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Issue: Vol. 749 No. 3: 27 Mar. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-03-27
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.749.3.3
Page range: 268-280
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

Three new species of Rudgea Salisb. (Palicoureeae, Rubiaceae) from the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, a diversity center for the genus

Current address: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Vegetal e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais, Av. Miguel Estéfano, 3687, 04301-902, São Paulo, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, SP, Brazil
Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, 22460-030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
CCAAB, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Rua Rui Barbosa 710, Cruz das Almas, Bahia, 44380-000, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70910-970, Brazil
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, SP, Brazil
Conservation Gentianales Psychotrieeae alliance Rubioideae Taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

Ongoing studies in the genus Rudgea (Rubiaceae, Palicoureeae) lead to the discovery of three new species from the ombrophilous forests of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. Rudgea bauensis Marcon & Bruniera was recently collected in Campos dos Goytacazes, being distinct by its subsessile inflorescence, stipules covered with appendages, glabrous leaves attenuate at the base, and the presence of domatia. Rudgea mendax Marcon & Bruniera and R. pachyramea M.Gomes & Bruniera were often misidentified as R. interrupta in herbaria, mainly because they share inflorescences with short lateral branches and are distributed in Rio de Janeiro. However, R. mendax can be characterized by its inflorescences with ca. 50 flowers and infundibuliform, 13–18 mm long corollas with tomentose throat. Finally, R. pachyramea is distinct by its stout and longitudinally striate branches, leaf blade reaching 30 cm long, petioles up to 5 cm long, and the infundibuliform, 8–13 mm long corollas. Rudgea mendax and R. pachyramea are here preliminarily assessed as Endangered, while R. bauensis is Data Deficient.

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How to Cite

Marcon, S.F., Gomes, M., Zappi, D.C., Covre, J.M.C. & Bruniera, C.P. (2026) Three new species of Rudgea Salisb. (Palicoureeae, Rubiaceae) from the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, a diversity center for the genus. Phytotaxa 749 (3): 268–280. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.749.3.3