Flora of Rio de Janeiro: the genus Luehea (Malvaceae: Grewioideae)

Abstract

We present a taxonomic revision of Luehea from the state of Rio de Janeiro, an important area of the phytogeographic domain Brazilian Atlantic Forest in the Southeast region. Here, eight taxa that occur in submontane or montane ombrophilous forests are recognized, including restinga vegetation and/or riparian or gallery forests: L. candicans var. candicans, L. candicans var. gracilis, L. conwentzii, L. divaricata, L. macrophylla, L. ochrophylla, L. paniculata, and L. speciosa. For each species, description, synonymy, distribution and habitat, comments on morphology, illustration with field photos, illustration with morphological characters, and distribution map are provided. An identification key with these species for state of Rio de Janeiro is also presented.