidous Seasonal Forests of the Atlantic Forest domain, now mostly converted into pastures and plantations.

Collected with flowers and fruits in April and May.

The epithet refers to the sepals with densely ciliolate-glandular margins.

Data Deficient: DD. Up till now, H. ciliata is know from a single population that is restricted to specific habitats in granitic outcrops (AOO of 4 km², EOO polygon cannot be calculated). No observable treats were recorded directly affecting the population, as the habitats are difficult to access and well-preserved, without the presence of invasive species or recent records of fires. However, the region of the Doce River valley is experiencing an increase in temperature and a reduction of precipitation over the last decades; climatic events, such as intense and longer droughts have been recorded and are expected to become more common in the coming decades (Sondermann et al. 2022). Although the available data suggests that the species is restricted and potentially micro-endemic, the granitic inselbergs of eastern Minas Gerais are vastly undersampled, and other complexes of these outcrops are found in the surroundings, potentially harbouring other populations. Nevertheless, these habitats are unprotected and prone to the same climatic events.

BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Santa Rita do Itueto, Área de Proteção Ambiental Municipal, Pedra de Santa Rita, trilha para o topo da pedra; 19°22’38.7”S, 41°21’58.8”W; 840 m; 19 Apr. 2022; Gonella P.M. 3432; UPCB.

Huberia ciliata is morphologically similar to H. comosa since both have papyraceous leaves, glabrous petals with an acuminate apex, and glabrous torus. Apart from the differences pointed out in the diagnosis, the trichomes that are part of the comose tufts in H. comosa are shorter (0.1–0.2 mm long), and lack well-defined gland heads, while the stalked glands in H. ciliata are larger (0.5–1 mm long), with globular gland heads (these sometimes caducous). The leaves of H. comosa are sometimes verticillate, but all leaves observed in H. ciliata are opposite. Huberia comosa occurs in Serra do Brigadeiro, near the border between the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and on an isolated inselberg (Alto Misterioso) also in Espírito Santo (see Tavares et al. 2008; Bochorny and Goldenberg 2017), which is respectively 200 km and 110 km in a straight line from the type locality of H. ciliata.

Another species that may be similar is Huberia minutifolia Bochorny & R.Goldenb. endemic to the Serra do Mar mountain range (state of Rio de Janeiro), but it differs from H. ciliata by its suprabasal veins, marsupiform domatia, and 6-merous flowers (vs basal veins, no domatia, and 5-merous flowers in H. ciliata).

Huberia ciliata is also similar to H. campostriniae and H. rubricalyx. For a comparative overview between H. campostriniae, H. ciliata, H. comosa, and H. rubricalyx, see Table 2.

BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Marmelópolis, Pico dos Marins; 22°29’47.68”S, 45°7’38.33”W; 2100 m; 28 Nov. 2020; Gonçalves L.N. 635; holotype: UPCB; isotype: RB.

Figure 6. 

Photos of Huberia mayarae in the field (by Lucas N. Gonçalves). A. Frontal view of a flower. B. Detail of the stamens and style. C. Fruits. D. Habit. E. Leaf (adaxial view). F. Habitat. G. Branch with an inflorescence.

Huberia mayarae differs from Huberia organensis (Saldanha & Cogn.) Bochorny & R.Goldenb. due to the leaves with a rounded apex, subcordate base, and adaxial and abaxial surfaces glabrous (vs an acute apex, obtuse or rounded base, and abaxial surface covered with dendritic trichomes), 5–6-merous flowers, on pedicels 5–10 mm long (vs 6-merous, on pedicels 2–3.5 mm long); hypanthium 4–7 × 3.5–5 mm, densely covered with stalked glands (vs 2–3 × 2–3.5 mm, glabrous); sepals ca 1 × 0.5 mm, ciliolate margin (vs 0.3–0.5 × ca 0.2 mm, not ciliolate); petals with an apiculate apex (vs not apiculate).

Figure 7. 

Images from the holotype of Huberia mayarae (Gonçalves L.N. 635, UPCB). A. Branch with inflorescences. B. Detail of the stem indumentum. C. Leaf (adaxial surface). D. Leaf (abaxial surface). E, F. Detail of the leaf glabrous surfaces. G. Detail of the leaf margin. H. Flower. I. Flower bud. J. Petal (adaxial surface). K, L. Stamens. M. Style. N. Fruit.

