Microlicia almedae (Melastomataceae), a new species from the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

A new species, Microlicia almedae, is described and illustrated from the species-rich campo rupestre vegetation of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. The taxonomic novelty is morphologically related to M. giuliettiana and M. pulchra, which are also restricted to Chapada Diamantina. Microlicia almedae differs from the latter two species in leaf shape and size, hypanthium indumentum, calyx lobe shape and size, and petal size.

In addition, M. almedae differs from M. giuliettiana by its uniformly magenta petals and from M. pulchra by its capsules with deciduous columellae. Variation in leaf shape among M. almedae, M. pulchra, and M. giuliettiana was quantified using elliptic Fourier analysis, which revealed near-complete separation among the three species.