A new species of Casearia Jacq. from Brazil

Abstract

Abstract A new species of Salicaceae growing in the state of Espírito Santo and in the south of the state of Bahia, Casearia valenciana R.Marquete & R.B.Torres, is described and illustrated here. It is similar to C. cotticensis Uittien, which grows further north in Amazonian Forest, by its pedunculate inflorescence, coriaceous leaves, and glabrous ovary. Yet, it differs from C. cotticensis by its shrub to small tree habit (vs. tree up to 27 m tall), smaller stipules, elliptic leaves (vs. lanceolate, broadly lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate), elongated anthers with longitudinal slits (vs. slightly deltoid, transversal slits), and larger fruits and seeds. Other diagnostic features of this new species include short-serrulate leaf border, and disc lobes fused with filaments at the base forming a small tube.

Keywords

• Casearia valenciana
• Salicaceae
• Flacourtiaceae s.l.
• restinga