Shrubs 0.2–0.5 m tall; branches, petioles, inflorescences, bracts, and bracteoles densely covered with both short and stalked glands (these up to 2 mm long, the heads sometimes caducous). Branches terete, striate. Leaves opposite; petiole 0.4–1.7 cm long; blade 2.3–5 × 1.6–3 cm, ovate or broadly elliptic, apex acute, base subcordate, margin serrulate and eciliolate, papyraceous, adaxial and abaxial surfaces glabrous, acrodromous veins 3, with an additional faint submarginal pair, basal, main veins impressed adaxially and raised abaxially, transverse veins and reticulation visible on both surfaces. Inflorescences thyrsoids or compound dichasia 4.5–6 cm long, terminal, with 10 flowers; bracts two, persistent, leafy, petiole ca 6 mm long, blade ca 30 × 15 mm, ovate or broadly elliptic; bracteoles two, persistent, ca 1 mm long, ovate. Flowers 5–6-merous, on pedicels 5–10 mm long. Hypanthium 4–7 × 3.5–5 mm, campanulate, densely covered with stalked glands 0.5–1 mm long; torus glabrous. Calyx tube 0.5–1 mm long, densely covered with stalked glands ca 1 mm long; sepals ca 1 × 0.5 mm, triangular, apex apiculate, margin ciliolate ca 0.5 mm long (the purple cilia sometimes caducous); external teeth absent. Petals 7.5–15 × 4.5–7 mm, white, obovate and asymmetric, apex acuminate and apiculate, margin entire, adaxial and abaxial surfaces glabrous. Stamens 10–12, subisomorphic, glabrous; filaments 8.5–10.5 mm long (antesepalous) or 8.5–9.5 mm long (antepetalous), greenish; connective not prolonged below the thecae, dorsal appendages ca 3 mm long, yellow, linear-subulate; anthers 4–4.5 mm long in both cycles, yellow, oblong-linear, the thecae prolonged up to 0.2 mm below the insertion of the filament, with a single, apical (but ventrally inclined) pore. Ovary ca 3 mm long, 2/3 basally adhered to the hypanthium, 4-locular, apex without lobes, glabrous; style ca 9.5 mm long, slightly curved or sigmoidal, glabrous. Capsules ca 8.5 × 6.5 mm, the carpels exceeding the hypanthium length by ca 1 mm; seeds not seen.

Huberia mayarae has been found growing in small crevices or directly on the surface of rock walls near the summit of the Pico dos Marins, in the Serra da Mantiqueira mountains, located on the border between the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo (Fig. 3C). The plants were collected at 2100 m elevation (while the summit is at 2420 m), right on the border between Minas Gerais and São Paulo but just a few meters on the Minas Gerais side. It also occurs in São Paulo (Lucas N. Gonçalves pers. obs.), but it has not been collected there. The rock outcrops are surrounded by Montane Atlantic Rainforest (Fig. 3A).

Collected with flowers and fruits in November.

The epithet honours the botanist Dr Mayara Krasinski Caddah, now at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Dr Caddah has contributed to the knowledge of Melastomataceae in Brazil, mostly on taxonomy, morphology, and phylogeny of Miconia Ruiz & Pav. in the Brazilian Amazon and the Atlantic Forest.

Data Deficient: DD. Huberia mayarae has an AOO of 4 km² (EOO cannot be calculated as there are only two records) and was only recorded outside the Monumento Natural Estadual da Mantiqueira Paulista, a full protection conservation area. Despite the restricted range, no threat was observed affecting the known population of the species. The region is visited by many tourists yearly, yet the plants were observed away from the trail. Given the lack of information on population size and uncertainty about its entire distribution, we preliminarily assess this species as Data Deficient.

BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Marmelópolis, Pico dos Marins, 2° maciço; 22°29’48”S, 45°07’44”W; 2100 m; 19 Oct. 2020; Gonçalves L.N. 472; CESJ.

Huberia mayarae is morphologically similar to H. organensis since both have papyraceous leaves, thyrsoids 4.5–6 cm long, petals with both surfaces glabrous, and glabrous torus. Apart from the differences pointed out in the diagnosis, the trichomes are dendritic in H. organensis, while the stalked glands in H. mayarae are unbranched, larger (both short and stalked glands, these up to 2 mm long), with globular gland heads (the heads sometimes caducous). Huberia organensis occurs at Reserva Biológica de Araras, in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, which is about 200 km in a straight line from where H. mayarae was collected.

