Probable species nova #2 from Cavalcante area.. it’s true. This time, we accessed the area from the west side (Lago de Cana Brava), at the very end of our trip and prior to Nico and I flying out. I’m still scratching my head at how there are not one but two different species I can’t put names on from this small stretch of Earth.

This putative new species occurs in high quality campos rupestre and cerrado over light brown sandy soils. It reminded me immediately of Ruellia blechum, which definitely IS NOT a compliment. Some phylogenetic affinity between the two is not out of the question.

Flowers white, totally innocent.

 Wild collected, Brazil, Erin Tripp #5967 w/ Nico Medina (COLO); Photos by Erin Tripp