Three new species of Lychnophorinae from the Brazilian Central Plateau (Asteraceae: Vernonieae)

Three new species from the Brazilian Cerrado phytogeographic domain, Eremanthus tomentosus, Lychnophora goiana and L. planaltina, are hereby described and illustrated. Eremanthus tomentosus occurs in southeastern Goias, Distrito Federal and western Minas Gerais. It is characterized by its petiolate, adaxially tomentose leaves, heads fused for 3/4 of length, florets with villose corolla tube and cypsela with reddish glands at the base. Lychnophora goiana belongs to the L. granmogolensis species complex and is endemic to Serra Geral de Goias in northeastern Goias. It differs from other species of the complex by its outer pappus setae longer than or equal to the length of the cypsela, also displaying a unique combination of leaf characteristics (sparse tufts of small trichomes at the insertion, midrib adaxially impressed and abaxially winged and flattened). Lychnophora planaltina is endemic to the campos rupestres of Distrito Federal and is characterized by its adaxially bullate glaucous leaves, solitary syncephalium, heads with deciduous phyllaries and sparsely sericeous cypsela. The affinities of these species are discussed.

Automated summary

This article describes and illustrates three new species from the Brazilian Cerrado phytogeographic domain: Eremanthus tomentosus, Lychnophora goiana, and L. planaltina. The characteristics, distribution, and affinities of these species are discussed, contributing to the study of plant diversity in the region.