Huberia mayarae is also similar to H. rubricalyx. For a comparative overview, see Table 2.

BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Conselheiro Pena, Serra do Padre Ângelo, Serra do Pinhão, subida para o Pico do Sossego; 19°14’23.66”S, 41°34’52.59”W; 1285 m; 2 May 2021; Gonella P.M., Cordeiro D.P., Silva G.A., Bartholomay P.R., Ribeiro J.C. & Medeiros L. 2468; holotype: UPCB; isotype: MBML.

Figure 8. 

Photos of Huberia revoluta in the field (by Paulo M. Gonella). A, B. Branch with an inflorescence and flowers. C. Detail of the buds and the hypanthium. D. Flower. E. Detail of the stamens and style. F. Fruits. G, H. Revolute leaf blades (adaxial view). I. Branch with inflorescence.

Huberia revoluta differs from Huberia glutinosa (Cogn.) Bochorny & R.Goldenb. by the 5–8-merous flowers on pedicels 4.5–7.5 mm long (vs 6-merous on pedicels 2.5–3.5 mm long); calyx with triangular-subulate sepals (vs broadly triangular); petals 8–12 × 4.5–6 mm, with glabrous margin (vs 13–16 × 9–11 mm, margin with sparse stalked glands); style ca 6 mm long (vs 11–12.5 mm).

Figure 9. 

Images from the holotype of Huberia revoluta (Gonella P.M., Cordeiro D.P., Silva G.A., Bartholomay P.R., Ribeiro J.C. & Medeiros L. 2468, UPCB). A. Branch with an inflorescence. B. Leaf with a folded blade (adaxial surface). C. Leaf partial view (abaxial surface). D. Leaf abaxial surface with sessile glands. E. Leaf adaxial surface with sessile glands. F. Detail of the leaf margin. G. Flower bud. H. Petal (adaxial surface). I, J. Stamens. K. Style. L. Fruit.

Shrubs 0.5–1.5 m tall; branches, petioles, inflorescences, bracts, and bracteoles sparsely to moderately covered with sessile glands and also with sparse stalked glands 0.5–1.2 mm long (the heads sometimes caducous). Branches terete, striate. Leaves opposite, revolute leaf blades; petiole 0.2–1 cm long; blade 1.5–6.8 × 0.5–3 cm, papyraceous, ovate or elliptic, apex acute, base obtuse to subcordate, margin serrulate-denticulate and ciliolate (each tooth ending in a short cilium, usually eglandular, but seldom glandular), adaxial surface sparsely to moderately with sessile glands 0.2–0.4 mm long, abaxial surface sparsely to moderately with sessile glands, plus stalked glands 0.5–1 mm long only on the veins, acrodromous veins 5, with an additional faint submarginal pair, basal, main veins impressed adaxially and raised abaxially, transverse veins and reticulation barely visible on both surfaces. Inflorescences dichasia 1.2–5 cm long, terminal, with 5–10 flowers, but sometimes depauperate; bracts two, non-persistent, leafy, petiole 0.4–2 mm long, blade 2–7 × 1–2.5 mm, elliptic or broadly elliptic; bracteoles two, persistent, ca 1 mm long, linear-lanceolate. Flowers 5–8-merous, on pedicels 4.5–7.5 mm long. Hypanthium 3–6.5 × 5.5–8 mm, campanulate, vinaceous, densely covered with sessile glands 0.2–0.4 mm long, otherwise glabrous or very rarely with isolate stalked glands 0.5–1 mm long; torus glabrous. Calyx tube ca 1 mm long, vinaceous, with the same trichomes as the hypanthium, but usually with more stalked glands; sepals 2–5 × 1–2.5 mm, triangular-subulate, apex bluntly apiculate, margin ciliolate-glandular, the purple cilia 0.5 mm long, sometimes caducous; external teeth absent. Petals 8–12 × 4.5–6 mm, with a white portion close to the left margin (in adaxial view) and white to pinkish portion on the right margin, obovate and asymmetric, apex rounded to emarginate, not apiculate, margin entire, eciliolate, adaxial and abaxial surfaces glabrous. Stamens 10–16, subisomorphic, glabrous; filaments 6–7.5 mm long (antesepalous) or 5–6 mm long (antepetalous), greenish; connective not prolonged below the thecae, dorsal appendages ca 3 mm long, reddish, linear-subulate; anthers 3–4 mm long in both cycles, yellow, oblong-linear, the thecae prolonged up to 0.2 mm below the insertion of the filament, with a single, apical (but ventrally inclined) pore. Ovary 3–4 mm long, 2/3 basally adhered to the hypanthium, 4-locular, apex with 10 lobes, these with stalked glands ca 2.2 mm long; style ca 6 mm long, slightly curved or sigmoidal, glabrous. Capsules 5.4–7.7 × 4.8–6.5 mm, the carpels exceeding the hypanthium length by ca 1mm. Seeds ca 1 × 0.5 mm, elongate or oblong, raphe almost equalling the seed length, testa granulate.

Huberia revoluta was collected on quartzitic outcrops of the João Pinto Formation, immersed in a matrix of Semideciduous Seasonal Forests in the Doce River valley in eastern Minas Gerais (Fig. 3A, B). The species was recorded in the Serra do Padre Ângelo, in the municipality of Conselheiro Pena, where it was found on the highest peaks, the Pico da Bela Adormecida (or Pico do Padre Ângelo) and the Pico do Sossego, and also in the municipality of Alvarenga, in the Pico da Aliança. At these peaks, the species was found in Campo Rupestre growing on sandy soils rich in organic matter and among large rock outcrops, at elevations ranging from 1250 to 1510 m. The species was found growing sympatric with other endemic and recently described species, including Pleroma brevicomosum F.S.Mey & R.Goldenb. and P. caetanoi F.S.Mey & R.Goldenb. (Goldenberg et al. 2022).

Collected with flowers and fruits in February, March, and May.

The epithet refers to the distinct revolute leaf blades.

Critically Endangered: CR B1ab(iii). Huberia revoluta is found in the three highest areas of the João Pinto Formation, all of which are currently unprotected and prone to threats that directly affect the species and its habitat, such as arson events and invasive species, especially the grass Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv. (Gonella et al. 2015; Andrino et al. 2024). The populations at Pico da Bela Adormecida and Pico da Aliança are extremely reduced and restricted, as no more than 10 individuals have been recorded at each site, in very specific habitats at the summit of each peak. The population at Pico do Sossego is the largest and more widespread, with no more than 50 individuals being recorded scattered at elevations from 1250 to 1400 m. Given the very specific habitat at higher elevations, the species is not expected to be found in the Sete Salões State Park, the only fully protected area with Campo Rupestre in the region, whose highest point is at 1135 m elevation. As discussed for H. ciliata, the region where the species is found is prone to the effects of ongoing climatic changes, and mortality of large individuals was observed during intense droughts (Paulo M. Gonella pers. obs.). The calculated AOO (16 km²) falls within the threshold for Endangered, while the EOO (44 km²) supports the categorization as Critically Endangered. Here, we preliminarily assess the species as CR supported by the restricted range, small population size, severely fragmented, and the observed and projected threats that equally affect all sites where the species is found.

BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Conselheiro Pena, Serra do Padre Ângelo, Pico do Padre Ângelo, face sul do topo do pico; 19°19’14.46”S, 41°34’44.04”W; 1510 m; 3 Feb. 2021; Gonella P.M. & Cordeiro D.P. 2167; UPCB • Conselheiro Pena, Serra do Padre Ângelo, Pico do Padre Ângelo, face sul do topo do pico; 19°19’14.46”S, 41°34’44,04”W; 1510 m; 15 Mar. 2021; Gonella P.M. & Cordeiro D.P. 2318; UPCB • Conselheiro Pena, Pico da Bela Adormecida, Serra do Padre Ângelo, trilha de acesso ao Pico da Bela Adormecida; 19°18’53”S, 41°34’41”W; 1300–1400 m; 11 Oct. 2022; Fernandez E., Crispim G., Queiroz G.A., Gonella P.M. & Ribeiro J.C.S. 845; CESJ, RB.

Huberia revoluta is morphologically similar to H. glutinosa since both have revolute leaf blades with non-involucrate bracts, glabrous torus, thick sepals with glandulose-ciliolate margins, and the ovary with a lobbed apex, topped with glandular trichomes. They differ by the papyraceous leaf blades in Huberia revoluta (vs membranaceous in H. glutinosa) and the hypanthium seldom with very sparse stalked glands (vs consistently and moderately with stalked glands). Huberia glutinosa is a very rare plant, collected since 1884 in the exact same spot but nowhere else, in south-central Minas Gerais (Pico do Itacolomi, at Ouro Preto; Tavares 2005; Baumgratz et al. 2024), a habitat very similar to that of H. revoluta, but which is approximately 250 km in a straight line to the south-west of Serra da Aliança.

BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Conselheiro Pena, Serra do Padre Ângelo, Boa Vista (crista sul do Pico do Padre Ângelo), braço de serra ao sul da estrada de terra que corta a serra; 19°20’10.9”S, 41°34’23.8”W; 1010 m; 21 Feb. 2022; Gonella P.M., Rocha L.H., Cordeiro D.P, da Silva G.A. & Bartholomay P.R. 2992; holotype: UPCB; isotype: RB.

Figure 10. 

Photos of Huberia rubricalyx in the field (by Paulo M. Gonella). A. Branch with an inflorescence. B. Lateral view of a flower. C. Flower. D. Leaves (adaxial view). E. Detail of the stamens. F. Detail of the bud and the hypanthium. G. Habit. H. Inflorescence.

Huberia rubricalyx differs from Huberia comosa (R.Tav., Baumgratz & R.Goldenb.) Bochorny & Michelang. due to the branches, petioles, inflorescences, bracts, and bracteoles with sparse stalked glands, these denser on nodes (vs lacking stalked glands, except for very short comose-glandulose tufts on nodes and leaf margins); leaf blades with a subcordate base (vs obtuse or rounded), and basal acrodromous veins (vs suprabasal); ciliolate-glandular calyx margin, the purple cilia 0.3–1 mm long with globose gland heads (vs eciliolate or ciliolate-glandular, in this case minute cilia ca 0.1 mm long and lacking well-defined gland heads); stamen dorsal appendages 3–4.5 mm long (vs 1–1.2 mm); 4-locular ovary, apex with 10 lobes, these with long stalked glands (vs 3-locular, apex with 4 lobes, glabrous); style ca 11.5 mm long (vs 6.5–8.5 mm).

Figure 11. 

Images from the holotype of Huberia rubricalyx (Gonella P.M., Rocha L.H., Cordeiro D.P, da Silva G.A. & Bartholomay P.R. 2992, UPCB). A. Branch with inflorescences. B. Flower. C. Leaf (adaxial surface). D. Leaf (abaxial surface) E, F. Detail of the leaf glabrous surfaces. G. Detail of the leaf margin. H. Hypanthium and calyx with ciliolate sepals. I. Petal (adaxial surface). J, K. Stamens. L. Style. M. Fruit.

Shrubs 0.4–1 m tall; branches, petioles, inflorescences, bracts, and bracteoles sparsely covered with short stalked glands 0.2–0.5 mm long (the heads sometimes caducous). Branches terete, striate. Leaves opposite; petiole 0.6–3.5 cm long; blade 1.2–5.6 × 0.4–3 cm, ovate to broadly ovate or elliptic to broadly elliptic, apex acuminate or acute, base subcordate, margin serrulate and ciliolate-glandular (the cilia 0.5–1 mm long, glandular), papyraceous, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface with sparse short stalked glands 0.1 mm long, acrodromous veins 3, with an additional faint submarginal pair, basal, main veins impressed adaxially and raised abaxially, transverse veins and reticulation visible on both surfaces. Inflorescences thyrsoids 4.5–10.7 cm long, terminal, with 10–20 flowers, usually arranged in double or compound dichasia, sometimes depauperate; bracts two, persistent, leafy, petiole 0.4–2 mm long, blade 1.5–20 × 0.3–5 mm, lanceolate; bracteoles two, persistent, 1–2 mm long, ovate to lanceolate. Flowers 5-merous, on pedicels 2.5–11 mm long. Hypanthium 3–5.3 × 2–3 mm, campanulate, glabrous; torus glabrous. Calyx tube 0.5 mm long, red, glabrous; sepals 1–1.5 × 0.5–1.5 mm, broadly triangular, apex apiculate, margin ciliolate-glandular, the purple cilia 0.3–1 mm long, glandular, the heads globose, sometimes caducous; external teeth reduced to a thick, dorsal hump. Petals 9–12 × 4.5–7 mm, left margin (in adaxial view) white, entire, right margin (in adaxial view) white to pinkish, obovate and asymmetric, apex acuminate and apiculate, margin entire, both surfaces glabrous. Stamens 10, subisomorphic, glabrous; filaments 8.5–9.5 mm long (antesepalous) or 7.5–8.5 mm long (antepetalous), greenish; connective not prolonged below the thecae, dorsal appendages 3–4.5 mm long, yellow, linear-subulate; anthers ca 5 mm long in both cycles, yellow, oblong-linear, the thecae prolonged up to 0.2 mm below the insertion of the filament, with a single, apical (but ventrally inclined) pore. Ovary 3–4 mm long, 2/3 basally adhered to the hypanthium, 4-locular, apex with 10 lobes covered with long stalked glands ca 2.2 mm long; style ca 11.5 mm long, slightly curved or sigmoidal, glabrous. Capsules 3–3.5 × 3.5–4 mm, the carpels exceeding the hypanthium length by ca 1 mm; seeds ca 1 × 0.5 mm, elongate or oblong, raphe almost equalling the seed length, testa granulate.

Huberia rubricalyx is endemic to the quartzitic outcrops of the João Pinto Formation, in the municipalities of Alvarenga and Conselheiro Pena, in eastern Minas Gerais (Fig. 3A, B). The species was recorded in the Serra do Padre Ângelo, around the Pico da Bela Adormecida and, to the south, in the Serra do Parado, near the district of Vista Alegre; it was also recorded in the Pico da Aliança, ca 12 km to the west. Huberia rubricalyx was found forming small populations with scattered individuals in Campo Rupestre, growing on sandy soils with organic matter both on open areas and surrounded by large rock outcrops, at elevations ranging from 980 to 1400 m.

Collected with flowers and fruits in February and May.

The epithet refers to the flowers with a red calyx.

Critically Endangered: CR B1ab(iii). Huberia rubricalyx is a rare species found in very small populations with scattered individuals. The species is not recorded in any protected area, although similar habitats may be found within the undersampled Sete Salões State Park. At all sites where the species was recorded, the habitat is invaded by alien species, a situation that is aggravated by recurrent arson events. The species is also subject to the same effects of climate change mentioned for H. ciliata and H. revoluta. Similar to the latter species, the reduced distribution range (EOO of 57 km²) combined with the severely fragmented subpopulations and the threats described support its preliminary assessment as Critically Endangered.

BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • Conselheiro Pena, afloramento quartizítico próximo a Vista Alegre (distrito de Alvarenga); 19°23’42.30”S, 41°33’26.79”W; 980 m; 1 Feb. 2021; Gonella P.M. & Cordeiro D.P. 2084; UPCB, RB • Alvarenga, Pico da Aliança, trilha para o topo do pico; 19°23’48.28”S, 41°40’35.66”W; 1160 m; 8 May 2021; Gonella P.M. & Cordeiro D.P. 2843; UPCB, RB • Conselheiro Pena, afloramento quartizítico próximo a Vista Alegre (distrito de Alvarenga); 19°23’46.10”S, 41°33’21.67”W; 980 m; 27 Feb. 2021; Gonella P.M., Cordeiro D.P., Silva G.A., Bartholomay P.R. & Medeiros L. 2190; UPCB, RB • Conselheiro Pena, Serra do Padre Ângelo, Pico do Padre Ângelo, primeiro platô do pico, na beira do precipício; 19°40’40.97”S, 41°34’28.46”W; 1210 m; 4 May 2021; Gonella P.M. & Cordeiro D.P. 2633; UPCB, RB.

Huberia rubricalyx is morphologically similar to H. comosa since both species have papyraceous leaf blades, glabrous torus, broadly triangular sepals with glandulose-ciliolate margins, and the ovary with a lobed apex. Apart from the differences pointed out in the diagnosis, the trichomes that are part of the comose tufts in H. comosa are short (0.1–0.2 mm long), and lack well-defined gland heads, while the stalked glands in H. rubricalyx are more delicate and shorter (0.2–0.5 mm long), with globular gland heads (these sometimes caducous). The leaves of H. comosa are sometimes verticillate, but all leaves observed in H. rubricalyx are opposite. Another difference is that H. rubricalyx is endemic to quartzitic Campo Rupestre vegetation, while H. comosa occurs in the Campos de Altitude of Serra do Brigadeiro, 200 km to the south, and on a granitic inselberg named Alto Misterioso in Espírito Santo, which is about 110 km to the east of the populations of H. rubricalyx (see Tavares et al. 2008; Bochorny and Goldenberg 2017).

Huberia rubricalyx is also similar to H. ciliata and H. mayarae, both described here. For a comparative overview between H. ciliata, H. comosa, H. mayarae, and H. rubricalyx, see Table 2.